Julia sighed. “Yes, it’s ok. You two can still tag along if you like.” She flipped back her long overcoat and put her hands on her hips. “Though the captain won’t be joining us.”
“That sounds reasonable.” Dr. Manson stepped up behind Lance and Clint. “We’ll have Burrows, along with Torrez and Henry Castle, I hear. All of them are expertly trained.” The scientist was looking at Julia over his glasses. He was wearing a long overcoat as well.
“You’re right, Manson. We’ll be fine.” Julia cocked her head to the side with a sardonic grin.
“I don’t care who’s coming, let’s just hurry up and get going.” Lance was fidgety.
“Ok, ok.” Julia turned around to see Carver speaking to his army boys.
He was probably giving them some secret agenda to not follow Julia’s orders. When Carver looked over his shoulder and caught her eye, his nod and simple smile made Julia feel her paranoia wasn’t far off. She turned and started making her way to where Miles and Antonio were. As she approached, she heard Antonio bragging about how fresh his new outfit was and trying to do the Michael Jordan pose on his shirt. His clothes were grabbed this morning from the Nike section of the men’s department and it reminded Julia that he was still just some nineteen-year-old kid. Rather than a skilled and trained killer who took out infected people with ease. The teen was still wearing the backpack he found outside with the baseball bat he used to defend himself. Blood splatter could be seen around the handle.
“Miles, are you ready to go?” Julia asked the question but judging by his outfit, the thirteen-year-old was ready for anything.
The small boy looked her up and down, concerned about what she was wearing. “You not goin’ like that are you?” he asked.
Julia looked at her ripped jeans and plaid button-up and decided the long overcoat brought it all together. “Why? I thought I looked post-apocalypse ready.” She giggled.
The brothers blinked in response.
“Well, we don’t exactly have riot gear just lying around the store,” Julia said.
“We saw a sports section when we was runnin’ through the store. You could get like a baseball catcher uniform.” Antonio scratched his head, thinking.
“Or you could, you could put on more layers. More layers of clothes,” Miles added. “Like two shirts and two pants.”
Julia felt awkward now in her outfit. She wished she had put more thought into what she would wear outside. “Uh, ok. I’ll make sure I get a better coat too.”
“You better,” Antonio said.
Julia crossed her arms and stared the boy down. He avoided the serious look on her face and all his boldness melted away. Still, the brothers had made a good point, and Julia would suggest everyone layer up for their outing. She was going to make this comment to Manson especially, since she could see that he was only wearing a sweater and cargo pants under his overcoat.
Major Carver came marching over. “Everyone looks like they’re ready to go.”
The major was accompanied by Torrez, in full fatigues from head to toe and Burrows who wore cargo pants with a dark wool sweater. Henry Castle was behind them, wearing a heavy tan overcoat over his dark jeans. Castle was bulky under his coat and had a stern, hard look on his face.
Carver puffed out his chest and squared his shoulders. “I wish you all good luck and Godspeed.”
Miles looked at Antonio, almost about to cry. Antonio grabbed his younger brother and shook him. “Cut it out, Miles. You gotta be the map out there so you can’t be cryin’ and shit.”
Miles swallowed back his tears and nodded his head. “O--ok.”
“Ok.” Antonio leaned closer to Miles’ ear and added, “Remember, as soon as you get the chance, break off from them and go back to the treehouse and wait for me. And try stealin’ one of they guns if you can.”
Miles sniffled and wiped his face with his sleeve. “And while you here, while you stay here… check that cabinet in the securr-itty room. They might have something in there. They could be hiding something.” Miles was so close to Antonio’s ear, spittle hit the back of his older brother’s neck.
Antonio backed away, rubbing behind his ear and rolled his eyes at his brother. Miles wiped his mouth and apologized. The brothers slapped hands, dapped once on top and once on the bottom, before bumping fist and opening their hands with a boom. Miles giggled and Antonio smiled. The old man always liked to fist bump with an explosion sound effect at the end. Antonio thought it was lame in the beginning but over time he grew to love it as much as Miles did.
Julia watched the boys and chuckled. She gave Carver one last cold stare, but the major kept a corner of his mouth in a defiant smirk. Carver coughed and struck his chest.
“Can I get my rifle back?” Miles asked the major, then looked around for a second at whoever could help him with that. “I’m better with my rifle.”
“Yeah, give my brother his rifle. He better than all yo people wit a gun.” Antonio added.
Carver scoffed at the boys, preparing to speak.
“That’s a good idea,” Julia interjected. “You guys know it out there better than any of us. If you need your weapons to perform at your best, we’re bringing them. Anything else you need, Miles?” She stared the major down and could see the fury starting to build behind his eyes.
Miles was unaware of Carver’s anger and replied, “Just my rifle is fine. I just need my rifle.” He paused. “Do you guys have rifle ama-nition?”
“I’ll get it.” Captain Baker knew exactly where the weapon was and prepared to go retrieve it. “And I’ll meet you all at the front of the store.”
“You won’t be going with the outside group however, captain.” Carver coughed and covered his mouth.
Baker stopped and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not going?” The captain exchanged a glance with Julia.
The major went on, “We need the community’s saving grace, patrolling the store and keeping the compound safe.” He let a grin play across his face. “After yesterday’s ordeals, I believe the people would be more at ease with their hero, Captain Baker, remaining here.”
Baker clenched his jaw tight and turned his head slightly. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Julia again, so he just nodded to the major. “Ok… sir.”
Julia rolled her eyes and turned to leave. “We’ll be waiting at the front of the store. Don’t take too long.” She was walking away as she spoke.
Baker sighed and put his hands on his hips. “Yeah. Ok.”
“I’ll take your first shift patrolling the store.” Carver clasped his hands behind his back, and nodded his head towards Antonio, “You can take this boy back to the office on your way, Captain.” The major turned and went off to see the remaining community members out of the food court.
Miles and Antonio shared one last longing look before Baker put a hand on Antonio’s shoulder and told him to come on. They started heading back towards the back of the store and Antonio looked back a few times to watch his little brother shrink in the distance. A voice in his head told him not to cry so he turned around and stiffened his lip. The captain noticed this, but also noticed someone calling out to him.
“Oh, hey! Captain Baker!” Brandon came running up from one of the nearby aisles. “Glad I caught you.” He cleared his throat and straightened the wrinkles in his shirt. “I, uh, I was wondering if I could maybe hang out with Antonio. You know, maybe take him by the shop and hook him up real quick. He lookin’ kinda shabby over there.” Brandon laughed and pulled at the whiskers that were growing from Antonio’s chin and jawline.
“Get outta here, Mr. Brandon! I ain’t a kid no mo’! I’ma grown man.” Antonio stroked his sparse facial hair like it was a full beard.
Captain Baker just groaned. “Brandon, I gotta take him back to the security office.”
“I know, I know. It’s just… I hadn’t seen anyone… since before all this happened.” Brandon’s eyes went back and forth between Captain Baker and Antonio. He cleared his throat and continued,
“I know I’m not related to Antonio or Miles but… after all we’ve been through from the school to now... I just thought…”
Baker sighed and shook his head, then spotted the big man who helped with the hive yesterday, Dante Lincoln. He was wandering by in jeans and a tank top, with the same assault rifle he used to fight the infected hoards, hanging at his side. “Lincoln!” The captain called out and the dark man came trotting over. “Go with Brandon to watch this kid. Then when you’re done, take Antonio back to the security room office.”
“Ok. No problem, captain… sir. Uh, Captain Baker.” One big arm came up as Lincoln saluted with his left hand, then awkwardly lifted his right arm to salute again, not really certain which one was correct. Baker just shook his head and left.
“Thanks, Captain Baker!” Brandon was thrilled. He took a handful of Antonio’s hair and made an O with his mouth. “Man, you been out there a while, huh?” He laughed and Antonio shoved him.
“Shut up, man! It ain’t like I could go to the barber shop and get a fade.”
Brandon shook his head, smiling, and turned to hurry down an aisle. He waved for Antonio to follow and the kid looked at Lincoln, confused but intrigued. Lincoln shrugged his big shoulders. Antonio went after Brandon and found it hard to keep up. They jogged down a massive aisle of hair products. Shampoos and conditioners and moisturizers and gels; countless unopened, untouched hair products just waiting on their shelves for someone looking to grab a deal. When Antonio finally caught up to Brandon, they were in the middle of a large section of wigs at a display counter.
“You want a bald fade?” Brandon stepped behind the counter and flipped out a barber’s apron. “How many inches you want me to take off the top?”
Antonio watched Brandon plug in clippers and set out combs and brushes. Brandon snapped out a cape and used it to brush off the spinning salon chair. It had been so long since Antonio had thought about a haircut it took him a minute to understand what Brandon was talking about.
“You gon sit down or what?” Brandon asked with a smile.
Antonio laughed and jumped in the seat from where he was standing. He kicked up his feet and lifted his chin when Brandon wrapped a tissue paper around his neck. The cape flapped in the air and draped over Antonio and his smile somehow spread past his ears.
“You been here cuttin’ hair this whole time?” Antonio laughed as Brandon snatched at his hair with a big comb and a pick.
“Ha! Somethin’ like that! Naw, I just come over here and help people out when I can. It’s the least I can do.” Brandon moved the boy’s head to get the best angles to comb.
“You two know each other from before?” Lincoln was leaning against the display counter, watching them.
“Yeah! Brandon was a staff in my classroom! He was coo!” Antonio laughed, then cried out when the comb got stuck in a snag.
“Yeah. That feels like a lifetime ago.” Brandon chuckled then turned on the clippers. The buzzing made Antonio start shaking his leg in anticipation. “We were at the school when it all went down in Oakland two years ago,” Brandon said softly and began mowing through the thick afro on Antonio’s head.
“Really? You guys were in Oakland? Wow, that’s crazy.” Lincoln leaned in closer, his eyebrows high with curiosity. “When the whole city went wild? You guys survived that? I heard almost half the city turned. It was all them millennial gentrifiers who took UGEN and LRS-10 for everything.” The big man shook his head.
“I don’t know what happened. All I know is, if it wasn’t for Johnathan moving like he did in the beginning, me and a bunch of other people wouldn’t have even left the school.” Brandon turned off the buzzing and replaced the guard to cut Antonio’s hair length lower. “He was… he was a great dude. He always helped out however he could at the school and didn’t complain. Aite, well he complained but not to yo face, you know what I’m sayin’?”
Both Lincoln and Brandon laughed. Antonio could feel the good spirited humor and joined in.
“He was a good man. He really was.” Brandon paused and continued going around Antonio’s head with the clippers. “If John really stayed with you guys this whole time, it makes me think I should’ve stayed with you. I shouldn’t have ran away like I did.” The hard memories made him go quiet.
After lining Antonio’s hairline and brushing the stray hairs from his face, Brandon took the tissue wrapped around Antonio’s neck and dabbed it with alcohol he took from under the display counter. He wiped Antonio’s hairline with the alcohol and examined the job he did.
“I could go get another razor blade to give you a better line up, but I think you good. I’ma let your little peach fuzz grow.” Brandon chuckled to himself and raised a mirror for Antonio to look at his cut.
The teenager took the mirror, moved his head from side to side and tilted back, unable to stop smiling and unable to take his eyes off his reflection. He was a completely new person. In new clothes, cleaned up, and with a fresh new high top haircut. The teen bit his tongue as he cheesed in the mirror.
“Yeeaahh! That’s what’s up!” Antonio proclaimed.
***
Miles tapped his boot as he tried to be patient. He was waiting for Captain Baker to return with his dragunov rifle and found it difficult to stop fidgeting. It felt like forever ago since the last time Miles held his gun and he couldn’t wait to get his hands back on it. If he had it yesterday while they were taking care of the hive, he was confident he would’ve been more proficient with his strategic thinking. The old man always talked about strategic thinking. Said it was when you thought on the fly in any given scenario. The old man would’ve been proud of Miles and Antonio yesterday. They managed to use some impressive strategic thinking to get rid of the biggest hive they had ever encountered.
But Miles still felt in his gut that the old man wouldn’t be happy about their going to the Costco Superstore in the first place. Even if they were running low on food, the old man would’ve thought it was too risky to get so close to such a large group of people. But how was Miles supposed to know there was a whole community here? He was just trying to find food for himself and his brother. Not his real brother, not really. But that’s what he and Antonio called each other. That’s how they treated each other. That’s how the old man raised them. And Miles was just trying to think what the old man would do. How would Johnathan react in their circumstance? The old man always made the right calls.
Julia watched the young boy and could see how eager he was to get his gun back. On the walk through the store to the entrance, Miles kept looking back every few seconds, looking for Captain Baker. Even while he helped everyone pick out new clothes to wear, Miles kept looking for the captain to return. Julia still wished the captain was accompanying them outside the store. Torrez, Burrows and Castle weren’t making her feel very confident in their ability. Torrez could be too trippy at times and was heavy into his religion. He often talked about this being the end of days and would get intensely biblical if you let him. Even now he was standing at a dead cash register, rubbing the rosary under his shirt.
Burrows and Castle were two lunkheads on their own, but together they were Beavis and Butthead. Julia snapped around when she heard one of them laugh so loud behind her, it startled her. Burrows covered his mouth and Castle turned away trying not to laugh. They were children. Why did Dr. Manson, the mad scientist, have to have Burrows come along on this expedition? And Major Carver was only sending Castle along because he had the big oaf in his pocket. Castle did whatever he was ordered to do.
So far Castle wasn’t being any trouble and even put on another pair of pants when Miles suggested that everyone should layer up. Torrez followed the boy’s directions to the letter and put sweatpants on, over his jeans. He also put on a leather jacket over his long sleeved shirt and for good measure he even grabbed a pair of leather gloves with a hockey mask. Julia put on baggy jeans over her ripped pants and an XXL flannel sweater. She kept her overcoat. Burrows put on two big jackets and called it a day w
hile Dr. Manson did nothing to alter his outfit. The smug scientist believed there was no reason to encumber himself. Clint thanked Miles for his suggestions, but the geezer just fixed his eye patch and said his clothes would do. Lance didn’t humor the boy at all.
“Can we go already, Julia?” Lance asked after his third time pacing back and forth in front of the exit door. The gawky widower was flush and starting to sweat, thinking they were wasting time.
“We’re still waiting for Miles’ rifle,” Julia said, also for the third time.
“What does a kid like that even know about a rifle?” Lance’s cheeks reddened as he huffed. “Look, the captain probably got busy and won’t be coming back for a while. We should start going now. We’ve wasted enough time already.”
Julia sighed and turned to Lance so he could see the serious look on her face, “We’re going to wait for Miles’ rifle. Captain Baker should be here any minute so stop asking me can we go.”
Lance rubbed the back of his neck and muttered under his breath. Nearby, Manson let out a deep passive-aggressive sigh which signaled he was tired of waiting. Julia just stared his way and he avoided eye contact with her piercing glare. She looked at Miles and although she felt for the young boy, if Baker took any longer, they would have to leave the rifle. Burrows, Castle and Torrez would have to be enough.
Ben and his daughter came into view as they made their way around the register lines. Alana was wearing a backpack and arguing with her father, who was pink with embarrassment at trying to convince his daughter to listen. Miles was once again awestruck by the sight of Alana, who was wearing cargo shorts like her dad and a blue flannel shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Her skin was shining, and Miles could see the freckles that dusted her peach face, also covered her arms. Her hair was bouncing curls, shimmering under the fluorescent lights. Miles was happy to see her again.
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