Outbreak: Tales from the Quarantine Zone
Page 8
Two days later Brian woke up early and started in on the chores before Danny was usually up and awake. Doc gave him a hand with the fence which had a few more zombies stuck to it than usual...but that was the chance they took running one of the vehicles. Sometimes the local zeds might be coming around for up to a week drawn in by the sound of the engine but the fences held them. The two of them entered the kitchen just as Danny was coming down the stairs.
The boy stared curiously at the packages wrapped in newspaper sitting on the dining room table. “What's that?” he asked as he started to help get the table set. Danny was pretty sure that somebody was playing a joke or something but he wasn't sure what it was or who it was on.
Brian looked at his son, his brow furrowed in confusion. “It's your birthday.” he said quietly his face brightening as his son realized that his dad wasn't kidding. “These are for you. Terrance and Doc helped me pick them out.”
Danny opened the DVD player and the movies followed by the package of batteries to run it carefully. The newsprint was thin and pretty rare so it couldn't just be ripped up like before. “Oh wow!” the boy said excitedly as he admired his gifts. “Thanks, Dad! Thanks, Terrance and Doc!” He pushed back from the table and gave them hugs. Doc hissed when Danny's forehead pressed against the nasty scrape on her stomach she got falling through the floor.
Danny and his father sat on the couch and got the DVD player out of the box then put the batteries. Doc got the box of Twinkies out of the hiding place in the back of the cabinet. She plopped down on the couch next to Brian and his son distributing the plastic wrapped treats while Brian tried to get the video working. “Sorry.” she said quietly “The best we can do for a birthday cake, buddy.”
Karen was about to sit down in one of the chairs then jumped up and ran into the kitchen. She dug around in one of the drawers and came back with a little yellow cardboard box and a lighter in her hands. “Lemme see your Twinkie, Danny.” she said taking the snack cake from the boy then opening the box and inserting one thin orange candle into it. After a couple attempts Karen got the candle lit and carefully set the Twinkie on its wrapper next to the DVD player.
They quietly sang the happy birthday song and Danny blew out the candle.
Table of Contents
Forward by the Author
The 'Burbs
Escape Plan
One Long Shift
A Nice Place to Raise a Family
Safe
Home
Birthday
The Gift