End of the Line (Book 2): Stuck in the Middle Read Online Free Page B

acted younger, with sandy hair and large haunting green eyes. He was a good kid, did what was asked but he always seemed terrified.
                  “New guy!” Brie yelled. She got up and ran to me. “Anniemarie! Did you get candy?” Unlike Annie, I didn’t mind Brie calling me Anniemarie. It was adorable. Brie was five and unlike Simon was fearless. She used to be shy and withdrawn but as she moved from toddler to child, she started being more brazen. She had lovely brown eyes and a tan complexion, probably Hispanic, but we wouldn’t know. Abe found her when she was three wandering the streets in dirty clothes.
                  “We got plenty already, but we did get you a coat.”
                  Brie looked disappointed. We took a ton of candy from Costking, and the kids got a couple of pieces a day, so I don’t know what she pouted about.
                  “Is the new guy cute?” she asked instead. I don’t know where she learned that, probably Dena.
                  “He’s name is Keith. He’s a little scared but he seems friendly. You should both be nice to him.” I gave a big smile to both kids. Brie smiled in returned.
                  “I’m glad,” Simon said, his voice low. He didn’t smile but at least now he talked.
                  I went into the bathroom. We only used this one even though the boat had three because it was the biggest and easiest to maintain. It even had a tub. It never got used except when I found Dena in it, curled up in a sleeping bag.
    I put on hot but not cold. All I would get was lukewarm. The solar panel kept limited electricity running including the water heater, but it was on the lowest setting to conserve energy.
    I walked in, let the warm water cover me, I smelled chlorine, but ignored it. I added a little soap. I counted to 100 then rinsed. I didn’t want to leave but I knew I had to. The shower time wasn’t enforced. I’m sure some people took less time, most probably took a few seconds more, but never that much. We knew we all had to ration and sacrifice to survive. We were all good soldiers.
                  Sometimes, I wanted off this boat. I didn’t want to be alone, but I couldn’t imagine living here forever. If we lived in a house we could have a field of basins to collect water. We can set up solar panels. We could heat bathwater. This boat wasn’t meant to be off the grid for so long especially in winter.
                  I dried off, hung the towel over the shower doors. We used everything until it stank. I hadn’t washed my hair, just soaped up and warmed my body a little. I put my robe back on. Didn’t want speak again to Simon and Brie on the way out but Brie called out. “See you later, Anniemarie.”
                  I tried to put on a smile. “Bye kids.”
                 
                  Henry gave up reading because the sun was going down. He had lit a lantern but he was lying back with his eyes closed. The boat was rocking gently. I knew the anchor was out and we were in for the night.
                  “You feeling okay?”
                  “Yeah,” he said. “A little nauseous, but no big deal.”
                  “I have to deal with Keith, show him around.”
                  “Sounds cool.”
                  As I said, everything was cool with him.
                  I got dressed in my night clothes: thermals, pajama pants, a tee-shirt and a flannel night gown over it. I looked like a deranged Victorian. I brushed my ginger hair. Jim cut the ends once a month. I used to hate ginger jokes but now I missed them, I missed the internet and everything, good and bad—well maybe not bad.
                  I walked back to the salon. I knew the way without lights but dim lanterns illuminated the