Uprising by Shelly Crane Read Free Book Online Page A

customer, or mooch. Whatever. He was my biggest bragger too.
    As I worked my thumbs into his neck tendons, I listened to their, not my, plans for the grocery trip the next morning. They were going to go to several different stop and shops and the grocery store, the regular joes. The Keepers are gonna go with them and be van packers and lookouts, maybe do one more call out to other Keepers since we’re getting short on time. Merrick, of course, is staying behind as our bodyguard along with Ryan.
    Later, Trudy and I made a list of the can foods we could think of getting the most of, for the best and more plentiful recipes, along with non food items such as toilet paper. I put on there to get children’s Tylenol and Band-Aids not remembering seeing any in the medicine cabinet, just in case.
    We have little ones to think of now.

 
    When It Rains It Pours

Chapter 3
    The next day, everyone that is supposed to leave leaves and I clean and do laundry and play Spoons and War with Ryan and Calvin and snuggle with Lily and snuggle with Merrick.
    I made grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone and endured more of Ryan’s doting on my cooking. I tried to explain there was no way to mess up grilled cheese but he wouldn’t concede.
    Merrick, Lily and I even took a nap together that early afternoon, all spooned together on the big bed in the second room. It was a sweet perfect normal day.
    While we were still sleeping they arrived back home and must have called Merrick in his mind to help them. He pushed my hair back and kissed my neck, whispered that they were back and he was going to help but for me to stay and rest with Lily. Before I knew it I was out again, waking later to the smell of fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
    When I stirred on the bed Lily immediately shot up, feeling my movement, reaching for me. I grabbed her up and we went to see Mrs. Trudy, cooking up a storm and everyone else happily and safely sitting in the commons room. Lana signed me a ‘good afternoon’ greeting in sign language, your flat palm to your mouth and then out, then a hand to your elbow with your other hands straight up, and smiled, which I smiled and returned the sign.
    Lily and I walked side by side into the commons room. To my surprise and delight, as soon as he spotted us Merrick reached for Lily and she went happily to his arms outstretched for her. Giggling as he tickled her. My heart flipped.
    I saw Jeff looking on them too with a fascinated and understanding smile on his face. He caught my gaze and our smiles broadened. I shake my head to throw it off.
     
    Sherry?
     
    I freeze for a second, not knowing this voice in my mind. The mind voice is different than the Keepers bodies voice. I look around, praying beyond prayers that it wasn’t Phillip. I see Ryan giving me a knowing wave. Ryan has never spoken to me in my mind before so of course I wouldn’t know what his voice sounded like. I exhale and smile.
     
    It’s just me. Sorry I scared you. Uh...you think you might could...give my shoulder a rub? It’s bothering me pretty bad after all that unloading and stacking. I’ve already taken something, a couple white pills Mrs. Trudy gave me but it doesn’t seem to be working.

    I nod and motion my head toward the kitchen and he follows me in. Must be pretty bad for a Keeper to ask for something for pain. Mrs. Trudy continues her cooking as Kay helps, looking over her shoulder and listens to the explanation of what she’s doing, step by step.
    I rub his shoulder for a few minutes, working some of the stiffness out. He wasn’t kidding. I could feel all his muscles bunched and twitching. He groaned when I pressed in my thumbs and it didn’t sound like a good groan.
    I grabbed a sock and filled it with rice, throw it in the microwave for half a minute and place it lightly on Ryan’s shoulder, over his shirt. He winces.
    “Sorry. Keep this here, on your shoulder like that for about twenty minutes, then I’ll rub it some more for you in