CHAPTER 5 THE REUNION

If you wanted to see beauty and nature that was appealing to your eyes, you needed to visit Furaha home. Furaha to me joy, that is what we had agree to make our new home. We had built a gate that was high enough to protect us from the walkers.

Our family had grown larger by one member. So, Mercy and Pablo got married, they have a kid together, his name is Bond. So ironic right? Two enemies finally reconcile and build a family together? Yeah, you have to believe it.

We had done a lot of progress with our home; it has been one year and a half now. Our plants had grown tall and had started to produce, others were ready to harvest, the kinds of maize and tomatoes.

Bond, come over here. Bond was ever active; I can say he inherited all his behaviors from his father. He came running.

Hey buddy. "Yes, big John." He said. That is what he used to call me because of the masculine body I had, I think that was a result of the work we used to do on the daily basis. Hey I want you to go at the gate and call daddy, run.

We had assigned Pablo to watch over at the gate, we had a tower there, high enough to see over 1 km. "Hey papa, big John want to see you." Bond called. I could hear his weak voice from where I was.

"Hello John. What's up? Pablo asked in shock. Nothing brother, there is nothing wrong, just wanted us to discuss a few matters. I was thinking that tomorrow we should leave, go out there and find us more things that could be useful to us.

"Ah! Ah!" Pablo chuckled. "Are you kidding me man, you know pretty well we can't get out there, if we get attacked, we are outnumbered." He said. Yeah, I know that, but fuck it, we can fight back, right?

I will talk to the others we leave in a weeks' time, be prepared Pablo, if we keep on with this kind of tolerating those people out there, we won't be able to protect our families and those people we love. Think about Bond, how will he survive.

"Don't you dare call his name again man, keep him out of this." He replied angrily as he walked out on me. Ok man I hope you reconsider what I said, go think about it.

The night was closing in, I had to talk to the others about what I had discussed with Pablo. Dinner was served, we used to eat on one table all of us since we were just a small number, so we would always fit.

Hey everyone, I have a suggestion and I need you views and opinions, we had disagreed with Pablo early on about the issue. So I was thinking of a small number of us to go out there probably next week and gather a few items, mostly weapons

We are not safe with no weapons, we can visit those old soldier barracks out there, we could use those guns and some of the food that hasn't gone bad yet. So, what do you say?

They all looked at each other, but with faces that gave me hope, I knew they were on my side, because I talking about facts at that moment.

"Yeah, that's a great idea." They all responded. "We need the weapons since we never know who is planning to attack us, now that we have a lot of food and harvest people may attempt to take that from us by use of force." Pinky added.

Alright, who will be leaving with me? Of course, Pinky will remain, its safe for him to stay here. So, if you are willing to leave next week, raise your hands. Mercy and Pablo raised their hands. Hey Pablo, what changed your mind?

"Hey man I have to this for my boy." He said to me smiling. That's great, that is what we do for family.

Goodnight, everyone, I have to rest and prepare for tomorrow. Since the apocalypse this was the year, I felt safe at night. We had lamps all over the fence. The nights used to be peaceful than the days.

Morning came, birds croaking some singing all over the place, the sun was shining brightly. It was heaven on earth.

Mercy, hey Mercy come over here. "Hey what is on you mind big man, or are you here to introduce me to another plan of yours? I hope its not another Pablo stranger you are about to introduce to the group." She said.

Hey chill dear, walk with me, let me take you out today, you can't just stay in here for a whole day. "Hey man, you know I can hear you flirt with her." Pablo interrupted the conversation.

Relax man you are like a brother to me, and she is just a good friend to me, don't be insecure.

With our small family, joking was common amongst us, and no one took that serious. So, mercy, there is this field I want us to visit, there is something I want us to tame. Judy, find us ropes, strong ones, at least four of them.

I wanted this to be a surprise to everyone. "We have been walking now for over twenty minutes, where are we headed?" Mercy complained. Relax, don't you love surprises? Trust me you will love it.

"Are those horses? Please tell me we are going back with one of those home." Mercy said with a smile on her face. She was really excited. See, I told you would love what my surprise was. Now we only have one job if you really want these horses to get home, you will have to convince them and tie them with these ropes.

"I can do that." She said. "There, see those sunflower seeds, we can use those to get close to them, I will go get them." Where did you learn all this knowledge about horses and the sunflower thing?

"Come on John, so you mean I didn't tell you?" She asked. Tell me what? "My dad was a veterinary officer, so we had a variety of livestock at home, at times he would take us with him to go feed the horses." She said with pride. She was always bold.

I liked her when it came to making my missions successful and giving me nice and productive ideas.

Ok Mercy, enough of the dad memories, can we get to what brought us here? "Don't tell me you are jealous John." "Tell me about you dad, you never talk about him, you can talk to me." She insisted.

My dad was not much of a role model to us, we spend most of our time with mum. He was an addict. He can home late always, he had no time for us. And I promised myself that I would try and always do what is the best for my kid.

I really hope my two surviving girls are out there somewhere with their mum, and I hope I will get to meet them some day.

"Wait, you have two girls? So, you had three kids? Since when are you good at keeping secrets from me? You know I am your best friend, and you can tell me whatever you think I need to know, all your secrets can be safe with me John. She said.

Whenever I was close to Mercy, I felt her support and her care.

Yeah Mercy, I could say all my secrets to you, but it will take almost the whole the day, so let's get to work. "Ok fine but you owe me one." She said pointing at me.

"Hey look, I told you this would work." She had already tied on of the horses. Nice work, you are brilliant, if the Kentucky Fried Chicken still existed, I would have taken you to one. Ever tried out one? "Yeah, severally, we visited one to our town on my birthdays." She answered.

Let's get home, I am starving. On our way back home, zombies were all over the way, staggering and groaning, wishing to catch up with us but we were riding horses, it was our lucky day enjoying the ride.

We arrived at the gate; the gate was wide open. "Pablo! Pablo! What is the meaning of this? Why is the gate wide open? You know its not safe? Mercy shouted at him. Pablo was nowhere near the watch tower.

Inside the compound there were people gathering. "Daddy! Daddy!" Two girls came running towards me, they were somehow tall they didn't look like the girls we separate some years back.

When they got closer, I couldn't believe my eyes, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. They were my two little angels, my daughters, Zoe and Diana, they were thin, I could barely recognize them. They hugged me like I had come from the dead.

"Hey John." Some one said from behind me. It was Nora, the mother of my kids, well this must be the best day of the year, re uniting with my family. Hello baby, I thought you were dead my love, I really missed you. I am really sorry I didn't come looking for you love. Nora was excited to see me she hugged me tight from behind. "It doesn't matter my love, all that, matters are that we are here, all of us, the whole family together," she said.

They had come with some visitors, several people a good number that could help us strengthen our group and protect what we had. Amongst the people who arrived, was Leah, Pinky's lovely wife with blonde hair.

Wow, what a year, a year of blessings.