Amanda Carter in the L.A.Z., life after zombies Read Free Page A

stupid. I know what’s really going on here. It’s not like he’s actually sleeping. I mean, look at him,” she said, raising her voice and pointing to her father. “Dad’s dying, isn’t he?”
    Maryanne wished desperately that she could shield her daughter from life’s pains, kiss it all and make it go away. But this would not be going away.
    Tears had begun to well up in the teen’s eyes, instantly washing away any anger that Maryanne had begun to feel over her behavior.
    “I could hear you and Roy talking, you know,” Samantha said. “The wind carried your voices.”
    Maryanne made a mental note to pay attention to which direction the wind was blowing before she had any more private, grown-up conversations.
    “Next time, I’m going on the run with Amanda,” Samantha said defiantly.
    “Absolutely not,” her mother huffed. “What exactly has gotten into you anyway? Don’t forget that you’re still a minor, and I’m still in charge of you.”
    “Mother,” Samantha said, matching Maryanne’s angry tone, “I’m fifteen, and it’s the middle of the zombie apocalypse, and you won’t let me do anything to help. You treat me like I’m just some little kid or something. I am not my sister.” She folded her arms. She regretted this posture immediately because it was just too hot to have body parts touching one another. She began to sweat more.
    “You know I don’t like it when you use that tone, missy,” Maryanne said, suddenly feeling old and tired. She had always hated it when her mother had called her missy. They stood almost toe-to-toe for a full minute or more, glaring at each other.
    “I give up, Sam,” Maryanne said wearily, “but you’re still not going on any run with anybody ever.”
    The teen shrugged her shoulders and seemed to give in. Maryanne became suspicious because it wasn’t like her to give in so easily. She could only wonder at what might be going through her daughter’s mind right now.
    “Can I at least learn to drive and use weapons and stuff?” the girl asked, looking hopeful.
    “So that’s what this is about,” Maryanne said, with a roll of her eyes. “You ask me to do something that you know I absolutely won’t approve of, we fight about it, you give in and then ask for something lesser, hoping that I will just be relieved and say yes.”
    “Yep, that’s about it,” Samantha said, and at least her mother admired her honesty.
    “Hey, Doctor,” Roy said, surprising both of them, “what do you say, I start teaching her how to drive?”
    “Please, Mom, please,” Samantha was pleading with her hands clasped together.
    “I suppose that couldn’t hurt,” Maryanne said hesitantly, hoping that she wouldn’t live to regret this.
    “Awesome!” Samantha exclaimed, jumping up and down. “I’ll go grab the keys.”
    “Samantha, you’re too much. I didn’t mean now,” her mother said with a groan.
    “How about it, Uncle Roy?” Samantha said, before flashing a grin.
    “I don’t see any harm in it. I need to check it out anyway because . . .” he said but didn’t finish his sentence.
    They all knew what he meant, because if Amanda didn’t make it back, that was their only way to go get some water.
    “All right, all right,” Maryanne said, “have fun and be safe. Don’t use too much gas.” “Remember the rules,” her mother said while feeling oddly like she was losing control of her daughter.
    “I know,” Samantha said. “Always use the buddy system, never be without a weapon, and don’t be afraid to use it.”
    “Don’t worry about us, we’ll stick close and keep it in first gear,” Roy said.
    “What does that mean?” Samantha asked.
    “Exactly my point,” Roy answered with a chuckle. “Come on, kid, I’ll show you.”

Chapter 3
    A manda heard the creeper crash to the floor below, having stepped out into the void that separated where she was now from the other side of the tunnel. She sprang up, flashlight clutched, quick to