Apocalypse Tales Chapter Seven: The Abilard Girls

Here's my family. I'm Annalea, that's my little sister, Teena, and our Mama.

Our father died when the apocalypse struck, and our home was destroyed. We wandered the streets, scrounging for food, and hiding from zombies at night.

Finally we found an empty house, safe and even raised above the radiated ground.

It was even fairly large, big enough for the three of us.

With a small room for the bathroom.

As you can see, we had only enough money for one bed, a crib and changing table, fridge and chess set. But we could get a shower, because a great man, Geoffrey Chatain, had discovered a way to bring clean, non-radiated water into people's homes.

It was pretty lonely, especially for kids my own age, because these days there isn't any schools for older kids. So I ran out when I saw a girl my own age delivering papers, and chatted with her.

These days people always talk about the weather. Can't have a conversation without it turning to apocalyptic weather.

And speculation about what caused the apocalypse.

Mama made us some jello, and got a bottle for Teena.

Then Teena played with her only toy, and I studied up on mechanics, because these days you have to repair your own stuff. There's no repair people around.

Then Mama swept the place and took out the trash.

I guess while she was out there she succumbed to radiation poisoning,

Or maybe to irradiated insects or something.

Anyway, she died, and I don't like to talk about it. Or even to think about it. Just like I tried never to think about my father's death either, because Mama said we just had to keep going on, and deal with all the problems that come up, especially for Teena's sake.

We didn't even know Mama had died, until I went out to greet some people who had stopped by our new house.

Then I saw what happened, and I wept.

What are Teena and I going to do? How can we live without the care and protection of either of our parents? We have to "keep going on" like Mama said, but I'd always relied on Mama knowing how to keep going on, what to do next. I have no idea how to take care of us.

I just ignored the people who had stopped by, but then I saw an intelligent-looking alien lady walking by, and stopped her and talked with her.

I invited her in for a quiet game of chess, while Teena slept. She told me to be sure to keep learning, and I should be able to figure out how to take care of us. I'm a bit skeptical. How can book-learning help us out at a time like this?

There's sweet little Teena, calmly, innocently sleeping as if nothing bad could happen.

When she woke up, she kept crying inconsolably for Mama.

I hated to have to tell her that Mama was not coming. She was gone from our lives forever.

She kept mentioning Mama, but I think she understood that she was gone.

I just held her and snuggled her for a long time.

I read her a book while the alien lady, Stella, looked on.

After Stella left, while Teena played with her toy, I studied chess and worried and worried. I know I won't be able to take proper care of her.

But next morning, I tried to hide my fears and played with Teena all day to keep her happy.

We snuggled and played, read books and ate jello all day.

I vowed that I will do everything I can to make her life successful, even though our parents are gone, and even if there is an apocalypse.

At one point I looked out the window and saw a zombie stealing our paper. Those creatures send a chill right to my very core. Hey, I don't need the paper, but just don't kick Mama's gravestone.

I taught Teena how to talk. Learning the names of edible foods is important.

I started to feel a bit better. Maybe I'll be able to handle this.

But after her nap, Teena was sad and crying again.

Nothing I could do would cheer her up, and the stress really began to get to me. We'd run out of the jello Mama had made, and I'm not sure I know how to make any more. Teena cried herself to sleep.

Oh god, what am I going to do? I can't get a job because I'm not in school, we don't have any edible food left and we don't have money to get any. If I go out for food, I might get radiated or killed by insects or zombies, and then Teena would be all alone.

I tried that old dance we used to do back before all this, the smustle. But it didn't make me feel any better.

I ventured out to pay the bills, because I don't want anyone to come by and inspect us and find out we're two kids living without any parents. They might take Teena away, and I couldn't bear that.

Next morning, Teena seemed happier. Maybe she's beginning to get over the worst part of her grief.

I decided this day I'd distract her all day, so the grief wouldn't overwhelm her again. I gave her a bath,

And then taught her how to use the toilet.

I told her how proud I was of her, and decided I would treat her as mature child and always speak really honestly to her.

I taught her how to walk, and she's so smart, she was able to learn it very quickly.

Yea!! Good job, Teena!

That night Teena grew up into a young girl, and she seems fairly happy and very intelligent.

I figured out how to make jello, and we had enough to eat.

We played some chess, and Teena told me about toys she'd love to have. But of course she was kidding, because we don't have money for that.

She thanked me for teaching her things, but I didn't mind teaching her because I didn't have anything else to do.

I told her how proud I was of her for learning so quickly.

We then talked about aliens, and how some people think that they caused the apocalypse, but since meeting the alien lady Stella, I'm not sure I believe that.

That night it snowed, and next day was a snow day, so Teena didn't have to go to school.

She spent the day building her body exercising,

Taking a bath and then exercising some more.

I saw a guy my age walking by, and stopped to talk with him. It's been so long since I talked with any guys, and I used to date a lot of them.

This guy's cute, too!

I invited him in, and we played chess. (What else is there to do?) He joked that with all this snow, we could go skiing.

Teena kept herself occupied by dancing and exercising.

Amar told me, "Did you know that the great guy people are talking about, Geoffrey Chatain, used to run down zombies with his truck when he'd go out on a date with his girlfriend, Katerina? Yeah! He'd mow down ten at a time or more!"

I think he's attracted to me, too.

Teena is really sweet and does all the cleaning around the house.

That night, I thought I heard Mama's ghost,

And her gravestone rattling.

But we slept soundly.

Next day, while I repaired the shower,

Teena left for her first day of school.

I studied all day,

And took Teena's example and built up my body.

Then, while Teena was still gone at school, I went on a hunt for something to heat our place. Since it's been snowing so much, and our house is so cold, I knew I had to find some way to keep Teena and me warm. It's a risk to go out like this, but I've got to "keep on", solving each problem as it comes up.

I made it back with this metal drum that we could light a fire in, and even these blocks that we can use to keep it off the floor.

Teena came home really happy after her first day at school,

And was thrilled with our new fireplace. It works like a charm!

We've become really close, always studying and playing chess together.

We really miss our parents, and I'm finally willing to talk about them, but only with Teena.

I called up Amar, to keep up our connection.

I fixed the toilet,

And we went to sleep.

Next morning, after cheering for the snowfall, even though it wasn't a snow day,

Teena then asked me to help her with her homework.

I don't really know much about schoolwork, I'd never done too well at school, but I gladly helped her out anyway.

Teena was really happy to learn, though, and wants to get to the top of her class.

She gave me a hug and ran off to school.

That afternoon she brought home a friend, Buck Grunt.

And Amar stopped by. We talked out on the walk,

And played around.

I finally got to kiss him! It was great, but I couldn't risk inviting him in. I've got responsibilities!

I kissed him once more and said good-bye.

I met another guy walking by, and chatted with him a bit. I enjoy meeting new guys!

I couldn't help bragging about how well Teena's doing at school.

I invited him in for a game of chess. Wow, he's a fancy dresser!

I got a message that weekend that I owed money to the mob, or else they'd take our stuff. I paid them, but found I only had enough money left for a smaller shower,

And a smaller bookshelf, made with the same bricks that I'd found for under the drum fireplace. We also lost our comfy chair, but at least we still have our fridge and beds!

I scrounged up a cheaper chair, and spent Monday studying mechanics.

And that afternoon, Teena came home totally thrilled -- she'd earned an A+!

Yea! Way to go, Teena! I'm so proud of her. I never got A+s, and I was in school before the apocalypse.

I'm really happy now. I feel that if she can study well enough to get an A+, and we have enough to eat even if it's jello, and we're clothed and warm, we're going to succeed. We'll be ok!