I woke up the next morning and got dressed before making my bed and setting Ethan's moses basket on the bed carefully so not to wake him. I put a pillow beside it so he wouldn't roll off. I check on the older boys before going into the kitchen to start on my morning chores and start breakfast. I made Ethan's bottles for the day and started chopping up 4 of the small potatoes, that I had into dices for hash browns. I let them dry out while I mixed up some pancake batter to make pancakes. I made me Four, Matt three, and Sam got two since they were small and really thin. I was starting the hash-browns when Matt came out of the bedroom area dressed for the day and sat down at the table.
"Matt will you get the ammo boxes out and our empty clips we need to refill them in case we need them in the future." I told him pointing to where the key to the gun cabinet was sitting on the counter with the keys to the truck and Rv.
"Sure mom do you want me to start refilling the clips." He asked me getting up to get the ammo out of the gun cabinet.
"Yeah but when Sam get up we need to be wrapping it up so only get a little out at a time." i told him going back to cooking.
I finished up the hash browns and pancakes setting the plates and bowls full of food on the table. I then joined Matt in restocking the ammo clips making sure to fill all the ones we had. It took us about an hour before he had restocked all the ammo clips, cleaned the guns, and put them back together again. Sam about that time walked out of the bedroom fully dressed and joined us at the table taking his plate of food from where it was sitting in the middle of the table waiting to be eaten. Me and Matt stopped and started eating with him. I put the ammo and guns back in the gun cabinet before locking it up.
After finishing eating I had Matt wash the dishes for me when Ethan starting crying for his morning bottle. I went to get him so that I could feed and change him. I put him in his bouncer for Matt to watch while I help the camp clean up the dead bodies. I made sure the boys were happy in the Rv before leaving them. Sam was watching some show on the Tv and also had his coloring supplies out for when he wanted it later. Ethan was in his bouncer happily playing with the toys connected to it, and Matt was watching over the boys while reading his book by the door with his weapon loaded and ready to use if needed.
I finished up with the last body that was by the Rv, before going back to the Rv to get the boys and head to the fire pit. I put Ethan in his sling while the other boys put their shoes on. I locked up the Rv before heading towards where the other campers were sitting by the bond fire and were talking about something. The must have been talking about something important because not only were the kids a good bit away from them but everyone seemed to have an opinion about it, what ever it was. They got quiet when I arrived with the boys in tow.
"Morning" Rick said as Me and the kids arrived at the camp fire and I nodded at him.
"Matt keep an eye on your brother with all these corps around we don't want him getting bit." I told Matt as Sam started to walk off from the camp fire area where there were more dead bodies laying around.
"Of course mom, are we going to burn them like we did the other ones." Matt asked keeping an eye on his brother as he walked around.
"NO we bury our dead." Lori told him rudely before walking off to her son who was playing with the other children.
"Rick is that a good idea burying them would contaminate the soil and who knows who will arrive after us." I told him rolling my eyes at Lori's departure.
"No we bury our people." Glenn cried getting our attention.
"Glenn by burying the dead we put the disease in the ground making anything grown here contaminated along with the ground water. That could make other people sick by just eating or drinking the water." I told him trying to get my point across.
I could understand their need for wanting to bury their dead but if they did this they could risk infecting other people and ruining the water supply and plant life in the area. I was hoping that they would listen to my reasoning but I also had a feeling that they wouldn't.I was still trying to decide how much longer i was going to stay here. I would leave even if it's by myself but staying here much longer is not an option at this point. The look on most of their faces told me that my reasoning didn't work they were still going to bury the dead. I just shook my head before turning back to Rick waiting for an answer.
I herd as Shane started to argue with Rick about burning the bodies and the men started in to. Ethan at this point was starting to cry from all the noise so I took him and the boys back to the Rv who had wondered out of it. Matt was holding Ethan as I lead them back to the Rv to work on school work and finish my packing for when we left. I still had a few things that needed to be checked, boxes to be put up, and I needed to get water one last time before we leave the next day. I was getting some flash cards out for the boys to study with before going to get water from the lake. I left Sam and Ethan in the care of Matt before grabbing the two buckets for water and heading towards the lake.
I filled up the two buckets and started my way back up the hill. I dump the first bucket of water in the pan on top of my camp fire to boil the water. I left and let the water boil while I round up the empty water bottles for me to refill. I had about 30 bottles to fill. I had kept all the water bottles that I was given over the past three months so I had probably 100 total most were filled and in the fridge. Since it only really use the fridge to hold a few things like berries, cook food, tea, water bottles, and Ethan's bottles by this point.
I also put Ethan's bottles in it but other then that it was empty. I took the box of water bottles, cup, and funnel to help pour the water in to the cups with me outside to where I was boiling the water. I took the first pot off and let it cool while putting the second one on. I finished packing up the foldable chairs, some extra firewood, and took down my clothes line while the water cooled. I them us it to refill the water bottles that needed it. I then carried the first batch of them back into the Rv and put them in the fridge.
I was about half way done with the second batch of bottles that I had before I stopped and took the second pot off the fire and put it to the side to cool. I went to feed Ethan before putting him down for his morning nap. I had burped him and changed his diaper already so now I was rocking him to sleep before setting an asleep Ethan in his moses basket. I put the moses basket where Matt could watch him while doing his school work.
I was about to start filling up bottles again when I heard Jaques shouting that Jim had been bit. I got up to go see what was going on. I check to make sure my gun was ready to fire if necessary. I walked into a cluster fuck was an easy way to put it. Rick and Shane had Daryl pinned to the ground with him shouting at them while everyone else just watched. These fools were not only to wake Ethan up but attract every walker for miles with all this yelling and arguing they were doing.
"What the hell is going on here. I have a baby trying to sleep and all I can here is you guys yelling at one another." I scolded them with my hands on my hip.
"Listen up since you guys don't want to make the hard choices I will. We burn all the bodies to stop the spread of the virus. Our people go in one pile and the rest in the other. We will pack up camp and move out tomorrow since it's no longer safe here. Shane be realistic the army base is most likely a dead end so we will go to the CDC to get information and Jim help. Now get to work." I demanded them and no one protested and went back to work
I grabbed Ethan who had woken up from Matt and took out the canister of formula from the diaper bag that Matt had brought me. I had to tilt the canister to get enough to fill the scoop up. The others must have notice how low i was. I dumped the half water bottle in the bottle before shaking it up. Ethan was on a almost full wail by now. I started to feed him his bottle as the others watched me. It wasn't time for a bottle but this was the only way to get him down for his nap since he had gotten woken up. Matt went back to the Rv to look after Sam while I finished up the main group. I burped Ethan before giving him the rest of his bottle.
I was going to try and put him back to sleep when I relized that he wouldn't go since he slept almost an hour already. I pulled out his changing mat from his diaper bag and changed him on the picnic table tossing his dirty diaper into the fire that was going. I put him in his sling before going over to the camp fire to stirred the pot of beans on the fire since Carol was busy. I took the beans off the heat so they didn't burn before Carol took over finishing up the food over the fire.
I started scooping beans into cups that was set out to feed everyone lunch but no one was really hungry after spending a morning of cleaning up dead bodies that were rotting and stunk to high hell. We didn't stop to eat lunch until well after lunch and the two fires were built and bodies were burning that took a good two hours. I had to pause again to fed the boys and change Ethan before putting him down for his nap along with Sam. Sam usually took one but today he was fighting me on this and I didn't understand why he usually loved his naps but not today. i fought with him for almost 30 minuets before i was able to get him down and had to read another 30 to get him to sleep. He was fighting it with everything he had in his body. Matt seemed to be amused by this which earned him a glare his way.
I had gotten both boys to sleep which left me alone time with Matt. Which was rare and only happened every so often. He and I watched some tv together and then we sharpened the hunting knives before putting them back up. I heard a gun shot go off making me and Matt jump and grab our weapons. I headed for the Rv door while Matt went in the room where Sam and Ethan were sleeping and shut the door with him in the room. I exited the trailer to find every one gathered around Andrea as she handed her gun over to Rick before waling over to Dale's Rv and went inside shut the door loudly. I saw Amy's dead body and knew what had happen.
I saw that Daryl and the other men were moving the last of the bodies while the women took care of the kids and packed up camp. I was already ready to go but I would mess around picking some plants for medical remedies and top off my water supply before we left. I knew the CDC would have supplies so I would take an extra bag with me inside to hold some and so would Matt. I went back over to the Rv to find Shane and Rick standing at the door waiting on me. Which surprised me. I motion for them away from the Rv since Sam and Ethan were napping and I didn't want to wake them up.
"What can I do for you boys." I asked them.
"We are planing on leaving tomorrow to find some place safe to stay and we need to know if your coming or not." Rick told me getting an eye roll from Shane.
"Depends on where your trying to go if your heading to that Army base then no. I'm not taking my kids to their death but if it's the CDC then sure." I told them as I opened the Rv door.
"Matt get the chess board out we haven't played in a while." I told him getting his attention.
"Really mom I've been reading my books on openings." He said excitedly running over to his side of the bench to get the chess board.
"Good you can pick your color like a real player then." I told him as Looked back to Rick and Shane.
"Let me know which you pick. Army base or CDC." I told them closing the door in their faces and walking over to the table.
"Ready" I asked him.
I grabbed a piece of both white and black one in each hand before putting them behind my back and switching them up. I then held my hands out in front of me for Matt to pick a hand. He picked my left which ended up being white so he would get to go first and set the game. He moved a pawn so did I. We both played for about an hour before I won. I could tell that he was kind of upset that he had lost but he didn't get mad about it. He put the board up while I checked on Ethan and Sam to make sure everything was okay still. Ethan was wake and laying in his mosses basket stirring up at the stars on the celling. It was those glow in the dark stars that you stick to the celling.
I picked him up and changed his dirty diaper before putting him in his sling and making his small bed which was just a cover over the moses basket. Sam was waking up around this time so I sat down next to his bed while he fully woke up like I use to do before the dead started walking. I smiled at him and he did the same at me. After Sam got up his bed got made to. I had a feeling that I would have to open my Rv up to strangers during the ride to the CDC because there was so many of us that would be going. I repacked Ethan's diaper bag making sure he hand enough diapers, wipes, toys, bottles. blankets, outfits, and a canister of formula was replaced with a full one. I added several water bottles also to the bag as well. Matt's and Sam's bag got fresh clothes and canned goods along with a blanket and jacket since it was getting colder outside.
It was now around supper time so I got the boys together so we could go eat with the rest of the group. I wrapped Ethan in a blanket to keep him warm before putting him in his sling. I made the boys but jackets on as did I. Carol was finishing up cooking some rice while Lori was passing out waters and spoons to everyone. I grabbed some for me and the boys. I sat them down on the same log and too to standing behind them to not only keep watch from walkers but also to make them feel safer with me doing this. I gave each of the boys their bowls of food before grabbing my own. I ate quickly not really even tasting it just getting it down. I then drunk my water while I waited on the boys to finish up. I grabbed Ethan's bottle and started feeding him.
I burped him half through like normal then gave him the rest of his bottle. I also fed him a jar of baby food since he was now old enough to eat baby food. I handed Ethan to Matt before taking all of our dishes and walked over to where we washed the dishes and started washing them. I usually always cleaned up after my family. I knew that Lori usually left the chores that she didn't want to do for others and that bugged the piss out of me. That was just plain lazy in my opinion and I personally hated people who didn't pull their own weight in groups. I was the one raising three kids and still could hunt, fish, gather, and make medicinal things so that was my part in the group.
"Matt take your bothers to the Rv please I need to talk to Rick." I told him handing him the solar power flashlight.
"Sure mom can we watch some tv." He asked putting Ethan on his hip before grabbing Sam's hand helping him up.
I waited until the boys were safely in the Rv before turning my back towards it and facing the rest of the group. Most the women had also taken the kids to bed for the night or at least get settle in for the night. I saw that Rick, Glenn, T-dog, and Daryl were talking holding a flashlight over a map that was on the hood of one of the cars. I walked over to join them to see what they had decided to do the next. I smiled when Glenn stepped aside to let me be able to see the map. They were talking out routes to take to get to the CDC.
"You guys are thinking like civilians. There is an Army road that leads through here for training missions. It will take you half way and the highway will take you the rest of the way. Not many know about that Military training route." I told them pointing out a route that was on the map that they were over looking.
"Now I can't promise that it's clear but I can tell you that the military would have set up check points along the road which means supplies like medical. weapons and even food and water." I said point out where I would put the check points.
"No we need to stay on the main roads for now incase we need to stop for gas or other supplies." Shane said from behind me.
"Okay fine but Glenn on your next run I need baby food and formula if Ethan's going to be eating. I'm on my last canister of formula." I told him
"Okay I usually always look for baby supplies while I'm out does it have to be that brand." He asked me.
"If you have a option yes but if don't then no any kind of formula is better than none." I told him
"Rick have you and Shane decided yet or are you going to wait until morning to decide." I asked them.
"Yes we have chosen to go to the CDC so are you coming with us or not." Shane said rudely to me before walking off.
"Yes me and the boys will go with you but I was thinking we could leave around ten or when the sun in half way in the sky. I have a few things to do first like get water and I know Daryl will want to hunt before we leave." i told them
"Sounds good everyone will have to finish packing up in the morning anyways so it works out good." Rick said before anyone else could talk.
I then went to the Rv and watched tv with the boys for a while while Ethan played in his bouncer having the time of his life reaching for and running his fingers through the feathers I had tied to one of the toys. I didn't want him to get bored with the toys on there so I added things from time to time to keep him interested in them. I got the empty water bottles that were in the box by the sink and started filling them up. I then started the shower for Sam to take, next would be Matt and then Me and Ethan would take one before going to bed. I also started on laundry since I had a couple loads to do.
I went to the bedroom and laid out clothes for the boys to change into once they were done with their showers. I went to check on Sam and found that Matt had gotten in the shower and was helping him wash his hair before showing how to wash between his legs. I laid their towels on the counter and left not wanting to interrupt them. I went and started to get Ethan ready for a shower himself. I was taking his onesie off and set him in his crib so that I could check on the other boys. I stepped into the bathroom and helped Sam dry off before helping him get dressed in PJ's. I grabbed Ethan before taking his diaper off and stepping into the shower.
I started with washing him body first before setting him in the clothes basket that I used to hold him while I finished washing. He loved the water and this way he was safe from falling over into the water and he could still be able to play in the little water that collected in the bottom of it. Also it kept him from crawling all over the bathtub and tripping me up. I gave him his ducky to play with and he was happy. I washed my hair and body before picking him back up and washing his hair and getting out all with in 10 minuets which was good timing.
I sat him back in the basket while I got out and dried off. I got dressed in underwear so nothing bad was showing if the other boys saw me and grabbed Ethan wrapping him in his towel. I took him to the bedroom to were our clothes were at. I dried him off before putting a diaper on him and then got him dressed in footy PJ's. I then put his pacifier in his mouth and got dressed myself in Tee shirt and jogging pants. I then grabbed all of our wet towels and dirty clothes and took them to the laundry area. I switched over the load before taking Ethan over to the other boys.
"Hey guys why don't you play with Ethan and his toys on the floor while mommy folds clothes, then we can watch something before bed." I told them setting Ethan down on the floor and handed Matt a small box of Ethan's toys.
"Sure mom." Matt said getting down on the ground with his brother and started playing with him which in turn made Sam join them since he didn't want to be left out.
I finished folding the clothes and went to put them up before joining the boys on the floor for a bit. we played until the clothes beeped again which was almost an hour. I handed Ethan to Matt who started a episode of Supernatural for us to watch and sat down on the couch with Sam. i started the last load of towels before folding the second load and putting it up by now they were on their second episode and Ethan was sound asleep. I went and put him in his moses basket before coming back to Sam who had also fallen asleep to bed. Matt followed after the second episode and i turned off everything and made sure everything was locked up for the night before going to be myself.