The next few weeks went on mostly the same way. I woke up made Ethan 5 bottles for the day. I then sat down and wrote up the boys school work for the day or days to come depending on how much we got done that day. I made sure to leave instructions for the boys in their notebooks along with the name of the book they would be using. I then after finishing writing up their school work for the day got dressed and ready for the day. I would then make Ethan's bottles for the day 5 of them. I would wake the boys up and get them dressed and ready for the day. I always let Ethan sleep until he woke up on his own. Some days i would make breakfast for us in the Rv but most of the time we ate with the rest of the group so that we wouldn't eat the food in the Rv. I wanted to save the food I had in the Rv as long as possible.
I made sure that I always kept close track on the food in the Rv. I alway kept a book of how much we had and used from day to day. I also always had Glenn pick up what he could find food, medical, and weapons wise with out Shane knowing of course. He always gave me a good portion of the supplies from the group with out Shane knowing because in return I promised him that when we left the quarry he had a spot with me and boys. I had the room plus it was good to have a person that was quick on their feet, smart, and knew how to kill the walkers. I knew that Glenn wouldn't turn on me and for that I trusted him with my life and my sons. I had taken to letting Matt and Sam practice using the bow and guns that Glenn found on the runs for us.
I wanted to make sure they knew how to use them if they needed to. Sam knew where I kept the spare handgun if he ever needed it. Sam also knew that it was only if Me, Matt, or Glenn weren't around to protect him did he go for it otherwise he would use a knife to kill the walkers. I even let the boys practice killing the walkers that were at the highway when we went looking for supplies. I made sure that Matt could kill them with out help using a knife, gun, hammer, and even a rock. Sam only knew how to use the gun but I made sure that he knew that it wasn't a toy and that if he saw a walker the best thing to do was hide, be quiet, and wait for it to pass if he was alone. I had them practice that drill together and alone. I even had Sam practice it alone with Ethan incase there came a day that he would be in that spot I wanted him know what to do to protect his brother.
Anyway I had a total of 5 months worth of canned goods, boxed foods, rice, beans, pasta, flavor packs, spices, and 4 months of water. i hid most the supplies under the beds, closets, and in the outside storage of the Rv. I had turned the master closet into a full out pantry that held boxes of food in it. I had moved the boxes around so they all fit. I had came to the quarry with 3 months worth of food so I hadn't gain as much as I had wanted over the last 2 and half months but it would have to do since I wasn't the one going out to get the supplies but Glenn was. I had been happy with everything that Glenn has been bringing back but I think Shane was starting to suspect something because he was watching us closely the last few runs checking the boxes more throughly to make sure food wasn't sneaked in.
What he didn't know was that we knew his schedule better then he did. Most days he got up and did perimeter walk before sitting down at the camp fire and waiting on breakfast. After breakfast he either fucked Lori in the woods while Carl did school work or was on watch shift on top of Dale's Rv. If he didn't fuck Lori during Carl doing school work he did when the women were washing clothes or everyone but Lori was. On days that he did he would play with Carl and watch him while the women did the chores or was on another watch shift. I mean he only did like 5 things at camp total he fucked Lori, walker watch shift, play with Carl, perimeter walk in the mornings and at night, and lastly sat on his ass watching everyone else work harder then him. Lori help some but mostly did the same thing Shane did which was spend most their time bossing everyone else around while sitting on their asses.
I was brought out of thinking by Ethan crying which means that I had fallen behind schedule some. I used a spare bottle that I always kept made for times likes these. I grabbed Ethan noticing that Matt had picked up the slack and gotten him and Sam's clothes out for them to get dressed for the day. I smiled at this. I got dressed after feeding Ethan and before changing and getting him dressed for the day. I went back to the kitchen area and started making Ethan bottles for the day I made 5 like usually putting three already made ones in the fridge, and 2 bottles that just had formula in the bottom of the bottle I then put two bottles of water in the diaper bag with them so all I had to do was dump half a bottle of water in the bottle with the formula and shake and the bottle would be ready to feed Ethan.
I was restocking the diaper bag adding more diapers, wipes, a couple extra bottles of water, and a couple snacks for the boys if they wanted them. I got the boys school bags ready with their text books, notebook, water bottle, and snack for later. I of course put a hunting knife in Matt's bag and an extra ammo clip. Matt takes his hunting knife and handgun with him everywhere I wasn't sure if the group knew about them or not probably not since I hadn't got an angry Shane talk to me about it yet. Sam had a hunting knife that he kept with him also but most the time he left it in his bag. Their school bags also had a canned peas and pears in them at all times as well as a change of clothes. I made sure to keep the canned goods in the small pocket so Shane never saw them.
I got the boys shoes on and their back packs on them and we were off. I had Ethan back asleep in his sling and we were off to get breakfast for the morning. I had two cans of black eye peas with me since none of us like them so I was going to trade them with Carol when Shane was off doing what ever he did. Me and Carol traded goods a lot with out people knowing. She also knew that I had more food in the Rv then I let on but no one but me knew just how much I really had in the Rv. I kept that to myself so no one could slip up and tell by accident. I arrived at the camp area where breakfast was being started.
I helped Carol make some oatmeal for everyone. We added what little brown sugar we had to the kids oatmeal so that they would eat it. I also snuck some honey into the adults with out anyone seeing. I was giving the boys their rations of the oatmeal when Shane came over to me and was watching as I dished out less food then everyone else was getting for us to eat. He frowned at this but didn't say anything and just watched me hand the boys the bowls. I also pulled a can of pears out of my bag which made him frown even more. I split the pears between all three of us. I notice Sophia and Carol eyeing the pears so I gave them my portion and just drank the juice. Sam did eat all his food so I finished it off for him before doing the same with Sophia's so I didn't get any of my own just the left overs from a few of the groups.
"Can I ask why you don't give the boys as much food as the other kids get and you yourself don't eat much more than Matt does why is that." Shane asked me.
"Well being a military family we have always been on a budget so we ration all our meals so the boys are use to getting a certain amount of food if you give them more then it goes to waste plus with how things are we can't afford to waste food. I would suggest you start rationing to but I know you won't so i won't bother. But food will start getting harder and harder to come by so you might want to." I told him picking up the boys and other kids dirty bowls taking them over to the dish washing area.
I walked the kids over to the picnic table where we did school work everyday. I never really taught the boys the same thing the other kids were taught. I had tried and offered to teach some of the other kids about editable plants and berries but the parents were interested so I just left it be. I was cutting work short today and taking the boys out to the woods to pick some berries and editable weeds I had saw while hunting last time I was out. I found some wild blue and black berries out there. I also found some poisonous red berries out there two. They wouldn't kill you but they would make you real sick if you ate them. I hag got some small boxes and baskets
I put the baskets on the table beside the boys who were finishing up on Math for the day since I only gave them 30 problems each. When they were done we packed up their bags taking them back to the Rv. I put the school bags with the school stuff by the booth. I gave each boy a basket and knife to use while we were looking for some deer berries and chickweed I had saw a couple days before in the woods not to far from camp. We walked through the woods for about 5 minutes before coming across the berries and started picking them I had made sure that they were okay to eat before showing the boys the plant or bush.
I stopped on the way back to camp to collect some chickweed and wild blue berries. After we got our baskets full we went back to camp. We had been out in the woods for almost 3 hours before coming back to camp. I had made sure that the berries were safe to eat before picking them off the bush. I had picked several baskets of them knowing that Shane would take most of them without asking from me. I was going to store the chickweed in a ziplock bag for later knowing that at some point we would need it. I notice that Daryl and Merle were looking at me surprised at how I had forage for the right berries and knew which ones were safe and not. They then went into the woods to hunt for supper. I walked over to there camp and left a small basket of blueberries inside their tent.
I took the biggest basket over to the Rv setting it inside the Rv before taking the second largest over to Carol. Who wasn't sure what to do with them. I rolled my eyes and got the biggest pot they had and filled it up half way with water before adding half the blueberries and deer berries to it. I also added the last bag of sugar the had to the pot of berries ignoring the protest coming from Lori who was now heading off to find Shane where ever he was at. I waited on the berries to boil before taking them off the heat and taking a large spoon and started mashing them up in the pot. i motion for Matt to come take over when Ethan started crying. I took the second to last bottle I had made for the day and started to feed Ethan as Lori appeared with a equally upset Shane behind her.
"What this I hear of you using up all the sugar on some wild berries." He demanded getting to close for my liking.
"They are wild blueberries and deer berries safe to eat. I added the last bag of sugar to them along with water and waited on them to boil. Then I started mashing them to get the flavor out them. After that you can put over bread as jelly, drink it as juice, put on oatmeal as a topping, or you can eat it plain. Think of it like homemade jelly." I told him burping Ethan before putting him back in his sling.
"Matt go to the Rv and open the side storage compartment and get 6 canning jars out of the box please and bring them to me." I told Matt handing him the key to open the compartment.
"Carol will you start a medium pot of water for me please. While i start washing off the other half of the berries so we can eat them tonight with the meat the Dixon's find." I told her as Matt brought back the jars for me.
"Matt take your brother while I canned these berries for me please." I told him handing him Ethan who was unhappy about being moved.
"Shane will help me dump this pot into these jars please." I asked motioning for him to pour the pot of freshly made jam into the jars.
Shane dumped the jelly or jam into the jars for me. I had the whole group watching me as I put the mashed berries into the jars. I had boiled the full jars so that the seal around the top of can would seal and allow the mashed berries to stay good. I was dumping some of the left over mashed berries into cups for everyone to try along with a piece of bread on top of each cup before handing them out to everyone to try. Everyone was surprised with how good the wild berries tasted with just a little sugar and water could do. Shane seemed less upset after he tasted what the product tasted like. I think the kids enjoyed it most since it tasted like jam or pie filling.
I left Carol and Lori to start supper while I went and got the boys cleaned up from our adventure in the woods. The both needed a shower and to change or at least that is what I told them so that I could go tent to my berries. I moved the basket of berries to the sink while Matt carried Ethan and put him in his bouncer for me. I washed all the berries off. I put half of them in the fridge to eat plain as snacks while the other half I did the same thing with them that I did with other berries at the other camp fire and made mashed berry jam out of them. I ended up with almost 15 jars of the jam since I had gotten the bigger basket of berries without anyone knowing. The boys were dressed into clean clothes and the dirty ones were being washed in the washer since I didn't have time to wash them by hand today.
I notice that the Dixon's had used the berries to stuffed the meat before cooking it. That would add flavor and sweeten the meat giving it more flavor. I had also left some plastic bags at their camp with the berries so that they had something to put the berries in. I got the boys dressed again and ready for supper with the rest of the group. They were getting there shoes on when I opened the Rv door to find three skinned and cleaned rabbits sitting in the basket that held the berries earlier sitting there on the top step. I grabbed it and took it to the kitchen putting it in the fridge for another time before grabbing Ethan out of his bouncer and put him on my hip. I grabbed Ethan's diaper bag putting it on my left shoulder while Ethan was on my right hip. I helped Sam down the Rv steps taking his hand and walking him over to get supper.
Supper was rice and meat with a side of berries. I grabbed extra berries for me and the boys which they much appreciated. I gave them a little more than usually since we had an extra busy day but no one seemed to notice me grabbing extra food. Even Shane was obvious to me taking a few cans of pears that was laying beside the cooking area. I put them in the diaper bag when no one was looking. I ate my share of the rice and meat saving the berries for last as did the boys. I notice everyone else was eating and talking about different things. One thing that Shane brought up was another supply run the next day. I could tell that Glenn was unhappy about being forced to take a group with him instead of going alone this time.
I personal thought that it stupid to make Glenn take a group into the city when he didn't want to. Especially when over half of them have never killed a walker before. I would go but there wasn't anyone who I trusted to watch the boys. i would even consider taking Matt with me. He was older enough and had enough experience with killing the walkers that he would be a good wingman. I waited until they had finish deciding who was going to go before I spoke up. We ended up putting out food and supplies into Glenn, Andrea, T-dog, Jaques, and Merle's hands who scared the living fuck out of me. I mean who was stupid to enough to put T-dog and Merle on the same run I mean really.
"Shane I think we should hold off a day or two and take who ever is going to the city down to the highway and kill some walkers first. I mean Matt and Sam here has more practice than Andrea, T-dog, and Jaques combine." I spoke up getting looks from the other parents like I was the devil for letting Matt and Sam know how to kill walkers.
"No we need the supplies tomorrow." Shane said firmly
"But is it smart to send people who have never been faced to face with a walker into a walker infested city." I asked him.
"They know the risk and offered to go." Lori piped in.
"Glenn if they start getting into to much trouble leave them." I told him getting up with the boys to go to the Rv.
"How could you tell him that." Lori screeched.
"What that he should put his own safety before others or that he shouldn't die because a couple of stupid people are getting in over their heads just to prove some thing." I said thanking about Andrea and Merle mainly.
"I think Andrea is just trying to prove a point and it's going to get someone killed or left behind. Jaques just wants to help more, and Merle just wants to find his next fix and your sending them all together with Glenn who is better by himself with a group and has never led a group neither. I'm just saying that someone will either get killed or left behind that's a fact." I said shutting the Rv door not waiting on an answer.
I got the boys ready for bed before giving them a snack before bed. They were getting in bed while I locked up the Rv and made Ethan's bottles for the night. I finished making his bottles and grabbed a small bag of berries for me and the boys to share while I read them a chapter out of Mortal Instruments City of Bones. We would be starting that book tonight. I grabbed Ethan his night time bottle and started feeding him in one arm while starting the book with the other. I had to stop a few pages in to burp and change him. I rocked him for another few pages before stopping again to put him in his moses basket after he fell asleep. I then tucked both boys in bed getting in bed myself before continuing to read the first and second chapter of the book before noticing that Sam had dozed off. Matt grabbed his Harry Potter book reading from it for a while before putting it down and going to sleep himself.