Part 12: May22 - Back to the Superstore

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The trip to the store was uneventful. The children talked quietly about what they would get at the store when one of the girls asked tentatively, “Mrs. Jackson, are there dead people in the store?”

Carl called back over his shoulder, “The people in the store were picked up and taken to the hospital last night, and some of those people have been revived.” The children started talking excitedly, and some voiced the question about reviving their parents.

Carl pulled up to the front of the store and parked the bus. Then he stood and turned to face the children and, in his gentlest voice, spoke. “Listen to me very carefully. The doctors and nurses are working very hard to help as many people as they can. They plan to go to South Bend and Pine Ridge to revive as many of those people in each of those towns as they can.” 

He glanced at Nancy to see how his blunt this is how it is approach sat with her. “But!” He paused and tried to deliver the next bit of information as compassionately as he could. “The doctors have found that not everyone can be revived. Some implants can’t be disconnected.” He let the children digest that for a few seconds. “As soon as we know something, we will tell you. Understand?”

Carl watched the children, gauging how they were taking this news, giving them a few seconds to process. Then, in a more upbeat tone, he announced loudly,

“NOW, for your shopping trip. I have a box of bio-bags. Each of you will get one bag—ONE BAG.” Carl held up a finger to indicate the first step of his instructions. “Whatever you get must fit in your single bag. TWO, you must be able to hold your bag of stuff in your lap on the way back to the dorm. Does everyone understand?”

Carl scrunched up his face and glared at the children. “I would seriously recommend that some of you start with some clean clothes, a bar of soap, and deodorant. Some of you don’t smell very good.” Carl wrinkled his nose, and most of the children laughed. “Okay, single file—and remember, you have to be able to carry your supplies or you will not fit on the bus.”

Carl handed each child a clean bio-bag as they stepped up to the front of the bus to descend the steps and follow the adults. Nancy was the last off the bus, and Carl expected her to voice her displeasure about his straightforward approach to speaking to her children.

Instead, she suggested, “I’m going to stationery. I want to write up a list of children and revived people so that families can be reunited.”

Carl nodded. “Good idea. I have to go pick up Sam and Tim. I’ll be back in about an hour, so if you can have the children out here and ready to go, then we’ll pick up the other half and bring them here so they can have a turn picking up the things they think they need.”

“That sounds fine. I’ll get everyone organized and back out here on time.” Nancy smiled. “See you later.”

As soon as Nancy and the children were clear of the bus, Carl pulled away from the store and drove straight to South Bend to pick up Sam, Tim, and the horses.