An Apocalypse Family (Book 1): Family Reunion by P. Mark DeBryan Page B
Authors: P. Mark DeBryan
Tags: Zombies
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automakers. His territory had increased over the last couple of years as the company merged with another company and cut staff, increasing his workload, the number of dealerships, and trips away from home. He didn’t complain, as the pay was good. He enjoyed the work, and most importantly, he still had his job.
She was also excited to be leaving for two weeks of time off with the family. Lauren and Steve, her daughter and son-in-law, were waiting at the house, ready for the long road trip to Portland, Oregon. There they would pick up Conner, the youngest Wilford, and head the rest of the way to Whidbey Island in Washington for the reunion. Conner was just finishing his last semester of college, and after the reunion, they would all head back to Portland for his graduation ceremony.
Carla was the shortest member of the family, but she ran her clan like a congenial chief boatswain’s mate. Jake was the man of the house and often equated himself to the captain of the ship. He did what the chief said and basked in the glory of being captain.
Lauren and Steve had just moved from the East Coast after finishing their university experience. Steve was in the Navy ROTC and needed to complete a yearlong internship before his commission as a chaplain came about. Lauren, following family tradition, was a registered nurse. Two of her great aunts, Jean and Meg, were both RNs, and Lauren had always thought that it was cool. After two years of actual nursing experience, however, she realized that “cool” was a matter of perception.
Carla glanced at her watch for the third time in as many minutes. The flight was two hours late as it was; Jake should be on the ground, headed for baggage claim. She thought about just heading over now, but she’d jumped the gun before and suffered the wrath of the airport police for loitering too long in the pickup area. She would wait for him to call.
Her mom and sister were also going to Washington but wouldn’t leave until tomorrow, as the rest of the family had to work right up to their departure. She was glad they would be traveling separately. Their group might be twenty-plus people, and that always led to drama and delays.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar “YO-HO-BLOW-THE-MAN-DOWN” ringtone. They were a nautical kind of family; at least Jake thought they were, as he clung to his old Coast Guard days. She pushed the phone button on the steering wheel.
“Hey Hon,” she answered, putting the Rover in gear. “On my way.”
“Okay,” Jake replied, not sounding his usual chipper self.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just got a bit of jet lag, I think,” he replied. “We were sitting on the ground for two hours in Hawaii waiting for clearance. There was some kind of BS about the Department of Homeland Security or something. Anyhow, I will be at the curb in a couple of minutes.”
“I will be here waiting,” she said, as she jockeyed between two limos for a spot.
Four hours later, they were on the 805 Freeway, headed north to Interstate 15, then on to the I-5. This would take them inland a bit and was an easier route than trying to hug the coast all the way to Oregon. Carla was worried about Jake. He’d thrown up at the house before they left, although he insisted he just needed some sleep. She’d been seeing the South African Flu story on the news, but that was on the East Coast, and Jake had been in Honolulu for the last week. Oh well, even if he picked up a bug, she would pamper him back to health over the next couple of days. She just felt bad for him, being sick while on the road.
Looks like Steve and I will be doing most of the driving, she thought, as she watched Jake sleep fitfully.
*****
Jean, Lynn, Madison, & Tyler
8:00 a.m.
Butte, Montana
One Day Before Outbreak
“She’ll be coming around the mountain, she’ll be coming around the mountain, she’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes…” Aunt Jean finished with a flurry and everyone
She was also excited to be leaving for two weeks of time off with the family. Lauren and Steve, her daughter and son-in-law, were waiting at the house, ready for the long road trip to Portland, Oregon. There they would pick up Conner, the youngest Wilford, and head the rest of the way to Whidbey Island in Washington for the reunion. Conner was just finishing his last semester of college, and after the reunion, they would all head back to Portland for his graduation ceremony.
Carla was the shortest member of the family, but she ran her clan like a congenial chief boatswain’s mate. Jake was the man of the house and often equated himself to the captain of the ship. He did what the chief said and basked in the glory of being captain.
Lauren and Steve had just moved from the East Coast after finishing their university experience. Steve was in the Navy ROTC and needed to complete a yearlong internship before his commission as a chaplain came about. Lauren, following family tradition, was a registered nurse. Two of her great aunts, Jean and Meg, were both RNs, and Lauren had always thought that it was cool. After two years of actual nursing experience, however, she realized that “cool” was a matter of perception.
Carla glanced at her watch for the third time in as many minutes. The flight was two hours late as it was; Jake should be on the ground, headed for baggage claim. She thought about just heading over now, but she’d jumped the gun before and suffered the wrath of the airport police for loitering too long in the pickup area. She would wait for him to call.
Her mom and sister were also going to Washington but wouldn’t leave until tomorrow, as the rest of the family had to work right up to their departure. She was glad they would be traveling separately. Their group might be twenty-plus people, and that always led to drama and delays.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar “YO-HO-BLOW-THE-MAN-DOWN” ringtone. They were a nautical kind of family; at least Jake thought they were, as he clung to his old Coast Guard days. She pushed the phone button on the steering wheel.
“Hey Hon,” she answered, putting the Rover in gear. “On my way.”
“Okay,” Jake replied, not sounding his usual chipper self.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just got a bit of jet lag, I think,” he replied. “We were sitting on the ground for two hours in Hawaii waiting for clearance. There was some kind of BS about the Department of Homeland Security or something. Anyhow, I will be at the curb in a couple of minutes.”
“I will be here waiting,” she said, as she jockeyed between two limos for a spot.
Four hours later, they were on the 805 Freeway, headed north to Interstate 15, then on to the I-5. This would take them inland a bit and was an easier route than trying to hug the coast all the way to Oregon. Carla was worried about Jake. He’d thrown up at the house before they left, although he insisted he just needed some sleep. She’d been seeing the South African Flu story on the news, but that was on the East Coast, and Jake had been in Honolulu for the last week. Oh well, even if he picked up a bug, she would pamper him back to health over the next couple of days. She just felt bad for him, being sick while on the road.
Looks like Steve and I will be doing most of the driving, she thought, as she watched Jake sleep fitfully.
*****
Jean, Lynn, Madison, & Tyler
8:00 a.m.
Butte, Montana
One Day Before Outbreak
“She’ll be coming around the mountain, she’ll be coming around the mountain, she’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes…” Aunt Jean finished with a flurry and everyone
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