“Can I think about it? Maybe you can come too? Me and you, go find a place out there, where there aren’t a lot of dead? We could work and maybe have a family one day? Find a life away from the ashes.”
“You can think on it, friend, but you’re not leaving here. I won’t leave here though. This is my home, my city. Here, I rule. I can’t rule elsewhere. Here is where I stay.”
“I’ll stay for a while then, but I will leave one day. I hope you’ll come with me. This place can’t last, the food can’t last.” Flynn saw the smile spread across Cramer’s face. It gave him a chill, a disquieted feeling.
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Brian shown the flashlight around the stores within the mall. It was eerily quiet. He’d just come from a clothing store, where he’d picked Cooper up clothing. The clothing were various larger sizes. He was headed to another store, to pick up more. Cooper wore a backpack filled with shirts and socks. Brian wore a larger backpack filled with jeans, sweaters and light jackets. The next store, they’d pick up shoes, boots and more adult wear. He’d have to get enough clothing to last this child and himself a lifetime. Daisy was happily sniffing around everything. Thankfully, there were no bodies in the stores. It was one thing he worried about with Cooper tagging along.
It was an overwhelming thought. He’d picked up simple but well-made clothing, it was difficult, because most of the clothing offered was cheaply made with cheap material and wouldn’t last the harsh life ahead. He was guessing on Coop’s eventual size from his father, who was a modest five foot ten. He hoped that he got it right, especially for shoes. And winter coats, Pennsylvania was damned cold in winter and he was sure in the woods, it would be very cold.
By the end of it all, they had accumulated quite an assortment of clothing. Hats, scarves, mittens. Those were found in the back, stock rooms, since it was mostly summer things that had been put out. His arms screamed with abuse as he carried numerous bags. Cooper was humming to himself, apparently, he was very pleased. He opened the back door and Daisy jumped in. In the back of the truck were more metal garbage cans along with fifty-pound bags of dog food.
They were heading back to Lowes again, to pick up more wood, along with the gas tiller, seed packets and fertilizer. He planned to put up fencing around the garden, to keep the smaller rabbits out along with the deer. He pulled out and left the small mall, heading toward the large hardware store. He was also eating through the gas cans in the back of the truck. He was thankful that he’d at least had the forethought to store the gas. At least he didn’t have to drive home. That would save on gas as well. Tonight, they’d spend their first night at the Beach House, or home.
He backed the trailer to the entrance to the Lowes. He let Daisy out, who went to sniffing around. Going inside, with Cooper, he stood for a moment to listen. He heard nothing. He didn’t think many people would be here shopping. Food would more than likely be their top priority. He got a large cart and Cooper climbed happily aboard. He pushed the cart toward the gardening center, his powerful flashlight shining down the dim aisles. It was the flashlight he used at work.
He found an empty box and set it on the cart. He stopped by the seeds, he pulled them off. Tomatoes, green peppers, corn, zucchini, carrots, beans, string beans, and all other sorts of seeds he’d need to live in this new world. He wasn’t sure how to plant, but he’d seen enough videos to get him started. He was surprised to see canning equipment and stopped by to pick up canning jars, two pressure canners, strainers and other canning implements. He’d made notes and was glad he did, then a large grin spread across his face. There beside the lot were books on canning. He laughed out loud when he picked up Canning & Preserving for Dummies.
He felt a heavy weight fall from his shoulders. He’d have to swing by and get materials for making racks. He’d need to store his food some place. He walked out to the outdoor part of the gardening section and almost fainted. There, on the shelves where pots of tomatoes and green peppers, squash, and zucchini, already growing in pots. Because the rain could reach them, the plants hadn’t died. He also saw six-foot fruit trees, peaches, apples and pears, along with a few cherry trees. He’d have to plant those, to ensure in a couple years, they had fruit. He laughed, delighted.
“Looks like we’ll at least have some fresh tomatoes soon, maybe even some zucchini. And maybe some fruit in a few years.” He grinned down at Cooper.
“I can help daddy. I can help.” Cooper squealed. It took a bit of doing, but they loaded up the trees and plants. He also found sets of lettuce and added that to the cart. He’d head to the farm and pick up the rest of the chickens, on his way to the park. It would be their last stop before they got to the park. He’d spend the next few days building inside the structure, making it habitable.
Two hours later found him pulling away from the large store. His heart felt lighter. He had the beginnings of a garden; he had a dog for early warning and a companion to Cooper and he had hope. Pulling away, he headed for the small farm. He hoped that the eggs hadn’t hatched yet. He had a smaller gage wire for a brooder coop, to keep the
