I woke up around four in the afternoon. Denise had already gotten up, which I knew she would. She probably slept for a couple of hours. When I checked my stat screen, I saw I had the “Extremely Well Rested” bonus. It still gave me fifteen percent to training and EXP but it was extended to eight hours instead of four. I wanted a higher percentage but I'd take what I could get. I put on a fresh pair of boxer briefs and socks and put my black BDU’s on and headed out to the kitchen. Seeing I was up, Denise fried me up a steak with a couple of eggs. “We’re about out of eggs,” Denise said.
“No problem, I replied. I’ll grab some from my mom when I get the kids.”
My mom and stepdad raised chickens on their property. They had about eighteen of them. Seven or eight of them were Rhode Island Reds that laid the big brown eggs. A couple laid small to medium-sized white eggs and one gave a medium-sized bluish colored egg. They called that their Easter hen. They got, at least, three dozen eggs a week. Usually it was closer to five. I couldn’t remember the last time I actually had to go to the store and buy eggs.
That got me thinking. There was a big chicken ranch about fifteen miles northeast of here. I wondered if I could make contact and barter for a few. The ranch had thousands of them. Surely they’d trade for something. If the place was abandoned, I suppose I'd just have to "rescue" the chickens. Likewise, there was a giant beef ranch with thousands of heads of cattle about two hours south of us. That was a much farther and probably a more dangerous option but it was a possibility. I needed to stop thinking about that for now. First things first, I needed a place for my family.
I grabbed my radio and contacted my mom’s place out in the country. “Boondocks, this is Red Rover, over.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Go ahead Red Rover,” came Alex’s voice. There was a long pause and finally Alex came back on the radio, “Over.”
“There you go," I said with a chuckle. Now you’re getting the hang of it. Any updates on that project, over?"
“Yeah, they were able to get the other one working and charged up last night. The boys have been getting some stick time like you requested, over.”
“Perfect, tell them to wrap it up, Red Rover is coming over, over.”
“Copy that, we’ll get ready, over.”
“Tell grandma too, mamma bear needs some eggs, over.”
“Who’s mamma bear? over.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out, ETA twenty minutes, Red Rover out."
“You know, Denise said. You'll confuse him with all those names and all that radio speak.”
"That's the point," I responded. Helps him learn. Plus it’s funny.”
She just shook her head. “Finish your breakfast and go get your gear. You have to get to work.” I didn’t give her my patented “yes dear” because I was still sitting at the table and couldn't outrun the slap I knew would follow. Instead I gave her an “Ok baby,” and hurriedly finished my breakfast and left to grab my gear.
After gearing up and grabbing my weapons and ruck, I hugged and kissed Denise goodbye. I then stepped out to warm up the old diesel truck I took from the PD. Checking the gas gauge, I was sitting just above half a tank. More than enough for what we needed it for. Any more use after this and we’d have to siphon some gas out of the diesel semi-trucks stopped along the highway.
I remembered that Frank's truck, which no longer worked, was also diesel. I was sure they could siphon gas from it. I surmised Chad’s reserve gas stores were getting low too. One more thing I’d have to put on my to-do list in the near future. Loading Dog into the truck bed, I backed out of the side yard. I blew a kiss to Denise, who was looking out the window. With a smile, she blew a kiss back and held out her pinky. I responded by returning her pinky promise.