The System

It was one more mouth to feed, one more strong personality to contend with, and one more person to worry about when his family came back to get him. While Spencer and Joey seemed to appreciate what Dean brought to the household—an old school hardness combined with all the qualities of a fun-loving extrovert, especially after a few rounds—Darla communicated that she too was wary.

“I don’t know, Ethan. I don’t trust him.” And after he pressed further, she looked at him and admitted, “I think there’s something wrong with a man who doesn’t seem to care about whether or not his son lived or died.”

It was a valid point.

And their worries hung visibly whenever he entered the room.

They wanted to embrace their fondness for Grant while exercising their right to dislike his father. After all, he had made off with a six-month supply of meals and never seemed remorseful.

“I used to think that when the world ended, all these macho hero types would survive. Battling off the evils and looking out for the little guys. That is an inaccurate depiction of our current situation,” Ethan mused to Ainsley and Darla while spi

“Darla’s bad-ass,” Ainsley said and pointed to her friend.

Darla gave a non-committal look. “Glad to know I’m wi

“Let’s just remember that none of us are supposed to be alive, though,” added Ainsley. The sobering thought settled on the room and she frowned. “Sorry.”

“So then,” Ethan replied, adjusting his body on the couch, “if I saved all your lives, then maybe one-legged undeclared former college sophomore takes first place.”

“We are doomed,” Darla deadpa

Ethan threw a pillow at her and she batted it away with one swipe.

“What’s happening in here?” Dean called as he entered the room. Ethan thought he recognized the plaid shirt Dean was wearing as one of his father’s; he added it to an ever-growing list of things that a

“We’re just talking,” Ethan answered.

“I’ve got something to talk about then,” Dean exclaimed, powering forward with dauntless ambition for ruining conversations. “Spencer and I were having a little chat. Seems like there’s dissention in the ranks about what to do when the killers come back to collect one of their own. Right?”

Ethan cringed. The killers. Now there was no room left to entertain the idea that the people in Nebraska could be friendly. He shifted uncomfortably and watched as Dean walked the perimeter of the room, examining the spines of books, pulling some out to look at further, and pushing them back. At least he didn’t march in with a presentation.

“Let me guess,” Darla said. “You think Spencer’s plan is great. Arm ourselves and wait.”

“I do. Yes.” Dean replied without even looking at them. “I don’t mean to burst anyone’s bubble here, but this guy,” he jabbed his thumb toward Ethan, “isn’t exactly on the same level as us. I actually wanted to add to the plan. I think we have room to negotiate. Make some demands. Food. Water. Shelter. Protection from further attacks.”

“What if they don’t come?” Ethan asked.

As the days passed by, non-arrival seemed more likely than rescue. And with Ethan’s fever returning sporadically and Doctor Krause mumbling worries about infection, everything about his future felt tenuous.

“Or what if they don’t negotiate?” Darla added.

“Hey,” Dean threw his hands up. “I’m the new guy, I know. But when Spencer laid it all out for me…I don’t think I want to have anything to do with them. I’m content here. We haven’t ventured out to the suburbs, if we work together we can clear more ground, move around. Start a little garden.”

Spencer’s flipchart and easel remained set up in the corner. Dean saw it and smirked.

“A little garden?” Darla scoffed.

“I can put together a little demo too, if it helps.” Dean ignored Darla. “Look, Ethan and Darla, you’re the holdouts.”

“I don’t count?” Ainsley asked and then waited. Everyone looked at her. “Fine. I don’t count.”

“And Doctor Krause agrees with you?” Darla asked.

Dean shrugged. “It would appear.” Then he cracked his neck and clapped his hands once together. “Well, this has been fun. Just…think about it.” He spun and walked out of the den, and then kept on walking out of the house, shutting the door behind him.

“If I’d known that Spencer and Dean would end up being besties, I would’ve shot him when I had the chance,” Darla moaned. Then with an agitated sigh, she stomped out of the den, leaving Ainsley and Ethan alone.

After a prolonged silence, Ainsley turned to Ethan and cleared her throat.

“I’m growing to hate all the grown-ups,” she moaned.

Ethan shrugged. “You don’t feel like a grown-up?”

“No,” she stared at him. “Do you?”

He made a face. “I feel bored. Boredom is my most active state.”

“We can cure that,” Ainsley answered.

Ethan motioned for her to continue.

“I believe you had offered to take me on a date?” she reminded him with a sly smile. “Or was that some drug induced offer?”

He paused and turned his head slowly to her. He moved his chair forward and backward; rolling in a straight line and backward, his head hung low. “Oh yeah? I mean…I didn’t think…it was just a…” He looked up at her. “Really?”

She shrugged. “It was your idea and, well, we’re both bored.”

“Oh, I see. Boredom-date. Thanks,” Ethan replied sarcastically. “But…”

“No, sure,” Ainsley stood up without waiting for a full reply and she waved her hands in front of herself. “I get it. It’s fine. I was just kidding too.” She looked at him and then added dryly, “Ha. Ha.” She exhaled. “Cribbage, then?”

“Fine,” Ethan said before she had time to leave the room. He wheeled his chair a few feet forward; close enough that he could touch her, and he raised his eyebrows. “Okay. I’ll plan a date. Tomorrow night. A real thing…you know…because we’re bored.”

Ainsley smiled and tucked a piece of curly hair behind her ear. “Well, don’t let me twist your arm,” she said. “I didn’t really—”

“No, I got this,” Ethan interrupted and he rolled his chair back, unwilling to let Ainsley take back the thinly veiled request. “Trust me.”

“A what?” Darla asked. She flipped over a card. Teddy waited for his instructions. She looked at him and then said, “Skip around Ethan’s wheelchair while holding…this stuffed animal,” she said and then Teddy took off skipping.

“A date,” Ethan said loudly and then he lowered his voice and cleared his throat. “A date…you know…something fun. To break up the monotony.”

Darla high-fived Teddy as he finished the rounds and slid into her, giggling.

“Your turn, Mommy,” Teddy said and Darla flipped over another card. An X. She smiled and put it in the X pile.

“So, what is it? A date or just something to break up the monotony?” Darla asked.

Ethan ran his right hand over the wheel of his chair; it spun in lazy circles in the middle of the den. He didn’t answer right away and then he shrugged.

“Can’t it be both?” he finally asked.

“No,” Darla answered instantly. “It can’t be both.”

“You can’t blame me for wanting to have some fun. We have to make our own fun, right? Humans weren’t made to live like this.”

Darla rolled her eyes. “You don’t have it so bad,” she said. Teddy flipped a card.