Page 9 of Living with Death

“Well, that’s clear,” Sam says as an older man walks up to her cash stand. She turns around and rings him up.

I hear Rue’s voice when she, her mother, and her little brother come through the door.

“Mabel,” she says.

“Hey, Rue.”

“I had to go to the doctor today,” she says. “See where they pricked me. I didn’t even cry.”

“Aren’t you a brave girl?”

“Yes,” she says. “I knew they would have to use a needle, so I went ahead and told myself that I would be brave and take it.”

“That’s smart. Going ahead and preparing yourself.”

“Well, to be old and wise, you must first be little and not smart. I think I’m past that stage in my life now.”

I burst out laughing.

Leigh grins. “It’s young and stupid, but you’re close enough.”

“That’s what I said,” Rue says.

I give her a wink.

“I need some wine,” Leigh says exhaustedly.

“You know where it is,” I tell her.

She throws her hand in the air. I hear two boxes fall, and I realize I haven’t checked aisle five in a while. When I walk toward it, I see a container of icing slip from the shelf. I reach down and scoop up the boxes and icing.

“Mabel.”

I jerk my head, expecting Robbie to be there, but he’s not. I blink, looking down at the other end. A woman is reading over a box.

That wasn’t a woman’s voice.

I slowly stand and put the icing back before returning to my register. I rub my arms.

“You cold?” Sam asks me as I pull my sweater from under the register.

I nod.

She continues checking out her customer. Rue and Leigh come up to me with Mikey in the shopping cart.

“Have you had this red yet?” Leigh asks, but I’m looking toward aisle five.

“Cat got your tongue?” Rue says.

I blink, looking back at her. “Huh?” Little Mikey gives me a toothless grin.

“You all right, Mabel?” Leigh asks.

“Yeah. I just thought I heard something.” I smile back at the kid as he kicks his feet.

I look at the wine she has held up: TheWalking Dead, Blood Red.

“Haven’t had that one.”

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