I'm a Survivor: A Carol Peleteir Story

Chapter 4 "Getting to know Them"

I opened my eyes, with Ed's arms wrapped around me, preventing me to exit the family tent. The crickets were chirping, loud as could be as the birds crowed. I looked at Sophia, coloring in her notepad. I slowly unwrapped Ed's hairy arms off me, and slowly crawled out of the tent with Sophia.
"Carol!" Lori called, running to me. "What happened last night?" She asked. I heard screaming--but--"

"The idiot wondered out by the woods on 'er own." The biker said. "Should a stayed with your husband."

"Do you even see the bruises on her face Daryl?" Lori scoffed, my heart sank as she looked at me. "I'm sorry Carol, but there's no hiding it."

I looked down, tears ran down my face. The Daryl man rolled his eyes and walked away. "I'm goin' on a hunt." He said, grabbing his rugsack and walked to the trees. "Get some grub for tonight." He nodded and walked into the forest.

"Don't listen to Daryl." Lori said. "He's just a little..."

"It's okay." I shrugged. "I'm used to men like him." Lori put her hand on Sophia's back.

"Carl wants to know if you want to play with 'em." Lori said, smiling.

"Okay!" Sophia ran over to Carl.

"Carol," Lori said. "I'll watch them. You do whatever." She said. "Get to know everyone." She started to catch up with the kids.

***************

I sat under the shade, under the sprawled out camper, and looked at everyone sitting down and giggling.

"Hi." a woman's voice said from the camper, and the door opened.

"Hi." I turned to see the older blonde girl, her hair was curly and tied in a ponytail.

"I'm Andrea." She said, and shook my hand. "You alright?"

"Carol." I said. "And yeah," I admitted. "Just the sun got my head throbbing."

She looked inside of the RV. "Oh," she said and walked in, and came back out. "Dale brought some pain meds." She tossed me a bottle of Tylenol.

"Oh," I said. "I can't steal." I tried to give them back, but she refused.

"We're family now." She smiled. "We're gonna be here for a while." she sat beside me.

I looked at the pills, and took one, and gave her the bottle. "Thanks."

"If you need anymore," she said. "Ask me or Dale." She took my hand. "Let's meet everyone."

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"Hey, Dale" Andrea said, blocking the harsh sunlight from her eyes. "This is Carol." She put her hand on my shoulder, then pointed at Sophia. "That little girl with Carl--that's her daughter Sophia." Dale turned. He wore a fishing cap and a Snow White beard.

"Hi." He said smiling, and shook my hand.

"Hi.." I said, and smiled back.

"Well, I have to get on guard again." He said. "Nice meeting you Carol."

I nodded. The black woman walked up to me. "Hey girly." She said and smiled, and shook my head. "You alright?"

"Yeah uh.." I looked down and rubbed my arm. "I'm Carol."

"I'm Jacque." She said, and smiled. "Yo, T!" Jacque called the African American man. He walked up to me.

"Aye."

"This is Carol T-Dog." T-Dog smiled and shook my hand. "What's up."

"Nothing much." I said and looked at Andrea. "Andrea just thought I should get to know everyone..."

"Let's go meet my Sister!" Andrea said.

"Oh..okay." Andrea pulled me over to the younger blonde.

"Hey Amy." Andrea said. "I want you to meet Carol."

Amy smiled. "Hey." She said and got up from her seat. "Is that your little girl?" She asked, shaking my hand and looking at Sophia.

"Yeah." I smiled. "Yep, she's my girl."

"Awe," she smiled. "She's cute!" Amy said. "Is it okay if I say hi?"

"Of course!" I said.

She ran over to Lori, who was now talking to a middle aged man.

"That's Jim." Andrea said. "He lost his family before he came..."

"Oh.."

"Yeah." She said. There was an awkward silence until Morales came walk to us.

"Hey," Andrea said. "What's up?"

"Me, T-Dog Jacque and Glenn--" he gestured to the Asian young man, who was helping Dale out with watch, "you wanna come?"

The other biker man--came up and interrupted Andrea's answer.

"Y'all weren't gonna invite me?" He asked, his raspy voice was aggravating. A disgusting drunk.

"Merle-" Morales stared.

"Sure I'll come!" The Merle drunk laughed, and chuckled as he got in a white mailing truck.

"Andrea-want to go or not?"

"Yeah," Andrea said, and walked with him. "Sure."

"Carol!!" Ed yelled. I walked over to him, crossing my arms as a chill came down my back.

"Yes, Ed?" I said as he pulled me down to his level, for he is sitting in his lawn chair.

"Gimme somethin' to eat.." He said. I nodded and walked to our car.

Amy walked up behind me. "You okay?"

I jumped and held onto the box of crackers. "Oh!" I gasped. "Amy, you scared me.."

"Sorry--" She apologized. "Are you okay?"

"Uh," I nodded. "I'm fine." I shook the box of crackers. "Just gettin' my husband something to eat."

"Oh," she said. "You wanna help me out with something?" She asked, looked at me with gentle eyes.

"With what?"

"Just...washing clothes for everybody...you know...something to do..."

"Sure." I smiled. "Anything I can do to make my worth."

"Okay! Thanks!" She said. "When Jacque and Andrea come back, they said they'll help out too."

"Okay." I smiled. "Sounds--"

"Carol!" Ed yelled across the camp. He was smoking another cigarette, and blowing the smoke in the air.

"Comin' Ed." I walked passed Ed and gave him his box of crackers.