Even when she’s firm there’s still a comfort to her words. He knows she’s right. He has to swallow his pride and move past this. It’s unhealthy for The Family to keep tension between any of them. He sighs and nods. She smiles again, then he exits the room.
He makes his way down the hall and past the bathroom that has become an ancient remnant of a time long past. He stops at the next room. He listens for a moment before knocking, attempting to hear any noise from the other side of the door. It’s quiet, so he knocks. No answer. He knocks again, harder this time. Still no answer.
“Sweetie, I’m opening the door.” he says loudly.
Still, no response. He twists the handle and pushes the door open. He steps in looking around. The bed is empty and already made. Someone is up and moving before he is. That’s rare.
He closes her door and continues down the hall. He passes the stairs and heads for the other two bedrooms. He stops again at another door. He listens and doesn’t hear anything. He knocks. No answer from this room either. He knocks again and the same results remain.
“Rad, I’m coming in.” he says.
He grabs the doorknob.
“Please don’t be jerking off again.” he whispers to himself.
He enters to see another empty, yet messy, bed. This room has clothes on the floor, and the curtains opened allowing light to fill the room. Another person is up before him. He’s really slipping today.
He finally comes to the last room in the house. He knocks hard. An immediate rustling accompanied by a tumble follows his knock.
“I’m up! I’m up!” is shouted from behind the door.
“Let’s get a move on, lots to do today.” he shouts back.
He bounds back down the hallway and descends the stairs. No one in the living room or the dining room. He can hear noise coming from the kitchen. He rounds the corner to see Sweetie preparing breakfast.
“Hmmm, beans and strawberries today? What a feast!” he says, the sarcasm dripping from his every word.
“¡Ay chacho! You want better food then get it for me!” she playfully snaps back.
“Why are you up so early?”
Her brow furrows, “Early? You just slept late!”
He bobs his head to the side agreeing with her. Her eyes dart to the ceiling, in the direction of his room, she motions at him with the knife.
”I get it, I get it! I wouldn’t wanna leave that love nest up there either.”
"Hey now, that's my woman up there."
"For now." she says with a wicked grin.
"I can never tell if you're serious or not."
She giggles and shrugs her shoulders. The kitchen door opens behind them. The large, young man known as Rad walks in with an axe over his shoulder. His dark complexion glistening with sweat. He looks at the two already in the kitchen, who are giving him inquisitive looks.
"It's chopping day." he says.
They nod, but do not reply. The three stand in uncomfortable silence for a long moment. Sweetie rolls her eyes and breaks the tension.
"Whew, you boys feel that heat? Imma give you two a minute." she says, as she exits the kitchen.
"Hawaii, look man I know-" Rad begins, but is waved off by Hawaii.
"We're both right. You now how to be safe and I have to trust that. But we also set the perimeter together, all of us. We all have to honor it. It's for our own safety. It takes too long to search the outskirts if one of us goes missing. We can't be out past it after dark unless we've already scheduled to do it, and we can't go out there alone. You know that man."
"Yeah, I do." Rad responds.
"I'm sorry for freaking out like that last night. That was the wrong move. I know better than that. I have to be better than that."
Rad nods in agreement.
"We have to take care of each other, it's the only way we survive. It's important that you and me stay on the same page, more than anyone else. We do the heavy lifting not because we have to, but because we want to. Right?"
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry too, man."
Hawaii extends his hand to Rad.
"We cool?"
Rad grabs Hawaii's hand, shaking it.
"We cool, man."
Hawaii pulls Rad to him, grinning.
"Fuck this, come here man. We're family."
Hawaii wraps his arms around Rad's stomach. Rad laughs and pushes him back.
"Always playin' man, always."
Hawaii grins and slaps the larger man's arm.
"Is Outlaw up yet?" Rad asks.
"He said he was getting up when I went to his room."
"Yeah, we know how that goes. I'll get his ass up."
Rad holds the axe up in the air and leaves kitchen.
"Outlaw! Get your ass up! It's chopping day!" he yells, as he ascends the stairs.
Sweetie returns the moment Rad exits the kitchen, passing him on his way out.
"Let me guess, you were literally right outside huh?" Hawaii asks.
She tilts her head, glaring at him from under slanted eyelids.
"I was in the middle of something chacho! You two interrupted me!" she says as she sticks her tongue out at him.
"Wow, alright then." Hawaii replies, holding his eyes and his mouth exaggeratingly wide.
"Shut up and go get Zee so we can eat." she says while giggling.
"Yes ma'am, eat we shall. I'm starving." he replies, then leaves the kitchen and heads for the stairs.
CHAPTER TEN
Zee places her hand on Hawaii’s arm. Feeling her touch, the solemn lover peers over his shoulder at her, cracking a forced display of joy. She returns the gesture, though hers is sincere.
“You did a good thing.” she says, “Humility isn’t easy, but it is important.”
She squeezes his arm and kisses him on the cheek. He rises from his knelt position, away from circle of stones and wood that make up the fire pit they're reconstructing.
“How is it you’re always right?” he says, taking her hand.
Her smile
