Briggs’ voice entered the cafeteria before he did. “We have a man in,” he said. His boots squeaked as he skidded to a stop. “I’m sorry, you’re eating.”
Mick waved him to the table. “Join us. There’s plenty, grab a plate. Food’s on that counter.”
“I think I will.” Briggs took a look at the plates and walked to the counter to retrieve a meal. “Bacon and eggs. Nice. We had beef in a can you know.”
Chris lifted his hand. “That’s what I was telling him, Jonah Briggs. But he insisted on cooking a Mick meal. It’s good though, don’t worry, Mick can cook some eggs.”
Briggs joined them at the table. “It smells great. Thank you.”
“You were saying something?” Mick said. “About a man in?”
“Ah, yes,” Briggs said. “I spoke to Tom.” He looked at Chris. “You need to call your pap before you go to bed. He was saying that.”
Chris gave a thumbs up as he ate.
“Anyhow,” Briggs continued, “thought you’d want to hear the update. Tom’s a bit frazzled, seems he took in a teenager named Joey and a baby that you found.”
Mick sat back with a relief filled expression. “Ah, yes, Baby Doe. He must be doing well. Joey has to be the teenager that worked with him.”
“Don’t know,” Briggs said. “He couldn’t talk long, but long enough to say, ‘We have a man in there’. The ‘Rebels’, as I like to call them, wanted to barter for your mom. Seems she was in a motorcycle accident and was hurt, but will be okay, from what Tom said, because Lars is there.”
Mick dropped his fork. “My mother was in an accident?”
Briggs nodded. “I’m sorry. But this Lars is inside the rebel camp with her.”
“Lars is a famous doctor,” Chris said. “He’s the reason most of us in Lodi beat the flu. You know Rose will be fine if he’s there.”
“I’m sure…” Mick faltered, “ I’m sure he will take care of her.” He looked at Briggs. “Lars Rayburn was the trade?”
“Yes. Tom said he’ll get us the information we need about that camp. He may code it, but he’ll get it to us.”
“They aren’t gonna let him contact us.”
“He already checked in to say he was with your mom, so that’s hopeful.”
“That is very hopeful,” Mick agreed. “Knowing that Lars is there makes me feel better until we can get in there. But Lars… why was he the trade?”
Chris answered that. “He’s the big celebrity, Mick. You know that. Everyone wants Lars. Maybe they have a sickness that no one can cure but him.”
Out of the mouths of babes, Mick thought. To Briggs he said, “Or something else.”
“Exactly,” Briggs said.
“What?” Chris asked. “Why are you guys looking at each other like that?”
“Sizing each other up,” Tigger said knowingly.
Briggs laughed. “That kid cracks me up. The vocabulary he has.”
“Wait until he swears,” Chris said. “You won’t be laughing then.”
Mick looked at Tigger. “And we’re not sizing each other up. Christ. You boys…”
“I think you two should,” Chris said. “Really, think about it. It would boost morale, having wrestling come back.”
“Chris,” Briggs said, “I don’t really think people are that concerned about it like you are.”
“Not yet, but tease them with the idea,” Chris said. “They’ll be rallying.”
“Well they aren’t rallying around us, Chris,” Mick said. “We’re not young men. We aren’t trained. We’ll both have a heart attack if we attempt to wrestle.”
“Aw,” Chris whined. “Fine. I was looking forward to it too.”
“They could arm wrestle without a heart attack,” Tigger suggested. “Can’t they?”
Chris’ eyes grew wide. “Yeah! Can you?”
“Chris, no,” Mick replied.
“Why? You scared, Mick? It’s okay if you’re scared of Jonah Briggs.”
“I’m not scared, Chris.”
“I won’t ask you again, if you’re scared.”
“Chris,” Mick snapped, “I’m not scared. God.”
“Then you’ll do it?” Chris asked excitedly. “Oh, come on Mick, please? For me. I need this. I’ll commentate, Tigger will cheer. Please. Do this. Please!”
Briggs looked across the table to Mick, then to Chris. “If we do this, Chris, will you stop bringing it up?”
“Yeah,” Chris tilted his head. “Maybe. Yes. Yes. I will.”
“Mick?” Briggs asked.
Mick huffed. “Fine. Fine.”
“Yes!” Chris jumped to his feet. “You two know the rules.” He watched Mick lift his arm. “And Mick, it’s okay if you lose, I won’t think less of you.”
“Chris, what the hell?” Mick snapped.
“Just saying…” Chris looked at Briggs. “And Jonah Briggs, if you lose we won’t think any less of you either. All in fun. Okay?”
Briggs nodded. “I got it.”
“Arms on the table.” Chris instructed. “Join hands.”
Mick and Briggs positioned themselves for a round of arm wrestling.
Chris stood between them. “Ready to cheer, Tig?”
“Ready!”
Chris placed his hand over the joined hands of Mick and Briggs. “On three. I’ll count, raise up my hand and you two go.”
“We got it, do this,” Mick instructed.
Chris genuinely smiled. “One… two… three!” He lifted his hand and let the big men battle.
Journal Entry 10
I had my first day of school yesterday, it was pretty cool. I didn’t think I’d be so anxious to raise my hand to answer a question. There were only six of us big kids. Jake wasn’t there, but they keep telling me he’s fine. He looks fine. They let me see him through a window.
Gonna go to school again today. Take Tigger, get Emmie, and wait for my turn. It’ll help keep my mind off of things. Mick is leaving to go to Maryland to shut down a lab that has this really deadly virus. I’m nervous for him, but I know he can do it.
He won’t be around for a couple days cause I know after he gets back he is gonna want to storm the rebel camp and get back his mom.
He better. I love Rose. She is the best. It makes me sad to think that she is hurt. But at least Lars is there and Mick will get them both.
Jonah Briggs is trying to come up with an attack plan on the camp. He said not to worry, they’ll get Rose and Lars out safely. I believe him.
I’m gonna go and say goodbye to Mick. I want to give him my lucky two headed coin, but I don’t want him taking it to where there are deadly germs. What if a germ gets on my coin? I’ll wait and give it to him when he goes and gets Rose.
I got Mick and Jonah Briggs to wrestle. Well, sort of. They arm wrestled last night. It was really cool and took a long time. Tigger was cheering, I was cheering and they both broke a sweat. Man, were they going at it,
But I promised I would never say who won. That no one would know.
And I won’t. Not even here.
17. Leg of the Journey
October 18th
Damon, NY
Mick’s arms held tight to both Chris and Tigger. He didn’t want to let go, but at least this time before he left, he was more than positive that they were safe. He kissed them both and stood. “Okay, go to school. I’ll be back before you go to sleep.”
“Be careful out there, Mick,” Chris said. “It’s bad.”
“I think me and Doc will be fine. Besides, I get to blow something up and you know how cool that is.”
Chris smiled. “You’re the best, Mick. I am so glad you’re the one going to do this. You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the only one I trust to do this right. Now, get going and don’t waste time, you have to get your mom.”