Free Enduring the Crisis by K.D. Kinney Page A

right about all the strange ones hanging around. Maybe it’s just all the people we don’t see when we’re busy or it’s because no one has a job to go to while right now.”
    “Perhaps. I think I’ve done too much research.” She rubbed her arm. Their discussion was making her anxious and she wanted to head home.
    “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.” He made sure he looked her directly in the eye to show he meant what he said.
    “Thank you.” Tammy hated feeling skeptical. She knew he meant what he said, but how was she going to get word to him in a crisis? Most of their church members lived in her neighborhood but nobody lived right next door. The few that did were much older and had lived in the neighborhood since it was built back in the sixties.
    When he moved on to talk to someone else, she was ready to head home.
    Charlie was off visiting with some of her friends. There was one boy Tammy suspected that her daughter was crushing on. More than likely he was the whole purpose in her wanting to come to the meeting in the first place.
    When Tammy approached the group, she could see it in Charlie’s eyes, all sparkly and flitting eyelashes in the direction of Landon Smith. At first he seemed interested in everyone’s conversation. It took about five more seconds for Tammy to notice he was glancing at Charlie more than the rest.
    “Hey, I think we’re done here, Charlie. Let’s head for home,” Tammy interrupted.
    “Can’t I hang out with my friends and walk home later?” she pleaded.
    Tammy pressed her lips together and glared at Charlie. Of course her daughter wasn’t going to make it easy. All her other children would have known not to give her grief with that look. Charlie took it as a challenge instead.
    “I’ll be safe.” She tried again.
    Tammy shook her head. She was not going to argue when Charlie knew what work there was waiting for them at home and she knew the answer before she ever asked. “This is not a debate.” She was firm and started to count in her mind. She’d give it to ten.
    Charlie turned back to her friends as if she was going to disregard her mother.
    Tammy was at nine before Charlie looked at Landon and he indicated she should listen to her mother. Now Landon had earned some brownie points if he was to become a love interest for Charlie in the future.
    Before Tammy could say ten in her mind, Charlie was saying goodbye to her friends.
    She clenched her jaw as they walked out of the church together so she didn’t start ranting right away. It wasn’t until they had crossed the street and the creeper dude was gone that Tammy let in to Charlie.
    “It’s a good thing you decided to come with me when you did. Now is not the time to challenge me. We have so much to do. We just got back Amanda back. The last thing I need is to worry every minute you are out of my sight right now. I can’t take that stress today.”
    “What? Are you going to shut us all in away from the world until this is over? I can’t even hang out with anyone?”
    “We are going to stay shut in so we don’t have to watch how crazy everything is going to get. You can’t just wander the streets right now.”
    “So no friends.” Charlie crossed her arms and wouldn’t look at Tammy.
    “I didn’t say that. Right now we need to prepare though before we run out of resources. I can’t run the fridge and freezer forever. I don’t want to chance losing it all if the generator dies on us. You will appreciate it later. I desperately need help to get this done right away.”
    “There are four other people besides me. You’ve been leaning on me the most especially when Amanda was gone. Now that she’s back, you can give me a break, can’t you?” Charlie stopped walking.
    Tammy grabbed her daughter’s hand and pulled her to keep walking. “Yes, Amanda can help more but you know how Amanda is. I’m not saying you have to do more than everyone, but you do have the best follow through.