Ever Onward by Wayne Mee

right now he needs to be
alone.”
    Bobby Stewart, much closer to Jessie’s
age than Josh’s, nodded agreement. “Doc’s right, Mr. Williams.
Jessie needs time to sort it all out.” Bobby looked about the room,
then continued, haltingly at first, but as the pent-up emotion
poured out, so did the words. “Last week when I woke up and found
my old man had turned into a pile of dirty gray ashes, I pushed the
tears away. My mom’s been gone for years now and me and my old man
never got along too well. He never liked me playing in a band.
Always after me to ‘get a real job’.” Bobby’s voice sank to a
whisper. “I hated him for that. Hated him for his drinking
too.”
    Mrs. Wang, hovering in the background,
came over and placed her small work-worn hand on Bobby’s shoulder.
Bobby squeezed it. Off to one side Gloria, her hands soapy with
dish suds, wiped a tear from her own eye.
    Bobby continued. “Today, when I was
changing the oil on your van, I started crying. Crying like a
baby!” His brimming eyes sought Josh. “We’d argued again. My dad
and me. The night before ‘it’ happened. I... I told him I how I
felt. It all just sort of came out, all the years of being
frightened and ashamed. And then ---”
    Bobby’s voice cracked and he began to
sob. Mrs. Wang held him tight. Gloria came and, kneeling down,
placed her head on his shoulder. Eddy cleared his throat and left
the room. Josh turned towards the porch, seeking his son. With mild
surprise he saw the mute girl Mai-Ling slide out the back door. She
moved like a gentle shadow towards Jesse’s darker one at the far
end of the porch.
    Slowly Josh sat back down and took out
his pipe.
    The next day, on the morning of June
26 th , they were ready. Bobby and Eddy had tuned up the
vans and made sure the motor and winches on the Texaco’s tow-truck
were in good working order. The tow-truck had been Doc’s idea, in
case they ran into cars blocking the road.
    “Don’t look for us before the end of
July,”, Josh said.
    They were all gathered in front of
Doc’s small house.
    “We’ll be fine,” Doc smiled. “The
girls and Mrs. Wang will keep Willard and I well fed and hopping!
Gloria’s got a list of RH negative people from the clinic’s files,
and I’ll get more from Crown Point General. Since we found out that
both Eddy and Gloria are A B negative, we could have a whole slew
of people here when you get back!”
    Josh smiled. “I hope to bring some
back with us as well.” His Cousin Brad flashed in his mind. “This
old place probably won’t hold us all.”
    Doc scratched his bare head. “Willard
and I’ve been thinking on that. Willard said we’re all welcome up
at his farm. I’m going to take Mrs. Wang up there this afternoon
and see what she thinks. Hell, we might even move into one of those
fancy estates up in the park! They’re close to Willard’s and right
on the lakes. Then I could go fishing every day and let these
pretty young girls do all the work!”
    Willard snorted. “Fat chance there,
Doc. Besides, I need someone to help me swill the hogs!”
    They all laughed and then
climbed into their vehicles. Josh, Jessie and the two dogs in the
old white van, Eddy in his new Chevy and Bobby in the tow-truck.
Good-byes were said and horns honked and soon the little caravan
was on its way. Just as they were pulling out of the drive Gloria
ran up and squeezed Bobby’s hand through the open window. Josh saw
Jessie wave hesitantly to Mai-Ling. Pretty and silent, she shyly
returned the wave, her long, glossy hair flowing about her like a
dark waterfall.
    Their first stop was Crown Point.
Though they kept an eye out for other survivors, they saw none.
Someone had passed through though, for the large grocery store had
been broken into. Josh kept his father’s shotgun close at hand as
they loaded up with food and drink. Eddy had his old deer
rifle.
    Their next stop was the Crown Point
Mall. Since the doors were locked, they had to break in. Josh