Free Dystopia: The Long Road by DJ Cooper

out here?  I thought the FEMA guys took everything?”
                  Mark and John gave each other a knowing look and John said, “Not everything.”
                  Danny seemed unsure of what the look was but nodded at John.  While they walked to the chicken pen John grabbed some shovels, which made Danny and Dickie glance at one another.  When they got to the corner of the pen John handed out shovels and told them where to dig.  It wasn’t long before they hit the tops of the barrels.  When John began pulling out the cache of items Danny whistled saying,
    “This is amazing!  You really prepared.”
                  John nodded and said, “I could see what was coming down so I hid a few things here and there.”
    Danny looked at him a sideways look saying, “Here and there?”
                  John winked, “Well, ya don’t wanna put all yer eggs in one basket you know.”
                  They all laughed and finished loading the contents of the barrels into the truck and moved over to the barn to empty the things from the old cistern, while John went to the stump.  Once everything was loaded into the truck they went back to the house and began distributing things between the vehicles, except the mustang.  John told them he wanted a lead car with very little supplies in it as a scout car telling them,
    “If something happens and we run into something this car can be abandoned and we won’t lose any supplies.
    Mark asked, “Do you think it could get that bad?”
    Danny was nodding his head and said, “I already saw some shit Mark, I think John is right, we should be cautious.”
    They had equally distributed things into each truck as well as some into Amy’s car and the Mustang.  The car would carry the kids and stay in the middle of their little convoy.  John and Mark wanted to ride in the lead with the mustang but Amy vetoed that saying they wanted at least one guy in each vehicle, and that whoever could shoot the best should be distributed as shotgun to each as well.
    John was shocked, thinking about how Amy was only interested in doing her nails and extraneous fluff as he would call it. 
    He looked at her and said, “Where did that come from?”
    She said, “Where did what come from?”
    He said, “All that shit hits the fan wisdom?”
    She smiled at him, saying, “While you may not have realized it, I heard the things you said.  I can fix a car or chop wood… doesn’t mean I wanted to, that is what guys are for.” She let out a tiny giggle as she turned to walk back to the house.  John just stood dumbfounded and shook his head, going back to what he was doing with a boyish grin.
    They tried to put things in each vehicle that if a vehicle were lost they would not be without things and could still cook and eat as well as other things they would need to do along the way.  Once the task was done, they all sat in the dining room for their vehicle assignments.  Amy had already drawn up the assignments and began telling everyone where they were to ride.
    She decided, John would ride shotgun in the lead with the Mustang along with Kevin, who would drive, Rita and Morgan would take the back seat.  John’s truck would be second with Melinda driving, Danny is riding shotgun and Laurie, Kimmie and Jenny in the back seat.  The car would carry Amy as the driver along with Jules and Georgia and Matty with Dickie riding shotgun.  While Mark follows up the rear and would ride shotgun with Renee,  Marks truck had an extended cab, but with only jump seats it was a bit of a squeeze for anyone but kids to ride in.
    Rita was not happy about riding separate from Matty, but agreed it was best that Jules needed to ride with them.  She was adamant that she not be forced to ride with Morgan but was careful not to seem bitchy about it.  She quietly approached Amy and said,
    “Can you please place me in another vehicle?  I’m not trying to be