Chapter 17

It seemed like my head no sooner hit the pillow than I was asleep. For a change I didn't dream, at least not that I remembered. The loud knocking at the door woke me from the first sound sleep I could remember having since this all started. "Yeah, I called out?"

"Hey Pops, Mom said to wake you as breakfast will be ready in about a half an hour."

"Thanks, Shelly!"

"You're welcome!"

The giggle I heard as she walked away made me smile. I headed for the bathroom off the office and quickly grabbed a shower and shave. I got dressed, making sure I had my pistol and the extra magazine pouches on as I headed out to see what would happen today. I did notice that a laundry basket had appeared in the corner of the bathroom for my dirty clothes, or so I thought. When I walked into the dining room that had been set up in the gym, I saw that the blockade guards were already there and I headed for the coffee pot. I sat down and listened to the conversations going on around me, trying to pick up on any gripes or problems that I could pass on to Barry in case it was necessary. Although I heard the normal gripes and bitches, I didn't hear a thing other than normal conversations from the men sitting around me. Zeke joined me and we both sat in silence, sipping the coffee we both needed to wake up. Shelly came over and set two plates in front of us with silverware. I looked around and noticed that all the older kids were doing the serving and they seemed to be doing a good job; kidding with the men as they served them breakfast. I wasn't a big breakfast eater, but the eggs, fried potatoes and toast seemed to hit the spot. It didn't take me long to gobble them down and as I got up to get more coffee, Shelly asked me if I wanted more food. When I said no, she gave me a dirty look as if she thought I didn't like the food or something. I slurped the sip of coffee left in my cup and she got to giggling at me and almost dropped the plate.

"Pops, if I did that Mom would smack me!"

"Well, I am happy you're not your mother 'cause I am too old and decrepit to be smacked. Besides, it might break something if that happened. Remember, I am a senior citizen!" Well that really set her to laughing, and I listened to her all the way out of the room after I refilled my coffee cup. When I got back to the table, Zeke was grinning at our little conversation.