Burn District 1 Read Online Free

this room.” Each berth had its own DVD player that came out of the bunk above it.
    “I’ll stay with grandpa,” Ned said.
    There was also a large dinette booth and a recliner loveseat. They’d be very comfortable. The only problem I saw was the bathroom situation, but the trailer had two bathrooms, so they were welcome to come to our house anytime.
    “Well, I’m beat,” my dad said. “I imagine you all are about ready to keel over.” Randy was already lying on the bed, playing with the TV remote.
    “If it’s okay with you, Steve, I’ll cook dinner tonight. I need to do something normal,” Carol said. I was worried about her, but didn’t say anything.
    “Yes, normal would be nice,” I said.
    “Whatever you want to do is fine. I don’t want to take it for granted that the women will take over the kitchen, but I’d prefer it if you want to.” We filed out of the fifth wheel while Mike went back to the trailer to take a nap. An outbuilding had outdoor furniture in it that my dad and the rest of us started to unload, arranging chairs around the fire pit. We wanted a place to hang out together in the evening.
    “We need to go to the grocery store,” Carin said. “We have enough canned tuna for a year. And Vienna sausages. Mom, what were you thinking?”
    “Dad likes them,” I said laughing.
    “I’ll take you shopping after we get settled,” Kelly said then turning to me. “You okay with that, Mom?”
    “Dad, what do you think? Will three women be okay alone?” I’d temporarily forgotten that danger lurked everywhere as long as there was a sky overhead. I listened for airplane engines.
    “It’s safe here,” he said. “Safer than where you come from. Just don’t talk to strangers.”
    “We can rest this afternoon and go tomorrow,” Kelly said. I realized it was going to be nice having so many of my usual responsibilities divided up with other women. I was grateful my daughters were taking control of the kitchen, too.
    With everyone staking their claim to territory, my father and I sat down together and watched the traffic on the road in the distance.
    “In years past, I’d be nervous if I saw more than a car a day drive down that road,” he said. “Now, we have a steady stream.”
    “Do you think it has anything to do with what’s going on back east?”
    “I’m afraid so,” he admitted. “Haven’t had a chance to talk to any locals yet. I know it’s getting built up around here, but not this much, this fast.”
    “Did you see a lot of burned areas on your way?” I looked over my shoulder, knowing I was being paranoid, that no one could hear me.
    My dad sunk down low in his chair, minimizing his stature. I thought of how our situation had beaten us up in such a short time, even my dad, a decorated war hero from the Persian Gulf was frightened by what was happening. “I did,” he said softly. “When I drove at night, along I 10, I could see fires in the distance. I knew they bombed cities, but this looked like farms and small, isolated places. I don’t understand.” Nodding my head in agreement, I was too tired to get into an in-depth conversation with him about what I believed was happening, that it was genocide at its worst. He wouldn’t understand. My dad was a Marine for thirty years, just recently retired. The leaders of the country he served with love wouldn’t be capable of such a thing.
    “I’m glad Stephanie is gone,” he said referring to my mom. “I can’t see her able to cope with it.”
    “Me either. She’d be so angry. She’d definitely be a leader of the rebellion.” Steve looked at me.
    “Do you think so?”
    “Oh, yes. Mom concealed who she really was because it wasn’t considered feminine. I saw her in action many times. Once at her work she’d taken me with her for an emergency. You were overseas somewhere. The call person wasn’t answering their phone and there was a big trauma case pending. ‘I can come but I have to bring my kid with