Chapter Nineteen: Dry Autumn Leaves:

It’s been five weeks since that day. Things have been getting better. I am starting to tolerate Nancy more. I still don’t know how I feel about her. However, I’m more worried about when her baby is due. We’re the only people in this town. I am not a doctor and I won’t know what to do when she goes into labor. Ava won’t be any help and neither will Marshmallow. The only thing I will have is the internet. I am trying not to think about any of that right now. We really are screwed, aren’t we?

“What will you do when it’s time for the baby to be born?” I asked. Nancy thought about that for a moment.

“I had a plan but I don’t think it’s going to work here,” she said. I stared at her with big eyes. She was joking, right? She couldn’t be serious. I didn’t dare to ask. Why do things in my life have to be so difficult? It looked like we were going to have to deal with that when the time came.

I got up off of the couch.

“Mick?” Nancy asked.

“I’m going for a bit,” I said. I walked out the door.

“Okay, she said after me. I waved her off before the door closed. What? I still like being alone. So sue me! I looked out at the empty streets in front of me. It would be redundant to say that there’s nothing out here, but there is nothing out here. Okay, there are some animals. But that’s it. I don’t mind it. Nancy is getting used to it. She is worried about Ava.

“She needs some friends to play with,” she said. I made a face at her.

“Who?” I asked. Nancy, of course, said nothing.

“Heh,” I said. She does have a point though. I have never been good with kids. Nancy keeps saying otherwise.

“You’re good with Ava,” she said. I gave her a look as I frowned. She’s not wrong. But still…

I sat down on the bench. It’s too early to be up. I’m usually still in bed. Why the hell is Nancy up this early? She’s just crazy. Even Ava is still sound asleep. I rubbed my forehead. Why am I out here? I could just go to bed. She’s not my mom. She can’t tell me what to do. I looked over at the house. Nancy was still sitting on the couch. I could feel her eyes on my back. She was going to need help to get back up again. I stopped myself before I thought about her going into labor again.

Halloween was coming up. In a few days, I think. I don’t know. Does it really matter? The days just blended together. Hell, even the weeks blended together. I’ve been alone for so long. It’s starting to get to me. Wait… What am I thinking? I like to be alone. I looked back at the house as a slow realization washed over me.

No…

I shook my head. Can she really do that to me? I’ve been hanging around them too long. I looked at the empty road in front of the house again. Maybe I should get away for a bit?

I turned my head when I heard the door open. To my surprise, Nancy was standing in the doorway. How did she manage to get up by herself?

“Yeah?” I asked.

“I’m going to make some tea,” Nancy said. “Do you want any?” I shook my head.

“Nah,” I said.

“You sure?” she asked. I nodded. Nancy shrugged and went back inside. I sighed and turned back to the yard. She’s probably going to want to do something for Halloween. Not like we can really do much. There are no parties going on or any kids looking for pranks and candy. It’s just us.

Us? I’ve really been hanging around all of them too long. I’ll go into town to be alone later today. As a matter of fact…

“I’m going for a walk now!” I shouted. I didn’t wait for a response. I don’t even know why I said anything. This was my house that I was staying in. I didn’t have to tell her anything. With that, I just started walking away.