TZA the Beginning 1
The kids came bubbling up the short hill behind Mitch as he stood looking at the Wall of Remembrance. It was nothing more than a bunch of posts set in the ground on this grassy hill with planks of wood nailed across them. But it meant a lot to him, as it did to many of the folks on the island.
He at first didn’t notice them coming from behind as he was engrossed on running his old hands over a few names carved into the wood. As the kids drew nearer, calling to each other and laughing, he ran one last stroke on a particular name. He placed his hand over his heart, bowed his head, and closed his eyes. He stood silent for a moment, as is the tradition, then turned to face his charges.
He had a kind of pride in these kids. Life is precious again, and the raw examples of that were all trying to get his attention. They ranged in ages from nine to seventeen. And they were all happy. Some of them began to call his name, running ahead of the crowd to hug him.
“Mr. Mitch. We’re here” cried Lacy, the first to reach him. At nine years old she was the youngest of the bunch. Curly haired and head strong, she was leading her older brothers, Greg and Luther, about like she was their mother. “Hi Mister Mitch” they said in unison. “Alright, alright already, everyone settle down.”
He couldn’t help smiling back, though they were there for a serious history lesson. A perfect day for it too. The sun was shining bright, a few clouds, and a pleasant breeze from the southwest, bringing with it the scent of the sea. Perfect. It was bad enough he had to tell this story, but it was important. ‘Know where you come from’ was something Captain Bern always said. Mitch believed in that motto. It was what made the Wall so important.
“Callie, Jojo,” he called to two of the older kids. “Corral this mess.”
“On it” said Jojo. He and Callie started arranging the kids before Mitch amidst cries and laughs and jokes. “I’m not a cow, you can’t corral me” cried Erin. “I don’t want to sit in the grass, my pants’ll get dirty” said Jake. “Are we gonna hear a story?” Said Millie. “Hi Mr. Mitch” yelled Paul.
“Hi everyone” said Mitch, “and sit down. I’m gonna give you some history. I see you over there Bryan. Sit down and everyone shut up.”
The kids finally settled down, each of them excited to hear from Mitch.
He tucked his thumbs in his pockets as he took them all in under the mid-morning sun, about twenty five total. Most in jeans and t-shirts, some in skirts, a couple wearing sweaters. About half of them wore clothing that was hand-made and tailored to grow in. The ones not wearing tailor-made outfits wore a jumble of colors and materials, from khaki to denim to cotton. And he in the same old weathered shirt and jeans. Perhaps he should get a new outfit, he thought. But if he did that he would lose his seaman’s charm. Sure, he had the raspy voice and weathered, sun-burned appearance of an old sailor. But to change his outfit? He can’t have that, that would ruin his reputation.
“Say Mr. Mitch?” That was David, a fifteen year old and an avid reader. “You don’t teach. What’s up?” A chorus of “yeah”s rose from the kids, wondering why they were there in the first place.
“No I don’t teach” Mitch replied. “But this is a special story, a little bit of history you all need to know. So pipe down, all of ya’.”
Billy, a ten year old and kind of a snob for his age piped up. “Why on the grass?”
“Why not on the grass. What the heck, you act like you never sat on grass before.”
The kids began to laugh at Billy as they all sat in a sort of semi-circle around Mitch.
“Alright already, settle down” Mitch said in agitation. I’m about to tell you a story.”
“Is it a good story?” asked seventeen-year-old Jaqui from the back. She was due to go on a scavenger run as a runner. She was the fastest of her age group, but she needed to learn to run with a team. Being fast meant nothing if she out-ran everyone to the point where she found herself alone because the team went in a different direction.
“Of course it is”, Mitch retorted. “And you know it is because I’m the one telling it.”
The group laughed at that, causing fifteen-year-old Winston to speak up. “Everyone, you know that if it’s Mr. Mitch speaking we should all give him our undivided attention.” He then turned to Mitch and said, “Please sir, enlighten us with your wisdom.”
Mitch squinted at him, and said “You know, Winston, no one likes a suck up.” This set all of the kids into laughing hysterics. Winston blushed as he tried to duck his head, fully embarrassed.
“Now all of ya’, shut yer holes so I can tell my story!”
The group settled down from laughing and waited patiently for him to speak, although there were still a few chuckles running through the group. Mitch couldn’t admonish them completely. It was his fault they started laughing in the first place. And he loved to hear them laugh, like they were his own kids, although he would never admit it.
“So” he began, “I was there in the beginning, when everything went to hell…”
“Is that why your so old?” said Julian, the smart-ass of the group. This set them all to laughing again.
“If it’s chores you’re looking for I got a bunch of ‘em, just for you. Is that what you want?”
“No sir” Julian replied meekly. The kids around him poked and teased him about getting into trouble.
“Alright you brats, listen up!” The group settled down again. “As I was saying, I was there in the beginning, when everything went to hell. Day One, the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse.
“You said hell!” shouted Lacy. “Twice” said Luther.
“I know I did, now pipe down, will ya’! This story is part of our history, and you have to know it.” He gave the kids a moment to settle then continued. “I lived on the mainland with a girlfriend, what was her name?”
“You mean Miss Mallory?” piped in Jaqui.
“Nah, this was way back, before I even knew Miss Mallory. Shame I can’t remember her name. We weren’t in love, just, I don’t know, friends with benefits?”
“What’s that Mr Mitch” asked Benny, a twelve-year-old with red hair, which didn’t match his dark skin at all.
“Oh, uh, I’ll tell you when you’re older.”
Wendy, thirteen and thinks she knows it all, leaned over to Benny and whispered, “I’ll tell you later.”
“Anyway, we had an apartment. In a building much like that one.” He pointed across the hill at a four-story building. “On the mainland. But that’s not important…”
Arid Testimony 