Sudden Independents

She walked over and squeezed Samuel around the waist and then offered another hug for Scout. Both boys patted her gently on the back when she made her rounds. Finally, she took Ginger’s hand and led the older kids to the two couches in the living room. Everyone took a seat.

“We have some visitors from a town in Iowa,” Samuel said. “Two guys and a girl; they drove in about an hour ago.”

“Are we sure there are just the three of them?” Scout asked. “They might have other people waiting outside of town.”

“You’re more paranoid than Jimmy.” Samuel folded his arms and his face scrunched in thought. “They seem honest enough, but who knows.”

“Where are they now?” Scout asked.

“Last I saw them they were at Brittany’s with Mark. Jimmy was headed there and told me to come here.”

“Why did he want you to come here?” Ginger asked.

“He was probably worried about you,” Catherine said to Ginger. “Remember what I told you?”

Ginger shook her head at the little girl, but Catherine pressed on. “I told Ginger that Jimmy likes her, but she doesn’t believe me.”

“Why do you think that?” Samuel blurted.

“Duh, it’s so obvious,” Catherine answered. “Every time he gets near her, his heartbeat speeds up. Between the two of them it’s like a cattle stampede. They both blush and sweat, and neither one of them can talk straight when they’re near the other. Ginger doesn’t believe me, but I think she’s just being silly. If you love someone, you have to tell them, right?”

“Catherine, that’s enough! Please,” Ginger said. Her face turned bright pink, matching the little girl’s nightshirt.

Scout winked at Samuel, who was at a loss for words. Scout then steered back to the visitors. “I’d better go get Hunter. We’ll search the area to make sure their story checks out.”

“All right, I’ve got to stay here until Jimmy shows up,” Samuel said.

Catherine giggled.

“What’s so funny?” Scout asked her.

“Ginger’s heartbeat just sped up,” Catherine said.

Ginger pinched up her face and squinted at her housemate. Scout figured anger probably wasn’t something she kept stocked in her emotional arsenal because she didn’t hold the expression for very long. Her features gelled back to normal as she switched her gaze to Scout.

“I almost forgot. You said someone has a crush on me. Who were you talking about?”

Scout jumped up to leave and pointed at Samuel. “Ask him. I’m sworn to secrecy.”

Nothing beats a hot bath, especially on a cold morning. At least Molly thought it was still morning. The absence of sunshine, hidden somewhere behind dark, gray clouds since she woke up and enjoyed her playtime with Hunter, made her judgment in time unreliable. She knew it was Saturday and her store was closed. Nothing else mattered.

Molly felt slippery and alive surrounded by bubbles. She was using soap from the town’s stockpile, but those supplies were dwindling and last week the town council talked about producing their own. Molly thought she would lose her lunch when they mentioned boiling animal fat. You would never catch her doing that job.

Hunter had found her some real bubble bath soap on one of his searches, but Jimmy stopped him from going out so far now that winter approached. Jimmy always messed with things. Molly didn’t understand what she ever saw in him. He was pathetic.

Steam covered the bathroom windows, which were rapidly icing over due to the temperature difference outside. The sink and the toilet sat in their spots as nothing more than decoration. Water no longer ran to the house so it took some effort to bring hot water to the tub. Luckily Molly now lived with someone who provided the effort.

Molly noticed the water turning chilly as the heat diminished. “Hunter, I need more hot water.”

The bed creaked and Hunter’s heavy feet pounded on the stairs. Her boyfriend was fulfilling her wishes. She laid back and closed her eyes. This was about as close to luxury as one could get in Independents.

Hunter was a willing servant, and why not? Molly had all the right tools for getting her way. He was very useful. Splashing her hands upon the soapy surface, she caught herself smiling at just how useful.

The door to the bathroom swung open with a hard bang against the towel rack. Hunter walked in with an orange bucket, sloshing water all over the floor.

“Watch your feet,” he said.

The hot water dumped into the end of the tub and Molly quickly paddled the mixture into perfection. “Ah, this is heaven. Are you sure you don’t want to join me?”

Hunter stood there, the bucket dangling from his hand. His eyes were droopy above his cute little frown. Molly didn’t know why he was so tired all the time. All he ever did was ride around on his motorcycle, like that could be strenuous. He never had to spend a day trying to keep Ginger busy.

“I’m positive.” He turned to leave.

“Shut the door, please.”