Chapter 5
Bobby saw the red truck off in the distance first. The sun was beginning to set, making visibility tricky. He followed it for a bit with his rifle scope.
"There back" He said to Joseph and Connie. Joseph had been sharpening a stick with his hunting knife, too bored to do anything else. Connie had gone home quickly to grab a book to read. They both looked up at him.
"Thank god, we can finally get off here." Joseph said.
Bobby nodded. He ringed the bell on the perch, alerting New Arlen.
"Scavengers are back! They're back!" He shouted.
Joseph descended the ladder first, followed by Connie.
"Aren't you coming?" She asked.
"In a minute" Bobby said. She shrugged, then climbed down the ladder. Bobby liked watching everyone gather when the scavengers came back. He watched Luanne leave her trailer, kicking bits of garbage out of the way. Minh and Kahn met Connie in the center of town. Kahn scolded her for not cleaning the backyard, but she ignored him. He watched Peggy walk across the lawn, wearing the cleanest clothing she owned, as if to impress Hank. Nancy left John Redcorns trailer first, then John Redcorn came out a few minutes later. Bobby stretched for a moment, then climbed down the ladder himself.
The red truck crossed the little bridge, then stopped. Lucky and Dale climbed off the pick up and pulled the bridge back, making the ditch full circle and making New Arlen impenetrable from zombies.
The truck stopped in front of Hanks house.
He climbed out happily.
"Well, what you rednecks find?" Kahn asked, expecting disappointment.
"Oh, you know, just the biggest safe yet!" Hank said, pulling down the back hatch. Everyone gasped as they saw the haul, "Come on everyone, we're eating like kings tonight!" Hank exclaimed.
For the first time in weeks, everyone ate a full meal that consisted of more then just Emu meat. For once, no one had to eat Emu meat, but actual chicken and beef!
It almost reminded Hank of a BBQ, which made him feel a little bad, but he ignored those feelings. For once, everyone was happy. Even Kahn couldn't complain.
"Pass me a beer, redneck!" Kahn said.
Hank smiled and tossed him a beer, before cracking one open himself.
"Yep" He said.
"Yep" Bill said.
"Yep" Dale said.
"Mm hmm" Boomhauer said.
They all sipped there beer in front of Hank's house beside the dirt road. It was just like the past. The simple pleasures of life.
John Redcorn started a circle on Kahn's lawn. Minh , Kahn, and Nancy joined in, passing around a joint.
"Can I, Dad?" Joseph asked Dale.
"Yeah sure Son, you can do whatever you want!" Dale said. Joseph ran over and joined the circle. Hank glared at Dale.
"You can't just let Joseph do whatever he wants, there's got to be boundaries!" Hank said.
"Come on , Hank, Let them live a little" Dale said.
"Yeah man, yo, live and let live" Boomhauer said.
"No reason to make Life any worse" Bill said.
Hank sighed. He looked over and saw Bobby really close to him.
"Can I join in, Dad?" Bobby asked.
"No" Hank said.
"Please?" Bobby pleaded.
"No, son. There's just some things you don't do" Hank said. Bobby looked away disappointed, then sulked away into the house.
"Hank." Peggy said, glaring at him, "The boy's not getting any younger. Let him at least try, he would be with friends and trusted people!" Peggy said.
"No, I won't have my son doing that" Hank said firmly. Peggy tried to argue, then stopped. It was no use.
Conveniently, Connie and Joseph saw Bobbie sulking away. They nodded towards each other and snuck after him with a couple joints. Hank wouldn't even know.
"Oh Lucky, I love it!" Luanne squealed, holding the make up box. "Just for you, Baby girl" Lucky said, smiling.
Luannes eyes almost teared up from joy, she hugged Lucky, then whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened for a second, then he smiled, held her hand and took her back to their trailer. Hank uncomfortably looked away, then sipped some beer.
"Why don't we go play some music?" He asked his friends.
"Alright, let's do it!" Dale said.
"Yo man, I'll get my banjo" Boomhauer said, walking to his house.
"Grab the lawn chairs, we'll have a good old jam!" Hank said.
They gathered in a circle in front of Hank's house, and began a tune, a cover of Willie Nelsons "On the road again", Hank playing guitar, Boomhauer on Banjo, Bill playing the spoons and Dale on the washboard. His prized keyboard had been lost in the apocalypse, but he could cope.
They played late into the night around a couple lanterns, jamming and laughing at the stoned antics on Kahn's lawn, and for once in the post apocalyptic wasteland, life was good.
But it would not last.
