Free The Last Tribe by Brad Manuel Page B

preferred silence to the
other’s CD choices. 
    “We need a purpose.”  John finally
said.  “A ten year old has to be kept busy, be given a reason not to ride his
bike off into the night.”
    Matt did not respond.  He chewed
his breakfast.
    “We need a new house, and we need
to get him fishing.  He needs to be able to walk down to a pier and throw a
line into the water, or maybe have one of us take him out into the bay.”  John already
contemplated a move to the bay as the days shortened.  “We can pick any house
we want.  Let’s find one that doesn’t hold all of our memories.  Let’s find a
new neighborhood that won’t remind us of your mother or our friends.”  John
drove slowly through the empty streets of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
    “So it’s done.  This is it.” Matt
replied flatly.  “We’re all that’s left.  You think the city is dead.” 
    John let the truck slow to a stop
before turning to look at his son.  “Let’s find your little brother and start a
new life.  I’m not saying it’s the life either of us wants, but it’s the one we
get until we leave for New Hampshire.  This is it, Matt.  The world lost.  I’m
sorry to have to tell you, but yes, it’s over.”
    He took his foot off the brake and
the car ambled north on Highway 17.  John and Matt searched for a young boy
riding a bike. 

14
     
    Greg woke when he heard a log
tossed on the fire.  The sun was not up, but he could tell it was morning. 
    She was real.  He met a girl the
night before, and ate hot food, and was on a couch in front of a fire, and he
could talk to someone.  Well, if he could get a word in edgewise he could talk
to someone.  Greg lay motionless to make sure Rebecca was still friendly and
okay with the idea of him being there.
    He looked around the room.  His
excitement and exhaustion the previous night prevented him from noticing how neat
and organized the living room was.  Rebecca had a brown leather couch of her
own that faced the fire.  On each end of her sofa were tables with lanterns.  A
small table and chairs rested against the wall next to the fire.  A placemat
led him to believe she ate her meals at the table.  A silverware caddy filled
with plastic forks, spoons, knives, and paper napkins sat in the middle of the
table along with salt and pepper.  A stack of paper bowls and plates were on a
built in cabinet next to the fire.  “This is orderly and precise for a young
girl.”  Greg thought.  “I would swear there is an adult living with her.”  He
lifted his head and looked for signs of a second person, but there was only the
one placemat on the table. 
    “Good morning.”  He said, as he
stretched and sat up.  “It wasn’t a dream.  I’m really in a house with another
person.”  Greg was positive Rebecca was happy he was there, but he still felt
out the situation to make sure.  “That couch was a little more comfortable than
sleeping under my dorm bed at Hightower, or bunking on the floor of a general
store.  Thank you for everything, the soup, the couch.”
    “You’re not leaving, are you?” 
Rebecca asked.  “You are thanking me as if you are going to leave in a minute. 
Can you stay for a little while?  I have a few more surprises, a few secrets I
didn’t tell you last night.  You fell asleep quickly.  I was so excited for
another person I didn’t sleep at all.  Plus, all I do is sleep.  It’s boring being
alone.  I do my chores, get firewood, keep things clean, then sleep away as
much time as I can.”
    Greg smiled.  He liked Rebecca.  She
was like the girls at Hightower, excited about life, excited about talking, and
excited to tell you everything about themselves.  She was a little bit
different too.  He could not put his finger on it yet, but she was special. 
    He missed people, and he
particularly missed people like Rebecca, girls who liked to talk.  Greg was
shy.  He kept his feelings and motives to himself.