Zach and I were wondering if y’all would like to come back to our house, spend a couple of days getting some rest and food in your bellies. Our resources are limited of course, but you’re invited. Fair warning though, for the past couple of months it has been the two of us and three mangy dogs living in an old house. It’s not the cleanest in the world. And it’s not a luxury spa. We’ll definitely expect help with chores. I want you all to know as well, if Zach or I spot any symptoms of this Zombie plague from any of you, our solution will be simple, headshots. So what do you say?”
Don stood and wiped his hands together. “Gentlemen, we’d be honored.” He held out his hand and we both shook it. “And just so you know, I’m a true southerner. I’m a believer of the old saying, houseguests and fish both start to stink after a couple of days.” Janet interrupted when she ran up and kissed Rick on the cheek. Rick actually blushed. She then ran over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek as well. Julie and Tommy were both grinning. It made me want to believe we were making the right decision.
“Okay it’s settled then, just follow us. We’re about thirty minutes away. We’ll get home and I’ll get the generator going. Tonight there’ll be hot showers for everyone.” Janet and Julie gasped. It confirmed my suspicion that they had not bathed in a while. Don grinned broadly. “It sounds absolutely wonderful.”
“Look!” Tommy pointed down the road. I looked in his direction. There were four zombies, about two hundred yards away, ambling down the road. I wondered where they came from. Were they able to hear us from that far away, or had they been following the sound of the automobiles? It was food for thought.
This time, I got my ears plugged with my fingers before we started shooting. Rick insisted on having the honor. I think he wanted to show off a little bit. He retrieved his Winchester from under the truck, took aim, and made four headshots in under six seconds, excellent shooting with a bolt action rifle. Don looked at him in admiration, and maybe just a touch of concern.
Chapter 11 - Houseguests
Our house, in a manner of speaking, was a pig sty. I’m usually a clean person, but between Rick, the dogs, and me, the house was filthy. Cleanliness had not been much of a priority and was now proving to be an embarrassment.
The women did not seem to notice. They walked in the door and called first dibs for the bathroom. They spent a lot of time in there, which was to be expected I guess. Rick and I hurried around trying to tidy up. Don volunteered to cook dinner. Tommy played with the dogs while awaiting his turn. He’d really need a bath after rolling around with those mutts.
Two hours later, our guests were clean and we were seated at the dinner table. Rick had turned the generator off, so we ate by candlelight and a couple of Coleman lanterns. We had a good fire going which provided the house with ample heat. Julie and her mother had put on some simple sweatpants and tee shirts. They had also taken the time to carefully comb out their wet hair. The effects of the soft candlelight made them both look like goddesses. My thoughts drifted to Macie. I wondered if she were even still alive. Maybe she was a zombie by now. Felix too. Were he and his parents still alive? I suddenly recalled our last conversation. His mother was sick, he had said. I forced myself to think of more pressing matters.
“Mr. Frierson?” I asked.
Don stopped with a fork full of green beans halfway to his mouth and glanced at Janet. “What’s on your mind, Zach? And please, call me Don.”
“Of course. Don, Rick and I never seem to have enough time to get everything done. One of our
Don stood and wiped his hands together. “Gentlemen, we’d be honored.” He held out his hand and we both shook it. “And just so you know, I’m a true southerner. I’m a believer of the old saying, houseguests and fish both start to stink after a couple of days.” Janet interrupted when she ran up and kissed Rick on the cheek. Rick actually blushed. She then ran over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek as well. Julie and Tommy were both grinning. It made me want to believe we were making the right decision.
“Okay it’s settled then, just follow us. We’re about thirty minutes away. We’ll get home and I’ll get the generator going. Tonight there’ll be hot showers for everyone.” Janet and Julie gasped. It confirmed my suspicion that they had not bathed in a while. Don grinned broadly. “It sounds absolutely wonderful.”
“Look!” Tommy pointed down the road. I looked in his direction. There were four zombies, about two hundred yards away, ambling down the road. I wondered where they came from. Were they able to hear us from that far away, or had they been following the sound of the automobiles? It was food for thought.
This time, I got my ears plugged with my fingers before we started shooting. Rick insisted on having the honor. I think he wanted to show off a little bit. He retrieved his Winchester from under the truck, took aim, and made four headshots in under six seconds, excellent shooting with a bolt action rifle. Don looked at him in admiration, and maybe just a touch of concern.
Chapter 11 - Houseguests
Our house, in a manner of speaking, was a pig sty. I’m usually a clean person, but between Rick, the dogs, and me, the house was filthy. Cleanliness had not been much of a priority and was now proving to be an embarrassment.
The women did not seem to notice. They walked in the door and called first dibs for the bathroom. They spent a lot of time in there, which was to be expected I guess. Rick and I hurried around trying to tidy up. Don volunteered to cook dinner. Tommy played with the dogs while awaiting his turn. He’d really need a bath after rolling around with those mutts.
Two hours later, our guests were clean and we were seated at the dinner table. Rick had turned the generator off, so we ate by candlelight and a couple of Coleman lanterns. We had a good fire going which provided the house with ample heat. Julie and her mother had put on some simple sweatpants and tee shirts. They had also taken the time to carefully comb out their wet hair. The effects of the soft candlelight made them both look like goddesses. My thoughts drifted to Macie. I wondered if she were even still alive. Maybe she was a zombie by now. Felix too. Were he and his parents still alive? I suddenly recalled our last conversation. His mother was sick, he had said. I forced myself to think of more pressing matters.
“Mr. Frierson?” I asked.
Don stopped with a fork full of green beans halfway to his mouth and glanced at Janet. “What’s on your mind, Zach? And please, call me Don.”
“Of course. Don, Rick and I never seem to have enough time to get everything done. One of our
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