The mayor leaned in close to Bobby's ear and whispered, "It's been three days. People are getting restless." He scanned the room, watching his constituents grow increasingly agitated and annoyed.
"That's just one of our problems," Bobby replied, staring at the spineless mayor who couldn't lead them through this crisis. "We're running out of fuel for the generator that's keeping us alive. And once that goes, the fridges we salvaged from the cafeteria will lose power too. We won't have any food left." Bobby spoke candidly, expressing his fears out loud. "We've been resupplying from Walmart, but even their shelves aren't infinite. The last time we were there, we only found half a shelf of food left. That won't sustain us for more than a meal or two." Bobby whispered, his eyes narrowing in frustration as he struggled to find a solution that wouldn't devastate their already precarious situation.
"What about Pete's cows? Can't we use them as a source of food?" the mayor suggested, gesturing towards Pete who was resting against the wall after their latest scavenger hunt for supplies. "And what about water? There must be a well nearby. Maybe we can discreetly ask around without causing panic," the mayor continued to whisper, scanning the room to make sure they weren't overheard by others who might start to panic if they knew the full extent of their situation.
Sheriff Bobby sighed, his gaze sweeping over the sea of haggard faces that had made the high school gym their sanctuary. The mayor's suggestions were grasping at straws, but they were running out of options.
"We can check downtown," he said decisively, a plan formulating in his mind as he spoke. "I was there before picking up the Oakley brothers. It might be the last spot this town has for supplies that we don't need to butcher to eat." He locked eyes with the mayor, who nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"I'll get me and a few others to make a run down there," the sheriff finished. He let his gaze drift across the crowd, searching for the right blend of bravery and desperation.
His eyes landed on the Oakley brothers. They were huddled around George, cards fanned in their hands, the dim light glinting off their eager eyes. They were trying to convince George to play a Texas Hold'em game, betting what little they had left — cans of food, a flashlight, anything that could be considered valuable now.
"Mine as well take the brothers; they were already there scouting it out," Sheriff Bobby thought, a plan forming,"mine as well make their illegal activities worth something."
With firm steps, he walked over to the group, his boots echoing slightly on the polished gym floor. As he approached, the chatter subsided, the brothers casting wary glances his way. Bobby knew them well enough — troublemakers since they were knee-high, but also survivors, and that's what they needed right now.
"Game's over, boys," he announced with an authority that brooked no argument. "You're coming with me downtown. We've got real work to do." The brothers exchanged looks, the allure of gambling fading in the face of stealing.
"Fuck off elsewhere Stanley, I don't need your special brand of usefulness," Bobby yelled as he watched Stanley begin to tumble towards him.
"I can help," Stanley hollered back as he continued on his path toward the sheriff.
"Your poundage ain't worth the extra gas for the trip," Bobby responded.
George now standing next to the sheriff asked, "Where we off to sheriff?" Bobby looked down at the young man whose head was almost up to his shoulders.
"Let's talk a walk," the sheriff spoke, as Terry and the Oakley Brothers followed behind them, cutting off Stanley as he did.
"Now you wait one moment Sheriff Bobby," Sally yelled, running towards her son. "Where in the fuck you taking my boy," she asked as he grabbed her son by the shoulders.
"We just going out and looking for some water ma'am, nothing serious, I promise," Bobby stated, as he eyed the matriarch who was now looking over her son's face. Sally's hand grasped the side of each of Georges's cheeks and looked him straight in the eye.
"Listen here George, you gonna do everything you can to come back, I don't care if that means leaving Terry behind," Sally's voice took on a serious tone, a rare occurrence that her son had only heard a handful of times. The sound of Terry's squawking in the background did nothing to lessen the gravity of her words. "I promise mama, ain't no way I'm leaving you and Steph alone here with Stanley and Martha," George spoke, his hands wrapping around his mother, and pulling her into a hug.
"Where we heading," Terry's eyes followed the path of the sun's afternoon reflection as it bounced across the dusty field, the golden light casting a warm glow on their surroundings. He turned to Bobby, his face lit up with curiosity as they drove by the vast expanse of land. The dirt beneath their wheels kicked up in a whirlwind behind them, leaving a trail of brown clouds in their wake.
"I reckon Howard's store has some water, and luckily the widow is already open for us." The sheriff's gaze shifted towards the rearview mirror, keeping an eye on the Oakley truck closely following them. He gripped the wheel with one hand and let his other hand rest on the edge of the open truck window.
"Then we gonna go to every store next door and find everything else we need," The sheriff carried on speaking, his gaze returning to the road as they sped towards downtown.
"What's happening you think," George peered over to Bobby, trying to catch a glimpse of the sheriff as he sat in the middle seat between him and Terry. George was determined to find out the answer to his burning question.
"Fuck if I know," Bobby's words fell onto the quiet atmosphere in the truck, his tone holding a hint of irritation. The engine of the truck hummed in the background, along with the sound of Terry and George's disappointed sighs. "Fuck it, worst case, we know how to work the land, unlike them city boys." The sheriff stated, "We can always survive, you best remember that," Bobby spoke, his hand on the wheel turning as the truck made a right-hand turn onto the road where the downtown shops lay.