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Juan couldn’t help the loud exhale as he turned around to look at his mother. “Ma, it makes a lot of sense to me. This place, this world, it’s crumbling. Whatever happened, whether it is something or it is nothing,” Juan shook his head back and forth. “It doesn’t matter.”
He had told his mother about his car not working. He had told his mother about Alfie’s car not working. Sure, he thought, he hadn’t checked under the hood like he probably should have. Sure, this happened once every year or so when people got desperate for parts or money to sell the parts, they looted cars up and down the street. The alarm system, the one that was made
irrelevant with by the EMP, didn’t extend to his front driveway.
There was a temptation watching his mother shake her head back and forth to just go outside and check the car. Go outside just to be safe. But they had to go. They needed to go. Never mind the year, but the decade had been leading to this. He just knew.
“Ma,” he tried to soften his voice. “We should go check it out. Maybe we’re wrong and maybe we’re not. But the phone is out too. We should go. Please pack a bag.”
His mother lowered her head and went back into her room. She had fought against change every step of this decade. She had fought even when his father got sick with the virus, she insisted on trying to stay at his side and take care of him. Was she losing her own battles, he wondered? Had she lost her own power?
Trevon knocked on the door. He turned his back to it crossing his arms and keeping a look out. Juan worked his mask on as he answered the door. He couldn’t help the smile as it almost looked like Trevon was enjoying himself.
“You about ready?” Trevon said looking at the three bags next to the door.
“Just about.” Juan said. “I want to do a quick walk of the perimeter.