Millie ran up to him with a bottle of water. Taking a drink Bruce thanked her and sat the bottle down. “Tell you what,” Bruce declared, “if you want to die, come up here right now. I’ll shoot you in the back of the head. This way you will not interrupt others going about their work tryin’ to help us survive.” Bruce took out his pistol. Several people looked around not believing what he just said. “Come on don’t be shy. If you want to die, come up, I’ll help you. I give you my word. If you come up, you can say goodbye and I’ll cap your ass,” Bruce said holding up his pistol looking around the room for takers.
Father Thomas stood up, “Bruce, I think everyone here wants to live, if for nothing else to be entertained by you.” Giggles could be heard around the room as people nodded their heads.
Bruce put his pistol up saying, “Thank you father.”
“Bruce, can I please request that she be buried here? She was one of Gods children,” Father Thomas said.
“No Father, that is one rule that will never change. The only way you get buried on this soil is defending or providing for this clan. If you dive on a grenade, hold an area for others to escape, get run over by a tractor or shoot yourself because you are infected, then you are protecting the clan. Otherwise, you get dumped on the side of the road. If you want, you can pray over her but after I eat the body’s gone. If any knew her, don’t use her name around me,” Bruce said.
Father Thomas looked at Bruce, “Bruce, we’re better than that. She may have lost her way but we haven’t.”
Bruce closed his eyes, “Ok father, she can be buried in the far field but not inside the fence.” Father Thomas nodded his head thanking Bruce and headed to the door.
“Now kids, don’t use the language I use. I will allow it if your guardian does, but it better be used in the right context. I’m the boss, I can say what I want. Now, since I came out like the rest of you, to do battle in shorts, and flip flops I’m canceling training. It is cold outside in case you didn’t notice. I’m thinking Marcus may be right. The fifteenth is just days away. I want those that have been taught to drive the big rigs to make sure they are ready. I want the ATV’s to go with us, we are going to get some forklifts also. Security team, we will be down there until we are finished. The salvage team will rotate out every twenty four hours. A Stryker and Hummer will protect the convoy there and back,” Bruce said looking around seeing several blank stares.
“The team lists have been up for days. If you are on the Shreveport teams you will be coming home everyday. Security team, I want a meeting with you this afternoon to go over maps. There will be twenty on the security team. I’m breaking it down to four five man teams. Now let’s eat,” Bruce said heading to his table.
Bruce sat down in his chair as Debbie said, “I need a camera. Someone, get me a camera hurry.” Bruce thought she was going to do something to him until he noticed she wasn’t even looking at him. Following her line of sight, Bruce saw PJ standing up holding a chair across the room.
Bruce was fixing to tell Debbie nobody carries cameras now when Stephanie said, “Here,” pulling one out of her tactical vest. Debbie grabbed the camera snapping pictures as the family watched PJ. PJ was just standing and he appeared happy with that.
“Bruce, go make him walk,” Debbie said snapping pictures.
Bruce looked at her like she was insane, “Debbie, I can’t ‘make’ him walk.”
Debbie spun around in her chair, “Damn it Bruce, the kids always do what you tell ‘em. Every kid walked for you and not me, I have pictures to prove it. Now get your ass over there before I start throwing shit at you.”
Bruce jumped out of his chair in case Debbie was serious and from the look on her face, she was. When Bruce was five feet from PJ, he looked up at Bruce. “Hey little man,” Bruce said stopping, not getting closer.
PJ reached out with one hand to Bruce, “Dada.”
“That’s right it’s Daddy, come here,” Bruce said making PJ laugh. Bruce clapped his hands, “Come on PJ.” Out of the corner of his right eye, Bruce saw Debbie snapping pictures as fast as her finger could push the button. Bruce finally realized why they had over a 100 family albums.
PJ looked at Debbie, “Ma-Ma.” Debbie stood up putting her hand over her mouth.
Bruce looked at PJ, “That’s right that’s Mama, but don’t look her in the eye, she’s crazy.” Debbie popped Bruce on the butt making PJ squeal and laugh. Out of the corner of his left eye, Bruce saw Jake moving around with a digital video camera then he saw Matt pass Debbie holding another one.
“This isn’t a football game guys,” Bruce said.
“Bruce shut it,” Debbie said still snapping pictures.
Bruce looked back at PJ who had grabbed the chair with one hand again. “You don’t need to hold that chair boy. Come to Daddy,” Bruce said. PJ started to sit down and Bruce said, “No, no stay there.” Bruce made funny faces at PJ and he remained standing laughing at Bruce. Bruce kneeled down, “Come here boy let’s get some food, then let’s go blow something up.”
PJ yelled out letting go of the chair clapping his hands and Bruce clapped his hands. PJ lifted his right foot stepping toward Bruce clapping his hands. When his foot hit the ground he took another step coming to Bruce. Then his steps got faster as he started losing his balance. On his seventh step, he started falling forward and Bruce leaned forward to catch him. Grabbing PJ before he fell, Bruce lifted him in the air making PJ squeal with delight.
Thunderous applause and cheers scared the shit out of Bruce and PJ. Bruce pulled PJ to his chest and looked around. The entire clan was in a huge circle watching PJ taking his first steps. Bruce held PJ up for everyone to see. PJ didn’t know what this was about but he liked it as he clapped his hands.
When Bruce brought PJ down Debbie was there to get him. Bruce took the camera from her and started taking pictures of them together. Stephanie ran over to hug PJ and Bruce took pictures as Debbie handed PJ to Stephanie. The twins came over to Stephanie and Debbie. Debbie picked them up hugging them and Bruce kept the camera rolling. Then the camera beeped at Bruce, he looked at the screen and saw: FULL.
Not even thinking about it, Bruce just stepped over to Jake handing it to him. Jake handed the handheld video camera to Bruce as he replaced the memory card. Jake took his camera back giving Bruce, Stephanie’s. Bruce continued to snap pictures as he asked Jake.
“You and Matt carry video cameras in your vest?” Bruce asked.
“Yeah Dad,” Jake replied.
Thinking about it for a second Bruce asked, “Son, get me one to put in mine. Better yet I want the sports cam you have. Then I will just mount it on my boonie hat.”
“No problem Dad, I will have you hooked up this afternoon,” Jake said.
The pictures continued for ten more minutes then everyone settled down at the tables. Debbie, Angela, Nancy and Stephanie were huddled together looking at the pictures and video’s as Millie brought over plates. PJ was sitting in Bruce’s lap still clapping wondering why nobody would join him. When PJ saw the food he didn’t care about clapping anymore.
After breakfast everyone sat around treasuring the down time before going to do the chores Bruce had called out. Stephanie turned to Bruce and asked, “Why am I not on a team Bruce?”
Bruce looked at Stephanie fixing to feed her a line of shit. Remembering what Debbie said, he told her the truth, “You’re too valuable to the family and clan to risk.”
“Me valuable?” Stephanie exclaimed.
“Yes,” Bruce replied.
“How am I more valuable than anyone else, especially you?” Stephanie asked.
“Would you like me to list it alphabetically, numerically or just give it to you straight,” Bruce answered.
“Straight,” Stephanie replied.
“You’re too smart to risk losing you. The teams may be attacked, have a wreck or have a meteor fall on them. Here you are safer and of much more use to us,” Bruce answered.
Stephanie looked at Bruce with tears in
her eyes, “I’m not that smart. I want to help to.”
Bruce reached over grabbing her hands, “Yes you are. Stephanie you read, remember and understand stuff faster than anyone I’ve ever met, heard of or read about. This family is not punishing you because you are smart. We need your knowledge to help us survive and more importantly live. Look around the table, you will see they agree with me.” Stephanie looked around the table seeing everyone nodding in agreement with Bruce and the tears rolled down her face.
Stephanie looked at Bruce, “I have trained with this family for years. You yourself taught me guns.”
“Stephanie, come here,” Bruce patted his lap. Stephanie crossed her arms and looked down at her lap, pouting. Bruce got up stepping to her chair and picked her up in his arms. When he sat down in his chair, she had laid her head on his chest.
Bruce wrapped his arms around her as he talked, “Stephanie, I know what you learned with us and I don’t think it’s enough to risk you outside the farm. I made this decision and everyone agreed with me. Look at it from my side. Let’s take the refining information I had you look at. That took up almost two and a half months of my time. We are not going to talk about everyone else’s. You did it in hours. Stephanie, you told me you would do what I ask to help. Do you remember?”
Stephanie closed her eyes thinking then her shoulders slumped, “Yes the day you handed me the flash drives.”
Relief flooded through Bruce, hoping she had said that as he continued. “This is what I need you to do for the family. I need you to get the supplies we bring back stored. Not just thrown on the floor and stacked haphazardly. We will run out of room and lose supplies. Debbie is bringing storage containers in but we will have to set them up before we can use them.” Debbie reached over rubbing Stephanie’s shoulder.
Stephanie sniffed, “I just want to do more than be smart. I don’t want to just stay in here reading while everyone else fights for me.”
“Stephanie, we need you here now. I never said you were going to always stay here. I said you did not have enough training to risk you right now,” Bruce said hopping he got it right. Stephanie thought for a minute then looked up at Bruce. Bruce smiled at her, “I let you sleep next to me even though you don’t shave your legs don’t I?”
Stephanie reached down to feel her legs, “They are too shaved.”
“Made you smile though,” Bruce told her as she slapped his chest. “Stephanie, ask Debbie why I wouldn’t let her go out at first and I knew she had the training. I wanted to make sure she would use it. I have to weigh the risk and benefit for everyone I send out. Right now, for you, the risk is too great.”
“When?” Stephanie asked looking up at Bruce.
“If you are serious, when this supply run is over, I will start training you with the help from each one here. When I feel you can go with a reasonable amount of safety, then you’ll go out with my team only. The ‘when’ will depend on you and how fast you learn what we teach you. I do have books but you need hands on training,” Bruce told her.
“Ok,” Stephanie gave in.
“Stephanie, this family loves you, we’re not the people from the old world who treat you different. If anyone else here could do what you do it would make it much simpler. I would just keep one of you here at all times but there isn’t,” Bruce told her.
Stephanie hugged Bruce, “Thank you Bruce.” The rest of the family left as Stephanie hugged Bruce, thankful she had given in.
When Stephanie let go, Debbie came over and joined her in Bruce’s lap. “He’s telling you the truth. You’re really valuable to the family,” Debbie told her as she hugged her.
Bruce leaned forward and whispered, “Not to be crude but I have two fine women sitting in my lap in shorts and t-shirts. I can tell both of you are cold and let’s just say I’m getting really hot.” Stephanie and Debbie released their embrace and looked down. Stephanie covered her chest with her hands. “Why’d you do that? I was enjoying the view,” Bruce said raising his eyebrows up and down repeatedly.
Debbie laughed and hugged Bruce. Stephanie looked at them then hugged Bruce also telling him, “It’s ok, you can look.”
“Oh yeah,” Bruce said as he heard a baby yell from the floor beside his chair. Bruce leaned his head over seeing PJ crawl toward his chair. “Hey boy you see me with some fine women, go play,” Bruce told him. PJ sat up on his knees jabbering and shaking his head no. “You don’t tell me no, boy. What are you doing crawling? You know how to walk, so get up. This afternoon you will run at least once around the fence,” Bruce told PJ. PJ blew raspberries at Bruce as Stephanie sat up.
“Bruce, he just learned how to walk, he can’t run yet,” Stephanie said.
“We’ll tie a rope to him and pull him around behind one of the buggies then,” Bruce told her.
Stephanie jumped out of Bruce’s lap and turned toward PJ then stopped. Stephanie turned back around and sat back down in Bruce’s lap. “I’ll get the rope,” Stephanie said.
Bruce and Debbie hugged her laughing as Debbie said, “See, you make a good Mama.”
“Ok, I need to get up but I have a problem. Can one of you walk in front of me toward the door?” Bruce asked with a pleading look. Stephanie looked down then at Debbie with wide eyes.
Debbie laughed, “Bruce stand up and turn around. Stephanie, jump on his back for a piggyback ride and cover the mighty Bruce. Get off when he reaches the door. The cold outside will take care of the rest. My legs aren’t long enough.”
As Debbie got off his lap, Bruce told Stephanie, “Be careful with your feet.” Bruce stood up turning around as Stephanie jumped on his back. Grabbing his rifle Bruce headed to the door and Stephanie jumped off as Bruce took off like a rocket toward the house.
Debbie picked up PJ and she sat back down as Stephanie came back to the table. Angela turned away from watching the twins play chase with Cade. “What was that about?” Angela asked when Stephanie came back to the table.
“Bruce would’ve been embarrassed, so Stephanie helped out,” Debbie told her.
Angela scoffed, “Bruce embarrassed, impossible.”
“Let’s just say, he got excited in parts of his body and his shorts were not cooperating,” Debbie told her smiling.
Angela smiled and started giggling and snorting, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just did,” Debbie said.
“Can I pick on him about it tonight, just a little bit,” Angela begged.
“I don’t care,” Debbie told her laughing as Angela made devious faces.
Angela stopped making faces and looked around not seeing anyone by them, she asked Debbie, “Debbie the night Bruce tried to kill Mike’s nuts what were you laughing for.”
“I don’t know, what were we talking about,” Debbie innocently replied.
Stephanie looked at her, “Bruce said your feet were his fetish and you started laughing and he said that was between you and him.”
Stephanie sat down as Debbie started laughing. Catching her breath, Debbie related the story. “Bruce was fifteen and I was fourteen and we were at a pool party. That was the first time Bruce saw me in a bikini after I had filled out. He was watching me like a hawk and let me tell you, I thought I was hot stuff too. Most of the time when boys look at you, it’s from the corner of their eyes but not that day. Bruce was almost drooling over me. He never even glanced at another girl which I can say made my head get big. When I would walk up to him, he would so check me out.”
“It was so bad he would not get out of his chair, if you understand. I asked him to come swimming several times but he just stayed in his chair, drooling. So I pulled up a chair beside him so he could get a good look. I put my feet in his lap and he actually started to tremble. With that, let me tell you I thought I was the best thing since sliced bread. I was so fine I could make my boyfriend tremble,” Debbie related to them as they giggled.
“Now my Mom and Dad were at this party also, as chaperones. On the way home, I was laying down in the back se
at and my parents thought I was asleep. My Dad tells my Mom he didn’t like Bruce anymore. My Mom loved Bruce and told Dad that. Dad said, ‘You didn’t see the way he was looking at her.’ My Mom said she thought it was cute. My dad stopped the car and looked at my Mom and said, ‘He was looking at her feet.’ My Mom didn’t believe him and neither did I at the time. So the next day when Bruce came over, I wore a skirt and t-shirt but no shoes. We were out on the back deck and my Dad was grilling hamburgers. When Bruce got up to help him. I wiggled my toes and Bruce walked right off a five foot tall deck hitting the ground face first. I got up running to Bruce to find him laid out on the ground not moving. I thought he was dead and I had killed him by wiggling my toes at him but he was only knocked out cold. I screamed at my Dad to help. Dad just shook his head looking down at Bruce and me beside him crying. Then he went to the back door and yelled inside, ‘Make your daughter put on some shoes, the foot freak just took a nose dive off the deck’.”
Stephanie and Angela were laughing so hard tears were running down their faces. Debbie continued, “After that day my Dad made me wear tennis shoes anytime Bruce was around. When Bruce was allowed to spend the night, my Dad made me wear my shoes to bed. One night, I heard my Dad tell Bruce, ‘Son you’re weird. Debbie runs around half naked and you just stare at her feet. Part of me likes that but another part wants to put you in a mental institution.’ Bruce looks at my Dad and says, ‘Her feet are so hot.’”
Blue Plague Survival Page 48