Disclaimer-I don't own Recess, or The Girl Who Owned a City.
It was cold, and so quiet. Then again, it was always quiet nowadays, what with the adults gone and all. Her mind was drifting, and she refocused on what she was looking for –food. She noticed a house that looked like it was abandoned, probably nothing important in there, but it was worth a look. She checked the door- it was open. Walking through the house was strange. She felt like a criminal, even though she had done this before. Finally, the fridge was in sight, and she opened it.
"Damn it!" The fridge was completely bare. Not a single scrap of anything the least bit edible. Walking out in frustration, she noticed something from the corner of her eye. It was a hastily scribbled note. She had gotten one just like it. Even though she knew what it said, she read it anyways.
Dear sweetie,
We're sorry we have to leave you. There's food in the fridge, it should last you a little while. Be sure to remember to see Dr. Tunick for your vaccination, you can't fall victim to this disease too. Take care of your little brother, he needs you now. I know it will be hard, but always remember that we love you, even if we're not there physically, we'll be there in spirit with you.
Love always,
Mom and Dad
Reading the note brought back a flood of memories. She remembered her and TJ getting their shots together, and when her parents told her of what was to come-bringing her childhood to a screeching halt. Flashback
"Hey Ashley honey, could you come in here, your father and I have to talk to you."
"What is it mom?"
"Your father and I have to-well- we have to... leave." Her voice started to crack.
"When will you be back?" A tear fell down her father's cheek.
"Pookie, you know of the virus right?"
"Yeah..."
"How it infects everyone over twelve, we have a vaccine, but no cure for those already infected."
"Yeah..." Something was definitely wrong, she could tell. Her father's face was buried in his hands; he appeared to be softly sobbing. Her mother was trying to be strong, but was struggling to contain the lump in her throat. This was the last time she would ever see her daughter...
"Well honey...every adult in ...every adult in the world has been...infected."
"But you can get better right?"
"No Ashley, I'm afraid we can't."
"But why?"
"We're so sorry pookie." Her father said. Both parents were now crying. Spinelli was scared now. What did this now mean for her.
"From now on, you'll have to go on without us."
"What?!" now it was Spinelli's turn to cry.
"We know it seems impossible, but you can do it-we know you can."
"But how... I'm just...just a ten...year old girl." She said between sobs. Even though she had previously sworn to never cry, she couldn't help not crying. Life without her parents...impossible. She was doomed.
"Ashley, there's no such thing as 'just a ten year old girl' you are special, strong and spirited. Between you and your friends, you'll be okay for sure."
"If I'm so strong, why am I crying?"
"Sometimes, it's okay to cry honey."
End Flashback
That was two months ago. Things since then pretty much whomped. Her parents were right about her friends though. Each one of them had a safety net in the other five, even if things were rough for them too. In the distance, she saw Tj's house, where the six of them were living. With no law enforcement, things often got a little mixed up, so they figured there was safety in numbers. Not to mention they could work to survive much better as a team than individually.
"Any luck Spin?" called out her best friend, TJ Detwieler.
"Sorry Teej, I got nothing. You?"
"Nada"
She smiled. Things seemed much better when she was with the gang, especially when she was with TJ. He could always make her smile. In this world, there wasn't much to smile about.
Tj's POV
She was smiling. I love her smile. Truth be told, I think I might actually love her...but I'm not quite sure. What is love any ways? It's not like there's anyone to explain it to me. Whatever it is, I've always felt something special for her. It's not like I could tell her though. If she didn't feel the same way...best not to dwell on the negative. Now's not the time. We have to focus on more important things, like what to eat tonight. I thought I knew what hunger was, but I was wrong. Sometimes, I get so hungry it hurts. A kid's gotta eat. Gretchen, of course, is working on getting food. Something about synthetic compounds yada yada yada. Gus' army rations were a godsend, his dad left enough for six months. Four months left.At any rate, we'll have to wait till next fall for the stuff we planted to grow. Frankly, I don't know if I can wait that long.
Wait a minute, what about the grocery warehouse? 10 miles away, if only one of us could drive. Wait a minute, whose gonna stop me from driving? Why didn't I think of this before? How hard could it be?
"Tj, Tj ???"
"huh, oh, sorry Spin, zoned out a little there."
Spinelli's POV
He had that look. That unmistakable look. He's got something planned. I've been wanting to see that look for a while. It's so...reassuring, like nothing bad can happen, like everything actually will be ok.
"What's your plan?"
It was cold, and so quiet. Then again, it was always quiet nowadays, what with the adults gone and all. Her mind was drifting, and she refocused on what she was looking for –food. She noticed a house that looked like it was abandoned, probably nothing important in there, but it was worth a look. She checked the door- it was open. Walking through the house was strange. She felt like a criminal, even though she had done this before. Finally, the fridge was in sight, and she opened it.
"Damn it!" The fridge was completely bare. Not a single scrap of anything the least bit edible. Walking out in frustration, she noticed something from the corner of her eye. It was a hastily scribbled note. She had gotten one just like it. Even though she knew what it said, she read it anyways.
Dear sweetie,
We're sorry we have to leave you. There's food in the fridge, it should last you a little while. Be sure to remember to see Dr. Tunick for your vaccination, you can't fall victim to this disease too. Take care of your little brother, he needs you now. I know it will be hard, but always remember that we love you, even if we're not there physically, we'll be there in spirit with you.
Love always,
Mom and Dad
Reading the note brought back a flood of memories. She remembered her and TJ getting their shots together, and when her parents told her of what was to come-bringing her childhood to a screeching halt. Flashback
"Hey Ashley honey, could you come in here, your father and I have to talk to you."
"What is it mom?"
"Your father and I have to-well- we have to... leave." Her voice started to crack.
"When will you be back?" A tear fell down her father's cheek.
"Pookie, you know of the virus right?"
"Yeah..."
"How it infects everyone over twelve, we have a vaccine, but no cure for those already infected."
"Yeah..." Something was definitely wrong, she could tell. Her father's face was buried in his hands; he appeared to be softly sobbing. Her mother was trying to be strong, but was struggling to contain the lump in her throat. This was the last time she would ever see her daughter...
"Well honey...every adult in ...every adult in the world has been...infected."
"But you can get better right?"
"No Ashley, I'm afraid we can't."
"But why?"
"We're so sorry pookie." Her father said. Both parents were now crying. Spinelli was scared now. What did this now mean for her.
"From now on, you'll have to go on without us."
"What?!" now it was Spinelli's turn to cry.
"We know it seems impossible, but you can do it-we know you can."
"But how... I'm just...just a ten...year old girl." She said between sobs. Even though she had previously sworn to never cry, she couldn't help not crying. Life without her parents...impossible. She was doomed.
"Ashley, there's no such thing as 'just a ten year old girl' you are special, strong and spirited. Between you and your friends, you'll be okay for sure."
"If I'm so strong, why am I crying?"
"Sometimes, it's okay to cry honey."
End Flashback
That was two months ago. Things since then pretty much whomped. Her parents were right about her friends though. Each one of them had a safety net in the other five, even if things were rough for them too. In the distance, she saw Tj's house, where the six of them were living. With no law enforcement, things often got a little mixed up, so they figured there was safety in numbers. Not to mention they could work to survive much better as a team than individually.
"Any luck Spin?" called out her best friend, TJ Detwieler.
"Sorry Teej, I got nothing. You?"
"Nada"
She smiled. Things seemed much better when she was with the gang, especially when she was with TJ. He could always make her smile. In this world, there wasn't much to smile about.
Tj's POV
She was smiling. I love her smile. Truth be told, I think I might actually love her...but I'm not quite sure. What is love any ways? It's not like there's anyone to explain it to me. Whatever it is, I've always felt something special for her. It's not like I could tell her though. If she didn't feel the same way...best not to dwell on the negative. Now's not the time. We have to focus on more important things, like what to eat tonight. I thought I knew what hunger was, but I was wrong. Sometimes, I get so hungry it hurts. A kid's gotta eat. Gretchen, of course, is working on getting food. Something about synthetic compounds yada yada yada. Gus' army rations were a godsend, his dad left enough for six months. Four months left.At any rate, we'll have to wait till next fall for the stuff we planted to grow. Frankly, I don't know if I can wait that long.
Wait a minute, what about the grocery warehouse? 10 miles away, if only one of us could drive. Wait a minute, whose gonna stop me from driving? Why didn't I think of this before? How hard could it be?
"Tj, Tj ???"
"huh, oh, sorry Spin, zoned out a little there."
Spinelli's POV
He had that look. That unmistakable look. He's got something planned. I've been wanting to see that look for a while. It's so...reassuring, like nothing bad can happen, like everything actually will be ok.
"What's your plan?"