Beware the Night by Sonny Collins Page B

people left in the world?”
      She figured she’d best perk him up fast. “Don’t be silly. If you and me made it through, there has to be others that have done the same. We are survivors. And not to change the subject, but didn’t you want to do something normal? Like go fishing?”
      There was the hint of a smile again. “Yeah. I’d really like to do something fun. And it is nice to have someone to talk to. I was starting to go stir crazy in my cabin last night.”
      “Then let’s forget about all our worries and go fishing.” She invited him to follow her inside. “And luckily the former residents of this place left plenty of fishing gear. There is a whole box of lures in here.” She opened the closet to reveal a treasure trove of rod and reels.
      He grabbed one of the poles. “If only my dad had ever taken me fishing.”
      Nancy realized he was a novice. “Don’t worry about that. I’m an old hand at this. My folks used to bring me up here every summer and we would spend most of the evenings fishing. And you are still in luck. I also know how to cook.”
      George was once again in a good mood. “I can hardly wait to catch something. I’ve always wanted to fish, but my folks were more into photography when we came up here. They liked to take lots of pictures of flowers and trees.”
      “Nothing wrong with that. I’m surprised we never ran into each other before.”
      “I was never very social with the kids around here. Most of the time I stayed in the cabin and played video games.”
      “you don’t know what you missed out on. There was always a volleyball game or horseshoes being played. And the evening campfires were a blast.”
      “I’d be scared to make a fire now. It might bring the zombies.”
      Nancy had nothing to say to that.
    ***
      As the next several weeks passed and flowers began to bloom, George realized it would soon be summer. It had always been the one season he looked forward to the most because it meant no school. He had never really fit in with the other kids his age. George preferred the solitude of his own room and a television set. That had all changed with the virus. There now was nothing to watch. And the girl who lived a few cabins away was all he could think of. Nancy had become his first crush. He hoped she felt the same about him as he did her.
      “Hey, Nancy. Want to go for a canoe ride?” He asked, seeing her on the porch of the cabin.
      She waved a friendly wave. “Why not? We can also check out those houses across the lake and see if they have any food.”
      George grinned. She wasn’t just pretty, she was practical as well. Ever since they had become friends they had raided the surrounding cabins for supplies. A lot of canned goods had accumulated in the pantry from this endeavor. But they had never ventured far from their side of the lake. He wasn’t sure if it was a fear of getting caught in the dark or a lack of courage on both their parts about searching for other survivors. Either way, they had stayed put in their idyllic group of cabins called Camp Heart.
      Nancy came running up to him. “Now that the days are getting longer we don’t have to worry so much about doing things.”
      George wasn’t sure were this conversation was going. “I still don’t want to take any chances on getting caught outside after dark. You know the zombies only come out at night.”
      Nancy smirked a bit. “We have yet to see or hear a single zombie. And we have been here for well over a month. I keep telling you that I don’t think they will find us here in the mountains. We are safe.”
      “I don’t know, Nancy. There could be some on the other side of the lake.”
      “That is why we go in the daytime. And if I remember right, there is also a small store over there as well. We could get all sorts of good food. Aren’t you tired of fish?” She did have a point.
      “Okay. But we’ll need a bigger boat than a canoe if we plan