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though Neal couldn’t see. It wasn’t a gesture out of contempt but one of love. She and Neal had met nine years before and one thing that she loved about his personality was his humor. He was the one man that made her truly laugh.
    “I miss my friends,” Beth said.
    “You do?” Neal asked.
    “Yeah, I miss Ella the most.”
    “I know, you two were besties,” Karen said, rubbing Beth’s arm.
    “Are they still alive?” Beth asked.
    The question threw Karen and Neal. “Why would you ask that?” Neal asked.
    “I heard you and Mom talking about seeing people dead and…”
    Karen leaned in and asked, “And what?”
    “I heard Daddy say something about wondering if the Reynolds and your other friends were dead.”
    Karen sighed. “We were just talking.”
    Neal sat up, cleared his throat, and replied bluntly, “Honey, the world has changed and not exactly for the best. It’s different and, well…”
    “What were you about to say?” Karen asked him.
    “It’s time we were honest with her.”
    “No, she’s just a little girl.”
    “Karen, she needs to know, not the gruesome details, but we can’t shield her from the realities out there.”
    “No,” Karen insisted.
    “Karen, I’m just going to chat with her. She’s going to find out one way or another and I’d rather have her hear it from me directly than to overhear me and not understand the context.”
    Karen thought for a second before replying, “How about we discuss what you’re thinking of saying?”
    Neal also paused before responding. “Fine.”
    “Tell me,” Beth urged.
    “No, your mother’s right. We both will discuss what’s happening out there, but do it later.”
    “C’mon.”
    “No, now get some sleep,” Karen said.
    Beth crossed her arms and grunted.
    Neal leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “Get some sleep.”
    Beth grumbled.
    He got closer and whispered into her ear, “And I don’t think Ella and her parents are dead. I was just wondering. After a lot of thought I came to the conclusion they were fine. Ella’s daddy is a smart guy; I’m sure he got to Ella’s grandparents’ house safe and sound.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yes, now close your eyes. I need you bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning, you’ve gotta help Mommy inventory the pantry.”
    “Okay, love you, Dada.”
    “Love you too.”
    “Love you, Mama.”
    Karen kissed her and whispered, “Love you, baby.”
    Neal rolled onto his back and immediately thoughts of the Reynolds came rushing in. He didn’t know for sure if they were safe, but telling Beth they were did ease her mind. Was that right for him to do? Being a parent was not an easy job, and those who thought it was were usually not parents. When you first discovered you’d be a parent, you really didn’t know what to expect. Yes, many people experienced joy but also fear came. Would you be a good parent? Would you have all the answers? Would your kids grow up to be good people? There had been many books written on parenting, but were any of them correct? How did you talk to a child about the apocalypse? he asked himself. Just how did you begin that conversation, over a family dinner? ‘Hi, Beth, the world as you know it just ended and you may not survive. Do you want rice or beans?’ He had thought before of discussing what happened with her, but he never could find that right moment. Now with her asking questions like she just did, he knew it was the time.
    It didn’t take long for Beth to fall back to sleep. Her heavy and rhythmic breathing gave him peace, but it was now time for him to get up and prepare for the long day ahead.

CHAPTER THREE
    “Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche
    Guatay, CA
    Charlotte woke abruptly when the door opened. She opened her eyes, but the canvas sack that covered her head prevented her from seeing. She squirmed on the floor as best she could with her arms bound behind her