July 27, 2003

Harlan wiped the sweat from his brow before digging his hoe back into the earth. He spent damn near all day out in the field, it was back-breaking work for sure. It made him realize why his dad would pass out straight after work.

Junior was a few rows over, equally as exhausted.

"This shit sucks." He shouted.

"Hey! Language."

Junior rolled his eyes. "Okay, this stuff sucks."

"Better, better."

The two were interrupted by the dinner bell ringing.

"I'll tell you what doesn't suck, dinner."

The two cleaned themselves up and reported to the dinner table, where Anthony laid out a spread of fresh vegetables, and a ham roasted in bolognese sauce.

"Those cooking tapes really did a number on you, huh?" Harlan asked as Anthony kissed his cheek.

"Yeah, suddenly I know what I'm doing in the kitchen." He held up a spatula. "Armed and dangerous."

"Can we eat?" Junior already had a forkful of food to his lips.

"No, in fact, starve." Anthony plopped down in his chair next to Harlan and dug in. The three men made quick work of the feast.

Harlan was on dish duty when Junior approached him.

"Hey, can I go out tonight?"

"Tonight?" Harlan checked his watch. "It's already dark out. What's going on?"

"There's a party in town, and I told you Jessica would be there."

"Oh," He turned off the faucet and turned to face Junior, "girl trouble."

"Not like you'd know about that, tio."

Harlan laughed, "No, no I wouldn't." He looked at the floorboards for a moment as he mulled it over. "Just be careful, okay? Those things are still out there."

"I know, I know."

"If you get bit, I'll put you down myself, you hear?"

"Sure, sure." Junior stepped out the back door and disappeared into the night.

After he was done with the dished, Harlan finished tidying up the house and crawled into bed, followed shortly by Anthony.

"Hey, did you know it's been ten years?"

"Ten years? Since what?" Harlan paused. "Oh, the end of the world?"

"Yes, that too."

"Then what?"

"Ten years since you found me in that supermarket." Anthony pulled him in for a light kiss. "Ten years ago, you came into my life and changed me forever. For the better."

Harlan felt his eyes well up ever so slightly. "Ten years ago, I made the best decision of my short, little life."

"I think it's been a nice, long life at the ripe old age of 37." Anthony pulled Harlan in to cuddle, chuckling as he finished speaking. "After all, we're all born to die. Maybe it isn't all about how you die, it's how you live."