by William Bebb
*****
Josey and Mrs. Remlap were looking out the window when Colonel Lester stumbled into the living room and collapsed into his recliner. His hands were trembling uncontrollably as he gasped for air and coughed weakly.
“Billy... gone,” he barely managed to say, while holding a scrap of paper in one trembling hand and clutching his chest with the other. His face looked almost bleached white and his eyes were open wide in undeniable terror.
“Colonel, are you alright?” Josey asked, quickly limping to the old man’s side. “Where are your pills? Are they in your bedroom?”
Mrs. Remlap brought him a bottle of water and held it up so the colonel could take a sip.
The old man shook the paper at Josey (shoving it into his hand) ignoring both the question and the offered water.
“Got to... g... go find him. He's outsid-,” he mumbled then couldn't speak anymore as Mrs. Remlap forced him to drink some water.
“I have nitroglycerin pills, here,” she said, slipping a bottle out of her colossal handbag. She flipped out two little white pills and helped the colonel take them.
Josey shook his head as he quickly read the note.
Deer Granpa,
dont be mad. I went out to go use the phone to get help. I will be carful dont worry I have my BB rifle and will be back with help soon.
xoxo billy bear
“He's passed out but I think he'll be okay,” Mrs. Remlap said, looking at Josey while holding the colonel's hand in hers. “Where's Billy?”
He glanced out the window then looked at his metal crowbar, then back out the window again as the few snarling creatures in the front yard continued to wander aimlessly about. “He's either gotten to safety or-” his voice cracked and he slammed his fist against the coffee table unable to continue.
Kids, Josey thought in disgust. He looked out the back window and shook his head. Why are kids so damn stupid? He wondered and limped over to check the front window.
There were a few men fighting each other and screaming, but there was no sign of the boy.