October's Bright Blue Weather

Daryl kept waking up and checking the weather. It was still snowing and the big heavy flakes were causing the timber to come down. Daryl stood at the front of their little cave and watched it fall. Carol slipped in beside him and he remembered that night in the guard tower when she had been so enchanted by the falling snow. He put his arm around her and she fitted herself close to him. "We're not getting out of here tomorrow are we?" Carol said her voice low so not to wake the others. "I don't think so; those trees will still be falling. We can take tomorrow to get everybody on their feet; then we will start for home the next day, "Daryl answered.

Carol caught the "start for home" and knew that was Daryl's way of telling her that getting home might take a while. The highway wouldn't be a problem but any road through heavily forested areas might be blocked. There would be walkers once they got out of these steep hills. She put it out of mind and just concentrated on here and now. The snow was beautiful in the firelight and she told Daryl that she was glad that she was here with him. He laughed and said that the snow reminded him of that time in the guard tower that she had brought him cookies,

"I was bringing more than cookies that night if I remember right," Carol smirked.

"Beth yelled for you just when I was ready to make my cool move," Daryl recalled, "I had you in my sights that night, and all I wound up with was the cookies."

Carol teased, "They were good cookies."

Daryl grumbled, "Do you know how long it took me to get the courage to make my move that night?"

Carol answered, "Do you want the time in hours or days?"

Daryl laughed and kissed her again and slid his tongue into her mouth. He was ready to go home and make a cool move or two. His body was ready to make a whole bunch of moves right now; they had been apart too long.

Carol asked, "Is that a cookie in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?"

Daryl took some snow and put it down her shirt. "I think you need to cool off a little; and it's not a cookie."

Carol thought about having a serious discussion about Merle and Caleb but instead kissed Daryl and as their tongues wove themselves together she put snow down his pants. "Good night, Cookie Monster". She went back to lie down and get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.

Jamela woke up to see them standing at the front of the overhang watching the snow fall, Allen was asleep at her side, but she felt as if he were a million years away. She was angry at him; she knew it wasn't fair but being around Allen made her aware of how she had changed in these last two years. She had been waiting for him at Asheville that day like a school girl. They had been talking to each other every day and he had asked if it would be alright with her if they could spend some time together. She was renting a house in the mountains for the summer and she told him that he could stay at the house while he visited. She was planning on being with him that night, but that evening she had to barricade the door and use the gun that Allen had given her the last time he visited Alyssa. She had brought that gun because she knew the house was way out of town in a remote location. They would never have made it through the first night if she didn't have that gun. She had waited there for weeks thinking Allen would get there someway but he never came. She was not the same woman who had waited for Allen; she didn't think that woman existed anymore.

The sun came up on a forest filled with downed trees and wet heavy snow everywhere. Daryl stood at the front of the opening and wished he could go hunting. Trees were still falling and he couldn't risk getting hurt out there. He did go out far enough to gather more firewood while Carol cooked some oatmeal for breakfast. Allen had dug out a latrine on the other side of the rock. A tree had fallen over there and created a private place.

Caleb was up and walking around; he and Daryl had talked about Merle Dixon for hours last night. Daryl had an endless storehouse of Merle stories and Caleb could tell that he had loved his big brother. Caleb had missed knowing his father but he had gained an uncle and aunt. He had grown close the Carol already and he felt a real connection to Daryl.

Alyssa had rebounded with a food and a night's sleep. She was interested in all the people in their shelter. Caleb was smart, funny, and good looking. Carol and Daryl were kind and capable. They acted as they were enjoying a camping trip in the mountains and not risking their lives rescuing strangers. She and her father had been doing chores together; she knew that he could work faster without her but she wanted to be close to him.

The men were so restless that they prowled like caged lions. Carol could still hear the occasional crack of breaking timber, but the sky was getting lighter and the temperature was climbing. By lunchtime most of the snow had melted. Daryl had ventured out with his crossbow to get something for the dinner pot. They would be soon be out of food if they didn't find some meat. Daryl killed a small buck and field dressed the carcass. It would provide the protein they would need for tomorrow.

Carol and Jamela had been boiling water to store in their canteens and plastic bottles. They would need clean water for their trip home. Daryl thought they could make the car by late afternoon. He could navigate a straighter line down than they had taken coming up and downhill would be a lot faster than going up.

That evening they feasted on venison and rice. The weather had warmed enough to melt all the snow by dark. They were taking off at first light to try to get to the vehicle by late afternoon. No one knew what would happen after that but the plan was to get to McAllister Mountain as soon as possible. The men talked together out in the open air and the women sat by the fire.

Carol said, "Daryl and I want you to come and live with us. The house is crowded but we are building more houses. Allen will be living there but you don't have to be with him. We want you with us."

Jamela felt it was time to talk about why she had ran from her last group, "Carol, I talked to you about living with the first band but we got taken over by a bigger group. These were bad people and I was chosen to be the "woman" of the leader. I did it so that Alyssa and I could survive. I left when I found out that Alyssa was going to be traded for guns. The leader sent those guys to kill me and take Alyssa. Maybe you should rethink your invitation."

Carol moved to reassure Jamela, "We want you and Alyssa to be part of our group. We live in dangerous times and there is no guarantee of you will always be safe, but I can promise that you would be joining a group that will always have your back".

Jamela was suddenly in tears, "I am just so glad that you found me and will let me join your group." Jamela had been too weak and out of it to ask how they had found them and she asked Carol now.

Carol look embarrassed, but tried to explain, "I have the "sight", sometimes I see things and I have been seeing you and Alyssa for some time. Allen talked about you to me but I saw you before that. I believe that I was given this gift to help all of us to survive together. I just sort of knew that you were here and we needed to get here as fast as possible".

Jamela had always been a skeptic about that kind of supernatural ability but how else could they have known where to find her and Alyssa. She decided to go with her first instinct; she would never underestimate Carol.

Daryl led the way down the hill the next morning and they were surprised at how much distance they had covered by lunch time. Daryl figured that it wasn't more than an hour out now. He reminded everyone to get their weapons handy; they were getting closer to houses and houses had walkers about.

They ran into their first walker about ten minutes later. Carol used Zak to decapitate the walker and Daryl drove a knife in its brain and they moved on without conversation. Jamela and Allen exchanged glances, and Allen said, "I guess that's teamwork". Jamela laughed and then resented Allen for making her laugh.

They came out into a pasture and Daryl warned them to watch for walkers underfoot. Alyssa walked in a line between her parents and Caleb walked at the end. They could see trees down but luckily their vehicle was still intact. They loaded up with Caleb in the front and the others in the second seat. Daryl drove and Allen and Carol took the windows.

They started down the road and soon ran into a tree in the road. Daryl was able to drive the suv onto a field that ran parallel to the road and they got around it that way. The next two hours was slow going. Allen drove part of the way and Carol, Caleb, and Daryl cleared out walkers attracted to the suv engine. They were making progress but with miles to go to the highway and limited daylight hours left Daryl began looking for a place to stop for the night. He explored a barn and they moved the suv behind the barn and unloaded part of their stuff. Daryl kept looking at the tractor stored in the bottom of the barn. He was wondering if they could use that to move some of the trees out of the way.

They ate a cold supper of beef jerky and water and went to sleep in the barn loft. Daryl and Carol took the first watch. Caleb and Jamela would take the second, and Allen and Alyssa the last. It was a beautiful night and Carol and Daryl cuddled close to stay warm. They didn't talk much; human voices seemed to travel much better now that there were so few of them. They finished their watch and woke up the Jamela and Caleb.

The Jamela and Caleb watch went well; they heard some shuffling feet and moans, but Caleb joked that it was probably just Carol and Daryl. Jamela bit back a laugh, Carol and Daryl did not spend their day playing grab ass but they sort of radiated love to each other. Allen came before their watch was over and said that he would take over. He would take the watch by himself so that Alyssa could sleep. Jamela went back to where Alyssa was asleep and woke her up. She would have to pull her weight around here; no slacking allowed.

The next day was a repeat of the first. They used the tractor to move the trees when they could. Gradually the trees thinned out and they made better time. It still took the rest of the day to get close to the highway. Jamela and Carol were walking along the roadway behind Daryl on the tractor and Jamela was struck by how often Carol pointed out something in nature that she thought was beautiful. It was a glorious October day and Carol seemed to want to enjoy all of it. Jamela was beginning to enjoy it too; Carol's ability to enjoy the here and now was infectious. Carol could exclaim over a clump of asters and whirl around and slice up a walker without skipping a beat. Alyssa joined them and she and Carol tried to name all the wildflowers. Caleb drove the tractor while Daryl walked with them and he could identify the trees and the wildflowers. Somewhere during that golden day they stopped and had lunch. They sat under a tree that dripped scarlet leaves on them. Carol heated up water and made soup. Jamela thought to herself that this was the happiest she had been since this all started. For once, no walkers spoiled the mood and they rested for a while after they ate as if it was important to savor the beauty all around.

It wasn't long before they were all riding in the suv. They passed by houses close together and then to a strip mall for more clothes. Carol stripped the shelves and counters. Somebody could use all this. Jamela and Alyssa found more clothes to fit them. Allen was watching as they looked. Caleb and Daryl were siphoning gasoline.

It was getting late and they needed to find a place for tonight and go back in the morning. The days were much shorter now and Daryl didn't want to risk it. They drove through the town trying to find someplace safe for the night. They were t outside of town when they found the elementary school newly built and with a sturdy fence around the back playground. Daryl found a way in with a pry bar and they checked it for walkers. It wasn't a big school, and all on one floor. The cafeteria and the gym area were together. Daryl hid their vehicle and used chains to secure the door. They found mats in the gym area to sleep on and food in the storage room. Carol and Jamela used candles to warm up some canned food. The moved the mats to a carpeted room and they sat around in the room and talked about being in elementary school and their favorite teachers. Daryl said that his was Mrs. McLaughlin in fifth grade. She made him feel like he was important to her. She had picked him to recite a poem in front of a school. He had been thinking about that poem all day. Carol asked if he could still recite it. Daryl said he could only remember to the last two stanzas.

When comrades seek sweet country haunts,

By twos and twos together,

And count like misers, hour by hour,

October's bright blue weather.

O suns and skies and flowers of June,

Count all your boasts together,

Love loveth best of all the year

October's bright blue weather.

Helen Hunt Jackson

It had been a glorious day and Jamela had gone to sleep remembering what a glorious day it had been. She could hear Carol and Daryl talking softly while they watched over them. She knew that she could relax and really rest when those two had your back.

Carol looked at Daryl and said, "Please say all of it". He looked at her and shook his head and then said all of it. Carol watched Daryl and she saw the remnants of the abused little boy he had been and his pride that a beloved teacher had chosen him to recite this poem. She applauded him and kissed him when he finished knowing that there had not been a proud parent in the audience that day. Mrs. McLaughlin had been there though and Carol thanked her for giving Daryl a chance to shine, a happy memory, and at the knowledge that he was important to her. Daryl seemed lost in thought for a bit but roused himself to talk about Mrs. McLaughlin. She had taken them on nature walks every so often and they were expected to be able to identify plants and trees around them. Daryl said, "She told us that the beginning of wisdom is to know things by their right name." Carol thought about that stack of books on Daryl's bedside table, all of them were about things in the natural world. Daryl went on to say "I think that it applies to people too. You have to look a little deeper to know their right name. I know it took a long time until I really knew your right name. I thought your name was good, kind, sweet, spirited, stubborn, sexy, and all kinds of name but I was wrong, those were characteristics, the way you identify something, but that isn't the name. The name is based on how you feel about that person, and my name for you is "Cara Mio" my heart."

Carol blinked back the sudden tears and thought of her true name for Daryl nd the name that came to her was "My beloved". She called him by his true name and they guarded their friends together and hoped that this time tomorrow night they would be back on their house on McAllister Mountain.

I hope everyone has been lucky enough to have at least one Mrs. McLaughlin as a teacher. I did and she enriched my life by making me aware of the natural world and all its beauty. There are way too many kids like Daryl in this world and way too few Mrs. McLaughlins. This chapter is my salute to the joys of October and to those who take the time to enjoy it. Thank you, Mrs. McLaughlin.

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