Snippet #2479194

Theo had received his water ration from the kitchen when he heard someone yelling his name from a few buildings down. It was Zoey, John Callum's assistant. Many people could slide by unnoticed, but not anyone in Callum's inner circle. She had another female in tow, Barb was her name if he was right in his recollection. He uncapped the waterskin, taking a swig as he strolled over to the women.

"How can I help?"

"You are Teddy correct?"

"I'm a man of many names but that one works. I was mainly called that as a child, I prefer to go with Theo or Ted." He smiled as he said it, not caring what anyone called him.

"Callum would like to see you." He raised his eyebrows.

"Well by all means, lets go see the man." Ted brought up the caboose of their three person line as they trudged across town to Callum's office. "Any idea what this is about?"

"I'd prefer to leave that up to John to tell you." Zoey snapped back politely, Barbara quiet as they continued. He wondered what was in store for him.
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David sent his companions off to their respective homes, arriving at his own doorstep. He stopped for a moment, ensuring his tie was straight and his collar was clean. His wife may be blind, but he still wanted to look good for her. McAllister stepped into his dwelling.

"Linda! Justine! I'm home." His daughter came rushing out from her room to him, smile gleaming. David snatched her out of the air, spinning her around. Justine giggled with laughter as she twirled in the air. He sat her back on the ground to avoid making her dizzy. Linda was a little slower, but she had their small abode mapped out in her mind easily now, navigating it without a sense of sight. David made it a little easier on her, meeting his wife halfway.

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and a warm embrace. "I missed you guys. What have you been up to today?" Justine looked at the ground, sullen.

Linda laughed. "Well, she didn't want to, but we did some sewing. Clothes don't get mass produced out of factories and she is a growing girl, making clothes to fit her is important." David turned to his daughter, dropping to one knee.

"Did you give your mom a hard time today?"

Justine smiled, "Maybe a little." David and Linda both started laughing, with Justine joining in. Linda found her way to their sofa, taking a seat. David was still next to Justine.

"What did you want to do?"

"I want to go learn to shoot the bow! Some man is teaching most of the kids how to do it." David frowned.

"Now Justine, you can leave all that fighting nonsense to the boys! You don't have to partake in any of that."

His daughter looked at him as if he were an alien. "But Daddy, we all need to fight, right?" Linda was silent from the couch, leaving this topic to David.

"Well honey . . . babies come from women right?"

She nodded.

"If all the women go out and fight with the men, then they get hurt, how are more babies going to be born?"

His daughter didn't have an answer for him. "I just think bows would be funner than sewing!" David took her hands in his.

"Maybe if you practice sewing enough, you can go to some of those bow training sessions."

"Really?!" David did not want to say yes.

"Yes, of course darling." Justine went back to her room, ready to sew up a storm. David joined Linda on the couch, laying his head in her lap. She ran her hands through his hair. Then she ran her fingertips over his face.

"We're getting older David. She does need to be able to protect herself." He was silent for a solid minute.

"You know just as well as me I'm a stubborn man. I can't change overnight, not even with aliens out there." They dropped the topic for the rest of the night.

[We need to churn out some quick posts and get things moving so no one loses faith!]