Night of the Purple Moon by Scott Cramer Page B

was free of corpses. It was more than a coincidence that Toby and his friends only moved into homes that the burial team had already visited.
    Abby was certain the three boys were home, likely asleep, even though it was the middle of the afternoon. Three cars, including Toby’s red convertible Mustang, sat in the driveway. The boys had had a long night. She had heard them in the early hours of the morning racing their cars by the mansion, blaring music and blowing horns.
    Abby knocked. When nobody came to the door, she knocked louder and longer and then peered through the mail slot. The odor of garbage wafting out crinkled her nose. Someone approached and she stepped back.
    Chad opened the door. It took her a second to recognize him. He was chubby, and his hair was longer.
    He shouted into the shadows. “Hey, guess who’s here?”
    Toby trotted down the stairs in his underwear but at the sight of Abby scampered back up.
    A moment later all three boys stepped outside. Toby and Glen had also gained weight. Toby picked up an empty beer bottle and hurled it. The bottle flew over the cruiser and hit the road and skidded. Chad and Glen razzed him for it not breaking.
    Abby knew that Toby had thrown the bottle for her benefit. He was proving to her that he could do anything he pleased. No adults meant no rules. He could go to bed whenever he liked and sleep all day if that made him happy. He had the freedom to do anything that only a twenty-one-year old could have done legally before the night of the purple moon.
    She felt like saying, “I’m not impressed.” Instead she said, “How are you guys doing?”
    “You don’t give a shit how we’re doing,” Toby said. “What do you want?”
    Abby had expected a reaction like this. “Two kids came from the mainland,” she said. “They’re living with us now. You’ll never believe what they went through.”
    Chad and Glen stepped closer, eager to hear more.
    Toby smirked. “Ask me if I care?”
    Chad and Glen both looked disappointed, but neither said anything, their obedience to Toby apparently greater than their curiosity.
    “Guys, we’re stronger if everyone works together,” Abby began. “If we’re a group—”
    Toby cut her off. “We are a group,” he said and tapped Chad and Glen on the head. “One, two… “He aimed his thumb at his nose. . “three.”
    “You know what I’m talking about!” Abby said. “We’re all trying to survive. We can help each other.”
    “You’re so predictable,” Toby said, feeding off her frustration. “Save your speech for your meetings. What do you call them? Councils?” He rolled his eyes. “We have everything we need. We can listen to the radio, too. We know what the scientists are doing. We don’t need the nerd to explain it to us.” Toby waved his arm. “There’s enough food and clothes and beer in these houses to last for months.”
    Abby realized that she wasting her time. “Fine,” she said. “Please don’t steal any more of our eggs.”
    “Steal eggs?” Toby’s tone mocked her. “Did you steal eggs?” he asked Chad.
    Chad shrugged. “Not me.” He turned to Glen. “Are you the thief?”
    Glen shook his head. “I’ve never stolen eggs.”
    “We…” Toby doubled over with laughter. “We…” He held his stomach and tears streamed down his face. Spit flew from his lips. He took a gulp of air to gain his composure. “We might have borrowed some eggs,” he finally said.
    The boys gave high-fives to each other.
    Abby headed down the steps, debating whether to keep walking to the cruiser or to say one more thing. She stopped and turned. “Next time you borrow eggs, expect a visit from Colby.”
    “I’m shaking,” Toby said.
    “You should be,” she said and continued.
    “Tell me, does Colby still think his father is still alive, living in Portland?” Toby cracked up again.
    She clenched her jaw and wheeled around. Chad and Glen did not seem amused by their friend this time. She drilled