Lazy Bones Part 2

Fortuitously, Stephen found himself at the entrance of a huge outdoor sports store. Perfect place to seek shelter for the night. If only his timing was a little better. The shelves were bare and the inventory was ransacked. It was Looters first, then came the scavengers, then the animals, now it was Stephen’s turn.

Trash was everywhere on the floor. Not a thing of quality was to be seen. Just discarded packaging and broken plastic. Stephen found his way to the staircase next to the aquarium. Upon reaching the top floor, he found the aisle where the camping equipment was. The pickings were all gone and he had to make due for the evening. He threw together a pile of children’s sleeping bags and found a corner to sleep in.

He had traveled many miles, and his legs were weary. His makeshift bed was brightly colored princess branded camping equipment, which means that even in the apocalypse people still have taste. Stephen had no options, he would take what he could get. He drifted to sleep and awoke to the sun brightly pouring into the store. His stomach burped out a might growl.

“You and me both bro.” Stephen said to himself.

He searched the store. He then searched the store again. When he looked around a third time he found something to eat, expired fudge, a can of dog food, and half a dehydrated meal.

“Here we go. I’ll start with the fudge first cause it will taste the best then the dehydrated meal, lastly the dog food.” He spoke aloud.

He dipped his spoon into the rock hard fudge and chiseled at it for pieces to break loose. Once a sizable chunk was crafted he put it in his mouth and let his saliva do it’s job. He sat watching the large bass fish swim about it’s tiny enclosure. In between crunches of the fudge Stephen thought of two things. The first being how we too can become like a fish in an abandoned store, just by being where we are. The good thing is you will be oblivious to the plight of the world. The second thing he thought of was how good that fish must taste.

After all the fudge was gone, he couldn’t eat the rest of the meal. He was on to much of a sugar high. Which was nice because he needed the energy to search for supplies for his journey up the Cajon pass. It wasn’t supplies. A more fitting description was whatever he could find left in the store. Which was, three my little princess’s sleeping bags, One size 10.5 Rubber Rain Boot right, One size 10.5 Hiking Boot left, One triple xl camo overalls, fourteen cans of dog food, a machete, a camp stove with no gas, all fitting into a pink ruck sack.

He would start up the pass, but the rain clouds were a little ominous and he wanted to try his hand at fishing.

A little left over bait and a broken fishing rod would have to scratch this itch. Stephen tied the lure and dropped the line into the aquarium. It may be worth noting that the sport of fishing and Stephen may be more than compatible. Stephen found the waiting really relaxing and took a nap. The fish in the tank sat a gulped water in front of the bait. It is a game of patience. Stephen was the first to break. He got up from his third nap of the day and recast the line.

It was a massive effort of standing up and throwing the lure a little farther in. On the second day, Stephen didn’t mind the taste of dog food. The fish didn’t mind the taste of anything at all apparently. The rain clouds had moved up the pass and the way was clear for Stephen.

Stephen put a sliver of the canned dog food on the hook and threw it in the water. This immediately got the fishes attention. It perked up and swam towards the lure. Stephen’s eyes were wide with delight. The fish struck at the bait, and ripped it from the hook. Stephen pulled hard and fast on the reel. It was too late the fish was already chomping the food down.

“Screw this!” Stephen said as he threw the rod into the tank.

He gathered his mismatched assortment of apparel and made his way towards the door. Before he left he looked back over the store. Pity be the next person to find it, even the fish had died. Stephen focused back on the aquarium, his former nemesis was now floating at the top of the tank.

“I’ve got to get to that shelter! But first!” He thought.