Perfect Picnic

Part One

Autumn +4 weeks

I looked left, seeing my main receiver open, Joel had at least a step, maybe a step and half, lead against the younger Jimmy before he jinked back right. Joel still had it, I thought as I threw the ball towards him. A perfect spiral that landed right in his hands, grinning I watch as Joel turned up field to make the game winning touchdown, I really thought he was going to make it … until I saw the collision. Jimmy wasn't even close to catching him but damn it if Shawn came out of nowhere to tackle Joel. The impact, on Joel's inured side, was enough to knock the ball lose from Joel's grip. He went down on the ground while Shawn scooped up the ball and began running back the other direction.

"Oh, come on ref; that was totally bullshit," a youngish female voice came floating in from the sidelines. Followed closely by several older ladies screaming out the offenders name.

I glance to the side, to see my wife and my … sister in law? … new niece? … Ellie arguing on the sideline with a couple ladies, a few whom I knew had less then delightful things to say about Ellie. Well, Ellie was arguing while Maria was trying to placate everyone. Nothing new then. I then looked down field to see that annoying pimple dancing around the end zone, holding out the ball as if was some kind of trophy.

Shit, he is going to be even harder to live with now.

Joel walked over to me, holding his side and breathing hard as if he was an old man. Yeah, well, he was and so was I.

"You just had to keep pushing the whole football thing didn't you," I asked in mocking tones.

"Sounded like a good idea at the time," Joel, still trying to catch his breath, shrugged his shoulders as the gaggle of younger men jog by them.

"Hey thanks for the game, old timers," Shawn said tossing me the ball as he sprinted by us towards the waiting feast that Bruce and others were cooking for the town.

"I'm gonna shot that boy one day," Joel said darkly and hopefully, in joking tone.

"Hey 2x4, you see the way I laid out your old man," the walking dead man shouted as Maria, dressed in her normal jeans, sweater and leather jacket, somehow looking like a million bucks without trying and Ellie, wearing a Longhorn hoodie four sizes too big for her and bib coveralls, walked past him towards us. Where they found a Longhorn hoodie in Wyoming is beyond me.

"Yeah, fuck you Shawn," she snapped back.

"That is if Ellie doesn't beat me too it."

I really wish I could tell if he was joking or not. Once upon a time, I could tell what Joel was thinking without even trying but Joel and I, we have changed a lot since that Day happened. Some of it good, like Maria for me and Ellie for him, some of it so bad that still give me nightmares even after all these years. I ain't a religious man like Maria or her dad but I do thank God every day for bring me to her.

"Hey," I said wrapping one arm around her as she stood beside me. She gave me that bright smile that made me feel warm even on this chilly fall day.

"Joel," Ellie said standing in front of him, letting Joel's backpack fall to the ground beside her.

"I am good," he respond without looking at her. She just stood there, not moving till he let out a sigh in defeat. Without another word, he lift his shirt enough for her to see his old wound.

"I didn't spend all those weeks patching you up so you could lose to that dick, you know," the fifteen year old red head snorted out once she was satisfied with what she saw.

"It's not like I wanted him to win," Joel said tucking in his shirt as she moved to his side as well.

"I know," she said with a grimace, as she slung the backpack over her right shoulder and wrapping the other one around Joel. "Still, he is going to be an insufferable prick for weeks now."

"What do you mean 'going to be'," Maria said letting out her own noise of annoyance.

The four of us headed over to the picnic area had been set up near what had been the local school house when Jackson's children learn things before that Day happened. Maria and I still haven't come to any conclusion as what to do with that building. It was beginning to fall apart by the time we all arrived in Jackson and it ain't going to get any better any time soon. But for now, it had a field big enough to play a nice, friendly, game of football and enough space for a harvest picnic, to celebrate another good year in the greenhouses and stables. We won't starve this winter, even if our hunters don't do well. Since Joel and Ellie started hunting for us, we don't have to worry on that account either.

"I'm sure that once he gets old enough to work the line, he will shape up," Joel said not sounding very convincingly either.

"Maria, please tell me you'll assign me to the plant on the days he is working as a guard." Ellie said with a very adult sounding sigh, "I'll hate to get shot by Shawn because some chipmunk scared him."

"We'll see," Maria snorted out a laugh. "But unlike you; Shawn, Jimmy and the others will have to have some training by Steven and his wife before they will be allow to stand watch."

"At least I won't have to teach them how to swim," Joel said deadpan as Ellie slapped his shoulder.

"Hey, I learned finally! You could have told me that the kids around here already knew how to swim."

"And miss that expression on your face when you saw Shawn doing something you couldn't, not on your life."

"Pftt, whatever!"

"See Ellie, even an overblown little prick has some uses," I ribbed as her fair skin redden. She muttered something, not sure but it sounded like 'bullshit'. I couldn't help but exchange grins with Maria.

Ellie's … colorful … expressions is causing some strife with certain members of Jackson's more religious persuasion. And as it is, with Maria and I being the leaders of Jackson, we should not be encouraging a teenager's bad habit, but she does it so … naturally funny ... it is hard not to laugh with her. As with many things about Ellie, she has just a sweetness to her that makes it hard not to like her. It's no wonder that Joel got as attached to her as he did.

Then again; the stories they tell, the fights she describes, her excellent use of her bow as well as with firearms … she would not bat an eye if she had to kill you. Hell, she might even smile sweetly to you as she ripped open your gut with her teeth.

One thing about her that keeps Maria and I both awake at nights, how attached Joel is to her. We fear what would happen if anyone tried to harm her or, God forbid, actually killed her. Joel has made it no secret what he would do … what he has done … to protect Ellie. The other side of the coin, what would happen if someone tried to harm or killed Joel? Ellie, without Joel, is a scary thing to imagine.

"Here, why don't you two over grown boys sit down and take it easy, Ellie and I will get you some food." Maria said as we reached an open picnic table near the edge of the field.

"I can get my own food," Joel stubbornly said as Ellie dropped the bag on the table. From the thump it made as it landed it sounded heavy. Joel wasn't carry a pistol, at least he hadn't when they arrived here even though Ellie had hers in her holster. So mostly likely the bag had his in it along with his holster … plus other things I probably don't want to know about.

"Joel," Ellie said gently, laying a hand on his arm. "You just got your ass handed to you by a kid almost 30 years younger then you, and that's okay. Everyone knows you are still a big, tough, meanie; they all know you are just having an off day, so sit down and relax. Spend time shooting the shit with Tommy without half the town trying to interrupt every couple seconds."

"Ellie."

"Joel."

It's a bit weird sometimes watching those two communicate without using any words. Actually, it is down right fucking creepy. They just say each others names and it is like they have an entire conversation.

"Fine, but no hotdogs; I really don't want to think about what they put in there," Joel said easing himself down on the bench across from me. "And bring me something real to drink, none of that tea stuff."

"Roger Dodger," Ellie smiled as she turn to follow Maria to the long food line.

"That is some gal you found there, Joel," I said with a grin and not for the first time since I met her last fall.

"You have no idea," Joel said with a short bark of laughter. He then blew out a big breath, "Damn, when did I get so old?"

"Feeling your age finally."

"Not as much as I'm going to in the morning," Joel laugh again. "Hopefully, I'll be able to pull myself out of my bed before Ellie comes in to check on me or I'll never hear the end of it."

"You guys have separate rooms," I asked as casually as I could. Joel nodded, not catching my tone at all. "She sleeping better?"

"Some," Joel said but clammed up as one of the town folk walked up to our table.

"Afternoon Tommy, Joel;" I greeted him back, hoping I didn't let my annoyance show. I swear if he starts on about his neighbors …

"Tommy, what are you going to do about Hank and those dogs of his? I am tired of having my roses bushes that my wife and I spend weeks planting, defaced by those managing mutts doing their business in them."

"I have talked to him already, James. I even went out to his house to inspect that fence he as them pen in; are you sure that they are his dogs getting in there?"

"Whose else has dogs that run wild like his? Or have those … children … who are just as untrained as them dogs. My wife and I work hard all day, we don't appreciate having those ruffians playing in our yard while we are trying to enjoy our home." James said getting more excited by the moment while my headache I though I got rid of earlier was returning and in full force. "It wouldn't surprise me if Hank had his offspring deliberately release those hounds while we are at work to defile our beautiful home."

"I'll talk to him again this week, I promise," I said, hoping this windbag would shut up. I didn't know when I married Maria I would become a headmaster of a town size kindergarten. Maria giggled and smiled brightly when I told her that the first time. Reminding me that it would be good practice when we have our own children.

"I could solve this problem if you would just let me ..."

"James, no. You know how Kevin feels about those privacy fences," I remind him for the fifty time. "If you want to put up a small three or four foot chain link fence, that is okay with us. But a seven foot high privacy fence is not permitted. Kevin says, and Maria and I agree, those fences are part of the problem from the Old Days. We start letting people put them up and soon we lose our connections with our neighbors."

"But I should be able to enjoy my back yard as well," James whined.

"I ain't say you are wrong. I'm just reminding you why we can't let you put up that kind of fence. Let me try again with Hank, see if we can't solve it another way." We went around for a few more minutes before he finally agreed to my terms and left me the hell alone. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I heard Joel chuckling under his breath.

"If he want privacy so badly, he should move out to our neighborhood. I swear Ellie and I are the only ones who live on our block."

"That is because you two are the only ones who want to live that close to the forest," I remind him with a raised eyebrow.

"We like peace and quiet," Joel shrugged nonchalantly.

"So," I said after a pause, "Ellie is sleeping better?"

"Some," Ellie said as we worked our way down to the food line. The spunky red head keep her voice lower so as to discourage anyone for listening in on our girl talk. "He has been getting better since I finally learn to swim well enough not to drown. Still, that first night I was at the plant and he was home; when I got home in the morning, I peeked in his room before going to mine. There he was sound asleep in his bed, fully dressed and shoes on, with his backpack and rifle on the ground next to his bed, ready to leave if I needed him." Ellie looked up at me as I brushed back a strand of my dirty blond hair. Her eyes reflected the amusement and love in her voice for the man who was her … father? … husband? ...Best friend? "He was so cute, I didn't have the heart to wake him, well not without making him some breakfast first."

"And of course, if I asked him about it he would totally denied it ever happen."

"Pftt, totally. Joel like people to think he is this big, strong, mean, bear of a man when in reality he is a just a big, old, soft, cuddly teddy bear."

"I'm sure," I laugh with that imagine in my head. That was how I picture Joel most of the time anyways. Yes, he was big, yes he has killed to protect and yes he can be cold heart most of the time. However, when it came to his partner in crime, he was a big old teddy bear with a big red bow tie around his neck. I started snickering again as that image refuse to leave my head.

"What?" Ellie asked in amused tone and her ever present mischievous smile on her face.

"I'm just picturing Joel wearing a bear suit with a big shinny red bow tie around his neck."

"Oh man, I could die happy if I ever saw that," she barked out a laugh that made the people around us stare.

As we got in line, I quickly sober. Yes; with Ellie, Joel was a teddy bear. From the stories Tommy was willing to share about his brother, from what Joel has admitted to with the Fireflies; that soft teddy bear would become a ferocious grizzly bear if anyone hurts Ellie. I have no doubt what so ever, that anyone who hurts, or God forbid, kills Ellie would be killed without mercy as would anyone who tried to stop him. And that includes not only me but Tommy as well.

The second scary thought was Ellie herself, from what Joel and she had told us what she had done to those cannibals in Colorado, especially their leader, left no question in my mind that she would be just as deadly, just as unmerciful as Joel, if anyone hurt him.

Fortunately, just about everyone in town seems to get the idea without us having to explain it to them or knowing the details. The downside, of course there is always a down side, that meant that all the complaints about him and her, mostly about Ellie, came to either Tommy or me. No one else is brave enough to voice their concerns to them directly.

"Maria, L; how you girls doing, on this beautiful afternoon." Bruce said from behind the table, his shirt splattered with BBQ sauce, wearing a paper chief's hat no doubt made for him by his granddaughter and a smile as big as the outdoors.

"Hey Bruce, whats cooking," Ellie said picking up a tray and looking over the selection of food in front of her.

"You, my young friend, is about to have your taste buds thinking they had died and gone to heaven. You ever have good old fashion American BBQ chicken before?"

"Oh yeah, we had cook outs every night in Boston," she said rolling her eyes and grinning.

"Not like this you haven't; I have here chicken so tender it will melt in your mouth. You won't even have to chew it. Ribs so juicy, you will want to lick the juice off your shirt and hamburgers … girl, you ever have a real hamburger?"

"Um, yeah," Ellie said sounding unsure.

"I ain't talking about them soy wanna be burgers, I am talking … wait, let me show you." Bruce turn around and grab a bun, took a burger off the grill with cheese already melt on it and showed it to Ellie. "Now that is a burger, my spunky friend."

I hid smile as her eyes grew big, it was easily twice the size of any burgers she has seen in her life I bet. Bruce was right, man has tried to imitate the taste of real beef for years but never got it right. I grew up in Nebraska, we had cook outs all the time before that Day, so I know what Bruce was getting at; it was going to be a real treat for her to taste real cow meat for the first time.

"That … that is a hamburger?"

"You bet your lucky stars," Bruce said proudly. "Don't forget to get some lettuces and tomatoes and onions on that bad boy. I swear if you ain't in church next Sunday on your knees thanking God for this here burger, I'll eat my hat." Ellie solemnly nodded her head as Bruce picked up a blue plate to put the burger on.

Oh goody, I get an extra helping of guilt with my meal.

I caught just a glimmer, it came and gone so quickly that I am sure Bruce never saw it but I did.

I wanted to hug Ellie until the pain I saw flash in her eyes left her for good … but … . She was back to her smiling self as quickly as a roadrunner in the desert.

Bruce turn back around and put Ellie's plate on her tray, he had trouble meeting her eyes as well. He knew what it was like, he was a black man who was old enough to remember. Best damn thing, the only good thing, about that Day, all that stupid stuff died along with half the population. We had none of that prejudice crap here, we were all equal; everyone! There are no second class citizens here in Jackson.

And as I stood next to Ellie, I realize, for the first time, just how good we all are at lying to ourselves.

"Now your menfolk, they good men; don't get me wrong. But those Texans act like they know BBQ, let me tell you, they don't know jack. Now me, I grew up in Kansas City, and there we knew how to BBQ." He picked up an ordinary white plate and laid down some chicken and ribs and set them on her tray. "You watch him eat, if he ain't kneeling next to you on Sunday, I'll eat my hat twice."

"You're on," Ellie giggled as she moved down the line.

Bruce grabbed two more white plates, piling one high with pork ribs and chicken and the other one a more modest helpings while going on about the virtues of Kansas City BBQ over them 'upstarts in Texas' as he called them. When he put my plates on my tray, his broad shoulders seem to wilt a bit as he let out a breath.

"Ain't right, the way we treat her," he whispered out. I reached out to touch his hand as he let out a sigh. "Go on you're … you're holding up the line." His smile that I saw lack anything close to humor as he turn to the person behind me to greet them. Then he suddenly turned back and yelled, "Oh Toni, girl make sure you give Ellie an extra large helping of gumbo too. That girl is scrawny as a scarecrow in a Siberian winter."

"You got it pop's," Toni, the last Native American left in the state, possibly in the country. The Reservation systems was murder on their citizens, literally. For some reason only God knows why, the Plague spread like wild fire, whole tribes disappeared forever within days. Toni, hadn't been in her tribal land when it hit, she had been in Montana on a trip to a family friend's ranch. She was Bruce's daughter in law, having married his son eight years ago and a happy mother of two children a boy and girl.

As I walked over, Toni was placing two bowls, one white one and a blue one overflowing with gumbo. Ellie never blinked, the smile never wavered, as she said thanks for the food. I know for a fact that Ellie hates gumbo, it was too spicy for her taste. Nevertheless, she will eat every spoonful for two reasons; one, she hates wasting any food. Ellie has stated many times that she spent way too many nights in Boston and on the road, praying to eat more then what she had been given. Starvation has a wonderful way of making you less of a picky eater. Another reason is she really liked Bruce and his family, she wouldn't dream of insulting him or his cooking.

"Bruce is right, I have seen you eat enough to choke a pig; yet you are skin and bones. Whats your secret," she laugh as she ladle some fried potatoes on her dishes.

"Pftt, I've seen pictures of women even skinnier then me … they were like sickly thin."

"Yeah, I remember those things in magazines from when I was a kid," I said getting my portion of potatoes for us two and gumbo for Tommy; for some reason I didn't get any gumbo … oh poo, poor me. "Never saw much use of being that thin back then either."

"Silly if you ask me," Ellie said as we moved further down line. "Especially, when all the porn from those days all had big boobies girls ..."

"Ellie!" I groan out as the man behind the table turn three shades red.

"What?" She asked, looking confused before turning to Bob. "Hey Bob, I need some tomatoes and lettuces for this burger."

"First real burger?"

"Yeah, I mean I have burgers in Boston ..."

"Not like this you haven't," Bob said grinning. He then pulled out a couple pickles from a jar. "You'll need these to go with that burger."

"What are these?" She said picking up one from her plate, staring at it intently. She then took a small bite; her eyes went wide as her smile. "Oh my God! I never … so crunchy and tasty!"

"See! I told you it was good. You want a couple more?"

Ellie's eyes went back and forth between me and Bob and the pickles, then in a tiny voice that reminded you that she was still a kid, "Please!"

I giggled as Bob, with a big grin, laid down four more for her as she slowly finishes eating the one she tried, clearly enjoying it.

"These are great," she said picking up the heavy tray without much effort. Joel is right about her, she was a lot strong then other girls her age. "Why haven't we had these before?"

"Well, they are actually start out as cucumbers, so we needed to grow enough of them to have some to spare as well as the vinegar to soak them in. Plus it takes time for them to get from cucumbers to pickles."

"I have to keep an eye out for these when I go to the Trading Post."

Next stop was the refreshment stand … Oh goodie gumdrops. Barbra was standing there, working the stand; looking all holier then thou.

"Good day Maria, Good day child, how are you on this fabulous afternoon that the Good Lord has bestow upon us." She said to us, her smile as insincere and fake as those porno pictures Ellie mentioned. Speaking of which, must remember to ask her where she saw those stupid things. "Can I offer you a cup of tea or lemon-aid, freshly squeezed, made it myself."

"Hey Barbra," Ellie said, her smile shifted a bit. "What kind of alcohol do you got?"

"Child, in my day; a young woman such as yourself would never address an adult by their first name."

"In your day, they hadn't invent trains yet either," Ellie said glancing around the table looking at the selection.

"Ellie," I warned as Barbra eyes flashed but her smile never wavered.

"Hey mom, hey Mrs. Wilson, whats up 2x4," Shawn said choosing the perfect moment to come over, so much for a nice peaceful day with the family. "Is your old man walking yet?"

"Hey dick," she said without any heat. "And please, butterflies have hit him harder then you."

"Shawn, Ellie; enough! You two are to stop using such vile and hateful names at each other right this instant, do you hear me."

"Give it a rest mom," Shawn rolled his eyes as Ellie pickup two mugs of beer. Shawn made a grab for one before his mom slapped his hand away. "Come on, if she can have one, why can't I?"

"She is not," Barbra said loosing her smile for the first time. She started to grab them back but stop short, her fear of Ellie's 'condition' made her pause. "Alcohol is only for adults, not children. And it should not even be available to adults. It is a vile wicked drink that begets nothing but evil!" She said that part staring directly at me. I don't have any use for alcohol myself, wish Tommy would like it less but I am not going to tell other people how to live their lives.

"Pftt, they are both for Joel; he like his beer."

"Your father should ..."

"He is not her father," both Shawn and I said at the same time.

"He is raising her, is he not? He already sets a bad enough example ..."

"He is not my father." Ellie said sharply, talking over Barbra, not an easy feat. "He is my mentor, best friend, partner in crime if you will. He looks out for me and I look out for him. And he got my ass across the country alive, so he must have been a great role model for me. And I am going to repay him for all his hard work by bring him this food and beer. And I am going to keep bring him as much beer as he wants. He will probably get drunk then he'll probably take me home, strip me down naked and beat me senseless while reading the Satanic bible ..."

"Ellie!" I shouted as Barbra was visibly shaking in rage while Shawn laugh.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have joked about that," Ellie said looking down, looking properly sorry. "That was in poor taste … we keep my clothes on, we're not perverts you know." With that she spun away quickly, losing her self in the large crowd piling up behind us, that I just notice. Giving everyone a weak smile I quickly grab two lemon-aids for Tommy and I.

"That … that is what I am warning you about Maria," Barbra hissed out. "That girl has no sense of what is proper or respectful ..."

"Maybe if you showed her some respect once in awhile mom."

"We have shown her nothing but respect and love since they came into our community ..."

"Oh yeah, right." Shawn retorted angrily. "That's why L isn't allow around kids or eats off special color plates, color plates so you guys know which one to throw away, because we all think she is so special."

I looked at Shawn in a new light, he is always going around acting like a huge dick that I didn't realize he could also be a nice guy, sticking up for a girl whom he argues with consonantly. It also didn't escape my notice that he used her nickname or he got his mom to sputter in embarrassment. Maybe Joel is right, maybe after he gets on Line for awhile he might just turn out alright.

"You are still young Shawn, you don't understand ..."

"Yeah whatever, after everything she has done for us; I don't want to understand." He turned away, not before I gave him a small nod in gratitude; which he didn't seem to know how to response to, he just awkwardly nodded back.

"I'll talk to her," I said to the still fuming Barbra and smiled an apology to those behind us. Some of the children looked confused at what had happened, some of the adults had the decency to look away in embarrassment, as I walked away and following my young friend. "Ellie!"

"Perhaps, we should speak at another time, Tommy," Linda said said suddenly as we all turned towards the food line to see Ellie walked quickly towards us and Maria chasing her down. I'm sure I don't want to know why Maria had shouted out our youngest family members name, but I was grateful for the interruption, as Linda made her self disappear. Again, Ellie was surprising me, her tray was easily more laden with food then Maria's but she appeared to have no problem carrying it.

"Here, I got you something called ribs and some chicken plus a beer," Ellie said sweetly as she laid out the food for Joel.

"Ellie, what did I tell you about drinking," Joel sighed out as she drank some from the other mug she set down.

"You had to be twenty one to drink in Texas, " she said in a very teenager way.

"And?" He ask as Maria sat down next to me with my plate of food … and cup of lemon-aid. Well, maybe I can get a beer later.

"What?" She said after taking a bite of her pickle, "We're not in Texas."

"Ellie," Maria started after taking a deep breath. "I know that she can be difficult to deal with ..."

"She is a fucking cunt."

"Ellie," Joel snap, "No one deserves to be called that, not even … who are we talking about?"

"Barbra was working the refreshment stand." Maria snapped out trying hard to glare at Ellie, who refused to wilt.

Ah, yes. Barbra, the town's religious zealot, busybody who is into everyone's business and knows everything about everyone and everything, except why it is a bad idea to piss off Ellie or Joel. That explains Ellie's and Maria's abrupt mood swings. So much for a quiet family meal.

"Okay, even Barbra might not even deserve being called that … maybe."

"She means well ..."

"She came into the library the other day, Maria! She was all like 'oh child, I hope Joel isn't violating your sense of virtue'," Ellie said in a mocking voice as Maria radio went off.

Maria held up a finger as she got up from the table to answer it. I grabbed a rib as I put in my two cents.

"She is just concern since, you know, no one really understands your relationship, including Maria and I."

"No, she is not concern; she is being rude! Maria and you; when you guys are concern, you ask questions, you listen to what we say, think about what we say and try to help us. She comes into my library, acting like her shit don't stink, being condescending and asking me personal questions. It is none of her business if we are fucking or not!"

"She really ask that?" Joel said looking at Ellie.

"In so many words, yeah."

"Fucking cunt."

"Thank you!"

"Joel, please. You are not helping," I said with a sigh, while they both clinked their mugs together. That headache is coming back with a vengeance.

"So what did she say this time to set you off?" Joe asked eating his chicken.

"She was going on about how a bad influence you are since you like to drink a beer now and then. I told her, you kept me alive, you taught me how to survive; if you want to get drunk, strip me down naked while beating me senseless and reading form the Satanic Bible, it is okay with me."

"Ellie," Joel snapped, getting so angry at her that he was turning red. Or I though so until he said. "We keep your clothes on, we're not perverts."

"I corrected myself, don't worry Joel."

"Are you two having fun," Maria said angrily as she set back down.

"Yes," they both said at the same time without even looking at each other.

I do not get paid enough to deal with this stuff.