Survive by Todd Sprague

hip holsters, and John carrying his carbine, walked in to the elder Masons’ home. Harold and June were both in the kitchen again. June offered them both pie as they entered.
    “No thanks, Mom. We just had pancakes. Maybe later.” John said as he pushed the pie away carefully, as if it might explode if it jiggled too much.
    Sara and John took seats next to each other at the table. June poured coffee for them all. The clock on the microwave read 8:20.
    Harold lifted his mug, took a long slow sip, then set his coffee back down before speaking. “Phones were working for a bit this morning. Patrick called Nancy and Franny. They’re on their way over. They’re bringing everything they can, and the kids are coming as well.”
    “Kids?” Sara asked.
    “Nancy and Franny’s kids. Though I’m pretty sure being in their mid 20’s disqualifies them as kids.” John said.
    “Pam and Roy are coming too, even though she doesn’t get along with the twins.” June said, referring to Nancy and Franny, identical twins, and younger sisters of Pam.
    “Damn. I’d hoped Roy had been eaten by now.” John muttered. He saw Sara choke on some of her coffee.
    June reached over and slapped John in the back of the head. “You be nice. He’s your cousin.”
    “Cousin in law!” John yelled.
    June gave her son a disapproving frown. John looked down sheepishly, not quite catching Sara’s smirk.
    Just then, a tall, skinny blond woman in her late 30’s entered the room, followed by a sulky and equally skinny blond teenage girl and an even more blond preteen boy.
    “Good morning, Jen. Would you like some coffee?” June asked the woman.
    The teenage girl came rushing over to John, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing. “Uncle John!”
    Cousin, actually , John thought to himself. But close enough. “Hey Kelly! How are you doing?”
    “I’m ok. I’m worried about daddy.”
    “Don’t you worry, if there’s anyone who can take care of themselves it’s Jesse Sanderson. And anyway, you know your Grandpa Walt will watch out for him too.” John said, extracting himself from Kelly’s bear hug. He looked down at the little boy. “Hey Jacob. How’s it hangin’?” John tousled the boy’s hair.
    “John!” June and Sara both yelled at the same time. Jen glared at John evilly.
    “Hi Uncle John,” Jacob said shyly.
    The family spent some time sitting at the table. June made eggs and toast for the three newcomers while the rest sat comfortably drinking coffee. John produced a pen and began jotting down notes to himself on a paper napkin.
    A few minutes later a car pulled into the shared Mason driveway. John and Harold both went out to see who it was. Patrick was just walking out of his house as they reached the driveway. A blue Dodge Durango had just come to a stop.
    A tall, muscular man in his early 40’s exited the driver’s side, followed by a dark haired woman slightly past her prime with long black hair and an annoyed expression on her face.
    “Good to see you, John.” The man offered his hand to John. They shook vigorously, the kind of handshake that would rip the arm off an unsuspecting person.
    “Kurt, Franny,” John nodded to each of the Crawfords respectively as he shook Kurt’s hand. He could see the back of the Durango was packed to the brim with various supplies.
    “This better not be one of your stupid pranks” Franny said to John.
    “Yeah, Franny, I made every TV station in the country help me prank you.” John rolled his eyes.
    The men of the family all pitched in to unload the Durango, carrying everything in to Patrick and May’s house, placing it all in one of the many spare bedrooms. John noted with approval that Kurt had brought his rifles and ammunition as well.
    * * *
     
    An hour later, a beat up old Chevy Suburban drove in to the driveway. John and his father again greeted the newcomers, Roger and Nancy James. Nancy looked just like Franny except that her hair was shorter and had gone to gray in