The Living Dead Boy (The Living Dead Boy #1)(19)

Joe, the other driver, stood near the front next to Derrick watching Jamie and the other guards. There were a good number of them, and Josh was relieved to see that none of them were arguing with his dad.

As the windows opened, his father’s voice carried on the morning wind. “Never forget that the most important thing is the man or woman beside you. They’re your brothers and sisters, and they need you. They need you to stay sharp. They need you to pay attention. They volunteered same as you, and that means they trust you to get them through anything you face together. Never forget that. They are all that matters. Give of yourself until you have nothing left, then give some more. And when the shooting starts, they’ll do the same for you. The paradox of combat is the more you try to save your own life, the faster you die. So never lose focus. They’ll pull you through, and you’ll do the same for them. Missions don’t fail. People do. Take care of them and you’ll succeed.”

The words were familiar to Josh. Whenever his dad had his Marine buddies over for a barbecue and a football game, they always talked about the war. He wasn’t supposed to listen in, but sometimes when the former Marines were gathered around the grill and his bedroom window was open he could hear them talking. Though his father had come back from the war, Josh knew the war had never left him. It was always there behind his sad smiles and weary eyes. His dad was at war again, and it hurt Josh to see how comfortable his father was with that truth. In fact, Jamie seemed more at peace with the world around him than he had in a very long time.

“Let’s get these people in and out as fast and as safely as we can. Then we’ll get them to the airlift zone,” Jamie concluded. Turning toward the bus, he motioned to Derrick. “Let’s go!”





Chapter 12


Josh was in the second group to leave the bus. Spotting Bonnie doing her business on a patch of grass while Derrick and Rachel waited only reminded him of how bad he had to go. Once the dog was done relieving herself, the trio entered the truck stop under the watchful eye of the guards.

Outside the windows, the convoy vehicles were lining up at the pumps and the drivers were hurriedly filling up the tanks. The larger vehicles were going to take the longest time to fill.

“I’m going to get a Big Red and donuts,” Sam said excitedly as they lined up in the aisle of the bus.

“Pepsi and Takis for me,” Troy said. He was addicted to the spicy chips from Mexico.

“You should get water, not soda,” Savannah chided them.

“I want lemonade,” Yessica declared.

“Chocolate milk,” Drake said. “For Rex.”

Oscar giggled. “Dinosaurs don’t drink milk.”

“Uh huh,” Drake responded, hugging Rex tighter. “And he wants cookies, too.”

“I want a something super sugary and sweet with a really cold soda,” Corina said with a sigh. “I’m so hungry.”

Josh stomach growled in agreement.

“That’s so loud, Josh!” Sam laughed heartily.

“Like your stomach isn’t rumbling,” Josh responded.

For a split second Sam’s smile faded, and panic filled his eyes.

“All our stomachs are rumbling,” Josh swiftly added. “Maybe they’re talking to each other.”

The smile returned to Sam’s reddened face. “That’s dumb, Josh. Stomachs don’t know English.”

Sam was clearly sensitive about his weight. Arturo had been especially mean to Sam about it. Again, guilt bit into Josh’s conscience. He had gone along with Arturo’s mean jokes about Sam for a very long time. He missed Arturo, but knew if he was still alive Sam would not be a new friend. That was a sobering thought because though Sam was loud, he’d been brave and kind in bad circumstances.

Waving his hand, Sam announced, “Yessica keeps farting.”

Yessica smacked Sam. “I have to poop!”

“Well, don’t poop your panties,” Sam replied.

Scowling, Yessica poked his gut. “Don’t poop your panties.”

“I’m a boy. I wear tighty whiteys like my dad.”

“Too much information, Sam,” Corina teased. “Now everyone is imagining you in your undies.”

“Oh.” Sam blushed.

Josh found himself smiling. It felt good to just be kids for the moment.

Jamie signaled for the next group to head into the truck stop.

“Okay, let’s go. Stay together!” Savannah led them off the bus, holding Oscar’s hand.

Corina followed with Drake. Yessica holding Sam’s hand was next. Troy and Josh filed off after them. Walking across the asphalt, Josh struggled not to look like he was about to pee his pants. Happily, the truck stop was one of the new fancy ones that his mom liked to stop at during family trips. There would be plenty of bathrooms and lots of food and drink.

Outside the entrance were two highway patrol officers.

Sam grinned at one of them as the line filed past them. “I like your gun.”

“Thanks, kid, but hurry it up,” one of the officers, a Latino man with a big bushy mustache, replied. “We need to keep this line moving.”

When the small group entered, Bonnie and Rachel scooted through the doors with Derrick behind them carrying drinks, food, and a small dog food bag under one arm.