Surviving Beyond the Zombie Apocalypse Read Online Free

feeding me a bunch of bullshit,” Kat broke in with her typically colorful vocabulary.
         My disapproving stares had no effect on her, so I eventually gave up and simply ignored her off-color language.
         “We’re going to have to hope that he was right about the date. Besides it’s not like we have a lot of other options to consider.” I tried to keep things positive. “We need to make a list of things to get over the next few days, so that we’re ready to go to Tiburon in a week. No sense waiting until the 18th.”
         “I definitely need some new clothes,” Taylor spoke up. “And there’s someone named Christina needs some new socks. P.U!”
         “Hey, you need some new underwear, ‘cuz yers are poopy!” Christina instantly shot back.
         “I think we could all use some new undies,” Kat broke in. “There’s a CheapMart right up the street. That’s where Paul went…and…well, they should have everything we need.”
         “Great! We can go on a food run and get some new clothes!” Taylor cheered.
         I sniffed my shirt and had to agree that a change of clothes might be a good thing.
         Over the next few days, we took an inventory of everything we might need if we managed to get aboard a ship. In addition to a clean set of clothes, we all needed coats and toothbrushes. Christina announced that she desperately needed some crayons and coloring books. Taylor decided some comic books would make him happy. Kat wanted to find something to play music. I considered it for a long time. What did I want to get from the store? What did I miss? What could I find in a store that would make me happy? I was able to list a whole lot of things which made me sad in the world, but nothing I could think of made me truly happy.
         Not that I was trying to be especially noble or selfless, but, from what I had seen over the last few months, few possessions held any true value. I remembered the beautiful gold wristwatch I had saved months to buy, the expensive briefcase I had to have because another teacher carried one, the new car, even though the old one ran fine. I didn’t really miss any of those things. None of those things added anything to my life, and none of them could bring my old life back.
          “What do you want to get, Kevin?” Christina’s question shook me out of my thoughts.
         I came up blank as to an answer. “Well, I don’t know. Do you have any ideas for me?”
          The little girl’s face showed an expression of comical seriousness as she considered the question. “Hmmm, I don’t know. What should you get?” She stared off into space for a moment. “I got it!  You need a cowboy hat, a nice black cowboy hat!”
         “A cowboy hat?” I asked with mock disbelief.
         Taylor and Kat laughed.
         A serious expression covered Christina’s face as she answered. “What? Doncha think he’d look good in a cowboy hat.” Her voice cracked, and clearly the tears were ready to flow.
         “Okay, thanks for the idea,” I said, trying to keep her from tears. “If we see any cowboy hats, I’ll try one on.”
         “I’m sure you’d look great in a cowboy hat, Kevin!” Kat laughed. “Not like one of those redneck assholes at all!” 
         Christina did not take the jokes well and was quiet for the next few minutes.
         We decided to head to the store the next morning.
         As silly as it sounds, I found myself genuinely excited on that morning. It seems like a terribly small event, but given the state of things, having anything to look forward to became a big deal. I didn’t remember the last time I had been really excited. I caught myself before I went off on that train of thought. Attempting to remember the last thing about which I had been genuinely excited did not promise to lead me to a place that I would enjoy. Instead, I forced my mind to stay in the present and