Chapter 39 - World and Zombies part II

Liz was at her aunt weeding when things got wrong. The first sign was the loud moan. Then the edge surrounding the huge property started to shake. One arm got through then another. The adults started to panic. Liz, in her pink dress started to run toward her mom when she got knocked down and almost trampled by her panicked relatives. A knee to the head made her lose any sense of self, time and space. She felt like she was floating toward the dark sky.

When she came to, she saw that she was on the roof of the house. Around here were the other children. Someone screamed to throw the ladder down and that whatever happened, they must not look down. Liz was near the edge of the roof and she had a first class view of what happened next. About 30 Zombies surrounded the partygoers. Her mom and dad were trying to fight them with kitchen knives and other tools but to no avails. After maybe 2 hours, the ranks of the monsters had swell to double their numbers. Liz had seen her dad brought down and eaten alive while her mother had tried her best to save him only to get caught by her long brown hair, preventing her from getting her throat away from the hungry teeth ripping it open. A fountain of blood had surged from the wound and while she lay there, on her back, dying, her eyes had found those of her daughter and she had managed a smile before dying. Now, the Zombies were moving around the house, aware that somewhere on the roof, fresh food waited for them.

At 9, Elizabeth or Liz as she preferred to be called was the second oldest of the children stranded on the roof. Alexander, a cousin was 13 and had taken charge of their survival. First, he had moved everyone away from the edge to prevent accidental falling. Then, using a rope made of their cloth, he had gone in the house to get supply. Thankfully, the monsters hadn’t made it in at that time. Moving as fast as he could, he had gathered food and more importantly, rigged a hose to the top most faucet so they would have water for a while. At least, until help came. Then, he had had to beat a hasty retreat before the Z’s got to him. He had made it in the nick of time, monsters fast on his trail.

The children had food for about 5 days and water was not an issue. What became fast apparent was that the toddler did not understand the situation. They tried to go down and had to be kept under constant surveillance. They did not have dippers or milk for the youngest and hygiene was becoming an issue. They set a specific spot for their needs, a spot with a natural downward slope to evacuate their feces. After 3 days, the sun had burned most of them. Water was not the issue but if no one came to their help, they were going to die! Liz felt a lot better. Her concussion had healed and she thought that she could make it inside to at least get some curtains to shield them from the heat. Then, as she was discussing her idea with Alexander, one of the youngest screamed with joy: “Momy!!!!”

Turning toward the sound, Liz saw with horror that the monsters had put the ladder up and had come for them. Her own mother came up the stairs and walked toward her, her smile still on her stiff lips. Then as she opened her mouth to bite her, Liz creamed and woke-up.

Her parents were in her room and were trying to comfort the little girl.

- This story is one of the many we have to deal with since the fact that zombies exist has become public. Children who are too young to defend themselves are prone to severe depression. Some of them can’t even set foot outside their home due to the humongous fear the feel. Explained the Psychiatrist Helena Sparni, expert in children behavior. We have to educate them and give them tools to make this sentiment that they are helpless go away. Moreover, the pictures and disturbing images of Zombies attacking people playing on the net and in the news should be preceded of a warning of at least five second to give parents time to change the channel if they believe that their children should not be exposed to the horror of this plague. I do not advocate for hiding our children from the danger, but to prepare them according to their mental development. For example, some preschool have started to teach this song.

 Sung to Twinkle Twinkle little Star 

Zombie Zombie on the street keep your dirty mouth from me
At the school, or in my yard, when I see you home I run 
Zombie Zombie stay away, I don’t want to see you near

Zombie Zombie at the door, stay there while I run up stairs 
While I dial 9-1-1, Mommy, Daddy or Nanny 
They will do their very best, to keep you out from our nest.

Zombie Zombie In my house, you don’t have to come up stairs 
Frighten, scared or just plain bored, not a sound should I speak 
Zombie Zombie in my house, that way you will go away.

- It is a start that prepare them for what may come. And let’s all pray, whatever god you believe in that it will not come to pass…