Page 36 of Night of the Living Manny
“What’s wrong?” Britt whispered.
“We have to go on an adventure, kiddo. Pack a bag of clothes, then put your toothbrush and all in this.” He’d found her pink-and-rainbow zipper bag. “Peter, I need you to do it too. Bring your little handheld Nintendo and games.”
“Are we going to the cabin?” Peter’s eyes were huge.
“Uh—your dad didn’t say, but if you have a plan for that, pack like that, okay?”
“Okay.” Britt started to pack like a mini longshoreman.
Brenden sprinted down the stairs to pack foodstuff and things like toilet paper and paper towels. Okay, what the actual fuck?
“Get your clothes and all your things for Moosey,” Britt told him.
“Right.” Shit. He’d almost forgotten his stuff. Clothes. Moose’s bed. Kit bag. Then back down for the dog food and bowls. Water. They needed water.
Liam was in the office, packing papers into steel boxes, the information on his computer screen flashing.
“What can I get from your clothes?” Brenden was good in emergencies. Calm. Fucking efficient, damn it.
“There are two duffels in the master closet. I need those and the two big tackle boxes under the sink in the bathroom. Bring all the blankets you can find. It’s cold where we’re headed.”
“Got it.” He burned with questions but tamped them down. This was like the beginning of a zombie movie, and that was ominous enough with what Liam did for a living….
Liam started packing the Hummer and the weird little trailer in the garage. Damn. Damn, this was—
“I grabbed some books and board games and cards, just in case the generator stops working.” Suddenly Susanna looked forty, her face grim. What the fuck did she know that he didn’t? How was she so un-teenagery all of a sudden?
Brenden glanced back and forth between them, and Liam sighed. “I’ll explain everything, I swear. Okay, check on Pete and Britt, please.”
Susanna nodded and trotted off.
“Please, Brenden, blankets.”
“You got it.” He headed inside, and Moose came to him, sticking to his side like a burr. “I know, boy. I know, but this is obviously important.”
Gathering blankets, sheets, and pillowcases, he noticed a bag labeled “Take to Cabin,” so he hoisted it too.
A crash came from the backyard, and the trash can banged against the back door.
“Brenden?” Britt’s voice shook, and Moose woofed.
“Come on. Everyone to the garage with your dad. Everyone has bags and boots and your game or Kindle?” He was gonna lose his shit. Later. But there was something out there.
Liam came in with three big coolers and started pulling things from the freezer. “Okay, I’ve got to grab my computer and my sidearm. Get them loaded up in the Hummer.”
“Okay.” Sidearm. Oh God. “Britt, you first.” She was still in a booster.
“It’s okay, right?” Britt was on the verge of tears.
“It’s fine, little sister,” Susanna said. “Snuggle with Moose.”
Moose dutifully leaped into the car to sit by Brittany. Peter went next, with Susanna slipping all the way to the second back row. He blinked when he saw her pull out a hard-case weapon carrier from under the seat.
What the fuck was going on?
“Come on, Brenden. Grab anything you can see that’s useful, huh?” Susanna stared at him. “Please.”
“Shovels and baseball bats?” Those were useful in movies.
