“Hardly,” I shot back.
“Then stop moping like a fat kid that had his candy stolen.”
“I’ll make you a deal. You shut the hell up and drive and I’ll stop moping,” I replied with as much sarcasm as I could muster.
“No deal. I’m not going to shut up. We need to talk,” he replied as he started the truck and backed out of the driveway.
Thad was looking at us and I waved at him. He smiled, shook his head and waved. Without looking over, I asked, “What the hell do you want to talk about?”
As we bounced down the road under a cloudless sky, he said, “We’ve got to get rid of those fucking commies.”
“That’s your job,” I replied with a snort.
The old man looked over at me, total disgust on his face. Then he focused back on the road as we rounded the corner and headed towards Danny’s house. After a moment, he spoke. In a voice nearly devoid of inflection, he asked, “What in the hell’s gotten into everyone lately? Mikey is not acting like himself. All of you out this morning and not a damn gun among you.” He looked over and genuinely asked, “What the hell is going on?”
Looking out the window, I replied, “We’re tired. The attack on the park was hard on everyone.”
“So, what are you going to do? Sit down and wait to die? Hide under the covers and hope the monsters go away?”
Finally, I looked over at him. “It’s just that every time we get a leg up, something happens to knock us down. It’s kinda depressing.”
Sarge stopped the truck in the road. “But you can’t just give up. You know, in the Before, there were a lot of people that were always looking for someone else to handle their shit. Always waiting for the government to come take care of them. Those days are gone. You have to take care of your own shit now. All you have to rely on is yourself and your friends. And we’re lucky. We have an awesome group of folks here. Think about them and taking care of them, just as they are you.”
“You really think you need to tell me that?”
“No. But I do think from time to time you need to be reminded.”
I thought about that for a minute. He was right, and I knew it. But it was also easy to want to forget it all for a while. “Well played,” was all I replied.
Sarge smiled and said, “Glad to have you back, old buddy. Now, let’s go talk to Sheffield about getting rid of those commies.”
“Stop by the house so I can get my kit.”
The old man looked over and smiled, “Did you actually think I was going to take you to town like this?”
We pulled into the yard to find Mel and the kids out front. They were all looking up into the trees. I got out and looked up, asking, “What’s going on?”
Little Bit pointed up and said, “Something is making a ruckus up there.”
I smiled and rubbed her head, asking, “A ruckus huh? Where did you learn that word?”
Mel laughed and said, “I asked her the same thing.”
Little Bit shrugged, “Listen to it. It’s making a ruckus.”
There was a squeaking coming from somewhere in the tree. From over my shoulder, Sarge asked, “What’s this now?”
Little Bit took his hand and said, “Something’s up there. Can you hear it?”
Sarge smiled as he looked down at her and replied, “Sure can. What do you want to bet it’s a baby squirrel?”
Little Bit’s face lit up, “Really? It’s a baby?” Then she and Edie held hands and jumped around shouting, “It’s a baby! It’s a baby.”
Sarge pointed up into the tree and said, “There it is, right there.”
I looked up and spotted the tiny gray form squirming around in a clump of leaves. Little Bit took a sharp breath and said, “Oh no, it’s going to fall!”
We all watched as it wriggled around and did indeed fall. Mel and the kids all let out a squeal. Without thinking, I pulled my hat off, reached out and the little guy dropped right into it. There were cheers from everyone as I took him out of the hat. The poor little guy had ants all over him and I wiped them away and looked him over. His eyes were still closed, but he did have a coat of fine fur and looked good, other than the ants.
“Can I hold him! I want to hold him!” Little Bit shouted.
Handing her the tiny creature, I said, “Be careful.”
Mel knelt down beside her said, “Gentle, be real gentle with it.”
Edie and Jace gathered around to rub its head with a finger as they all giggled and squealed. Little Bit looked up at Mel and asked, “Can we keep it?”
Mel scooped it up from her hand and held the little guy up in front of her face. “I don’t know what we’d feed it.”
“That’s easy,” Sarge replied, “Baby formula. He won’t eat much, and we can spare enough for the little guy.”
“That’s a good idea,” Mel replied. “I have an eyedropper I can feed him with.”
“What are we going to name him?” Little Bit asked.
“I think you already did,” Mel replied. Little Bit looked up confused and Mel said, “Ruckus! Why don’t we call him Ruckus?”
The kids all laughed out loud and Little Bit danced around, “I love it! We have a baby squirrel named Ruckus!”
“That’s a fine name for a limb rat,” Sarge replied with a smile.
Mel took the little rodent into the house and the kids followed her. Sarge looked at me and said, “Hurry up and get your shit.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied as I headed into the house.
Mel was in the kitchen with the kids.
