After the Event Read Free Page B

asking was it pre or post?”
                  “I don’t understa-“
                  “Before or after the world went dark?”
                  “Oh, pre. She…she died of cancer.”
                  Jack shook his head in dismay. “Sorry to hear that. I lost the love of my life a few years ago to the same thing. Seems like it’s only a matter of time before it takes us all out.” The old man thought for a second and let out a soft laugh. “Course that was before everything went dark. I doubt many of us will live long enough to be taken out by cancer now.”
                  Grant didn’t say anything. The conversation was bringing up feelings he wasn’t ready to deal with yet.
                  Jack noticed. “Care for a drink?”
                  Thirsty.
                  “No, no I’m okay.” He had paused a second longer then he cared to admit. “I, uh, I’m an alcoholic.”
                  “Ah, I see.”
                  Once again it was only the breeze going through the trees. Grant ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks again Jack. Can you wait until tomorrow for some water?” The man nodded. “I'll bring a couple of gallons tomorrow sometime along with my son. If there is anything else I can help you with let me know.”
                  “Do you have yourself a gun Grant?” It wasn't an accusation just a question.
                  “Yes.”
                  “You got plenty of ammo?”
                  Grant shrugged his shoulders. “I think I have enough.”
                  Jack shook his head sadly and looked out at the horizon. “I'm afraid that's not possible son. I truly hope I'm wrong but I think there is a storm coming. How big and how bad I don't really know, but probably worse than anything either of us has ever seen before.”             
     

Alec
     
                  Alec watched as his father clumsily attempted to gut and clean the fish he had caught while Joseph sat beside him with his head buried in Grant’s side. Joseph was tied at the hip to his father, had been ever since he had returned. Everything Grant did was perfect, there was a time when Alec even believed that, but that time had passed long ago.
                  “It’s not fair that you’re still mad at him.” Alec didn’t notice Ben standing next to him. Ben now stood up over Alec’s shoulders; his little brother wasn’t so little anymore. “He’s trying and he’s taking care of us.”
                  “It may not be fair but life’s not fair.”             
                  Ben’s face crinkled up. “That doesn’t make any sense. You’re just saying that so you can stay mad at him. If you just gave him a chance you’d see how much he’s changed.”
                  I’ve given him more chances then I can count.
                  “I am giving him a chance Ben, I’m giving him a chance to prove himself.”
                  “No you’re just standing around all day giving him the evil eye. That’s not fair.” With that said Ben stomped off towards the woods.
                  Alec’s mind turned to Christmas Eve when he was ten years old. The Christmas tree lights were blinking, he sat on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate with the knowledge that when he woke up the next morning underneath that tree would be dozens of presents. Yet he remembers not having a smile on his face. He remembers his mother quietly crying in the bathroom. He remembers Ben asking when daddy was coming home and Alec knowing that he wasn’t. Knowing that since he disappeared he would be gone for days, weeks probably because that was what he did. When he returned his mother and father would fight, which usually meant that his father