2020-11 -21 Rabbit Hunting

 2020-11 -21  Rabbit Hunting

On Saturday morning Shea Walsh walked towards the door of Carpenter’s Hardware store with Gene and Lyra. He was going to get them some rabbit trap gear and then take them to the North woods with Lyra’s little pal Ruth Samuels and try not to hover as they did their thing. He loved that Lyra and Gene were such fast friends and wanted to encourage it. Sparrow was working at the Breakfast Nook until the early afternoon. As they walked in, the door chime tinkled.

Miranda was on her second training shift at Carpenter’s Hardware. She’d worked a sleepy Thursday night shift and now she was being thrown into what she was told would be a busy day, Saturday. The uniform for workers was a light brown apron with a name tag pinned on it over a light blue shirt with the Carpenter’s Logo, a saw with the store name inside the blade on the front and back. She was in uniform with a pair of grey jeans on and wearing a pair of black and white high top sneakers. Her purple hair was in low pigtails. She was pricing at a display by the front when the door chime alerted her to customers and she turned with a polite smile “Good morning.” She froze for a minute realizing it was the Walsh family and Gene Sinclair was with them. Gene from her class, who had yelled at her on the terrible poster day. Gene with the gorgeous silky looking black hair she caught herself looking at more than she cared to admit. Gene who made her feel something intensely she had labeled as a strong dislike. Miranda blinked and focussed on Shea Walsh who she’d met in passing when he did a rewiring job in a lighting fixture for her father as they first moved to Alexandra. And she could tell that the younger girl was her classmate Sparrow’s little sister and his daughter. So was Gene somehow related to the Walsh family too? She didn’t know the dynamic. He didn’t resemble them other than the fact that they were all Indigenous. But Miranda wasn’t so ignorant as to assume. Gene was taller than Shea. As a tall girl, Miranda had always felt drawn to tall boys. Too bad she disliked this one. I mean how else could she explain that intensity right? “Can  I help you find anything today?” Miranda directed at Shea.

“Rabbit traps...snares….I dunno whatever you got.” Shea requested. He looked at her name tag and read it. She looked about his Sparrow’s age but she was a newer face to him and there were a few of those this year. He wasn’t about to put Gene on the spot and ask if they were in the same class but he was pretty sure Sparrow had said the name Miranda when she was teasing Gene about potential girls. He had more sense than to go there.

Miranda looked at the aisles. It was a small store but she was still learning it and this request was a new one “Uh….” She looked around for Winona, Otis or Gary but no one was in range. “Sorry I’m new…..but….logically maybe with the other fishing, camping and hunting stuff….” She kind of talked to herself mostly as she worked it out out loud and walked, leading them to the last aisle as she scanned it trying to find rabbit traps. She’d never trapped a rabbit herself or even seen a rabbit trap but right there by some mouse traps was a selection of some larger options “Like these?” Miranda picked up the first one and read the back of the package “Well what do you know…..rabbit trap.” She offered it to Shea and then gave a little smile at his daughter and awkwardly glanced at Gene and then looked quickly back to Shea.

Shea took the trap and nodded “Yep...that’ll do er….Thank you Miranda.” He reached down and grabbed two more. “Gene, pick out a fishing rod while we’re here if you like?” They hadn’t gotten him one yet.

Miranda began to politely back out of the ongoing conversation as they had more to shop for and headed back to pricing “Let me know if you need anything else.” She was used to people calling her by name because of the name tag.

Gene walked into the hardware store without knowing that he would be facing Miranda.  Had it not been for every single encounter that they had ever had, he would have noticed that no matter what, she looked beautiful.  But he had been burned by whites before, especially white women and Miranda in particular rubbed him in all the wrong ways.  Except for her hair …  even purple, it looked incredible.  But he forced himself to remember that, aside from Spencer, he disliked her more than anyone he’d met at school yet.  So he ignored her, even as he tried not to look like he was looking at her hair.  They got the traps and then he was offered a fishing pole.  That shocked him out every thought in his head and he brightened.  “Really?”  he sounded shocked at the offer and he was.  “I mean, if it’s OK ….”  and he eagerly headed for them.

Lyra remembered the name Miranda as the one Sparrow told her had been mean to Gene, which was unacceptable to her.  However, more insulting was  the shopping trip to buy traps.  Exasperated she complained.  “Dad, the wild man in the woods will already know how to build traps.  We don’t have to get them from…”  she tried to give Miranda a snooty glare, like she had done to Gene she imagined.  “Here.”  and then talk turned to fishing poles and she huffed again.  “We’re wasting money on things we can make in the wild!  Ugh …”  she was also eager to go and get Ruth.  Maybe they would believe her more, since she wasn’t family.

Shea was encouragingly gesturing at fishing rods and possibly humouring his youngest. He had no idea if there even was a wild man in the woods. “Let’s just get some supplies Stargirl...so we don’t make him feel like we’re coming to him with an agenda or taking advantage. And if he has stuff then we’ll save these for later. They're not expensive.” He had seen her give an unfriendly look to Miranda and it confused him. But his girl was in a mood about the traps. He figured the faster they got them purchased the less she’d fight him. He walked up to the till and knew Gene would follow with a fishing pole of his choosing. There wasn’t a line up so he could loiter a bit.

Miranda saw Shea head to the till and walked over to step behind it trying to scan one of the rabbit traps and nothing came up for it. Miranda frowned at the screen “Hmmm….ok…” She looked around again for someone to ask. Gary had just walked to the key cutting station and was now taking keys from Tina Wong and in a conversation about them. Winona was down the first aisle now counting out nails as she put them into a paper bag for Mrs. Norris who kept complaining and making her lose count. Best not to mess with that situation. Miranda held up a finger and went back to the last aisle where Gene was still standing for a moment longer and she crouched down and looked at the price “Pardon me…” She wasn’t really in his way but she felt like she was somehow intruding. Why was she so bloody self conscious around this guy she really didn’t like? 12.99 was all she needed to keep in her head as she quickly jumped to her feet and fast walked back to the till. She rang the traps in as an open item and then looked at Shea “And the fishing pole…” She looked for Gene briefly and waited. The little girl hadn’t smiled back at her and she could have sworn she caught a glare. It took her a bit off guard to be glared at by a random little girl she didn’t know but she just kept her focus on Shea who was of all three…..neutral and the one with his bank card ready to pay so really her priority customer service wise.

Lyra huffed a little about needing a store bought fishing pole, yet when she saw them she decided that Gene needed the best one.  “You should get this one.”  she nodded and pointed one out.

Gene had grunted when Miranda said ‘pardon me’ but then went back to the poles with Lyra.  She pointed one out to him and he looked at the pole and his eyes widened.  “Telescopic?”  he knelt and looked at the price tag.  “Heavens to Mergatroid!”  She had managed to pick out the most expensive pole.  He looked at her, lovingly.  “That’s very sweet, but I think the telescope would confuse the fish … and me, to be honest.”  he chuckled.  “Maybe something simple.  Light but strong?  Like you.”  he grinned at her and picked out another pole.  This one wasn’t the cheapest but it was far from the most expensive.  About lower mid-range.

Lyra squealed in delight at the Snagglepuss exclamation.  Then she agreed with his assessment and they began to walk up to the front.  “I just wanted you to have the best, Snagglepus.”  she argued when they got to the checkout.  “You’re the best foster brothers of all foster brothers and anyone who doesn’t know that is an idiot.”  she didn’t look at Miranda, but her words might give a hint to everyone around that Sparrow had told her what had been going on at school.

Gene grinned.  “Thanks, Lyra.” and then she went on and he sighed softly.  He hadn’t told Lyra anything about Miranda .. he certainly had not mentioned her name.  Biting his lip he didn’t know what to say, exactly.  “Well, you live with me, so you know me better than anyone, so .. that might make it .. different?”  he offered, and suddenly wanted out of the store really bad.

Shea looked casually at Gene and Lyra as they walked up together so happily. Then all of a sudden Lyra was singing his praises and Shea has to laugh “Geez man, you didn’t even catch her a rabbit yet. Way to go.” He was teasing but he was touched. Then he took the fishing pole from Gene and handed it to Miranda “That’s a good one. Alright now we’re done…”

Miranda had noticed the grunt and then the chummy walk up followed by the young girl calling Gene Snagglepus? Like the cartoon? She was briefly amused by the idea and then the girl went on about how Gene was the best foster brother and how anyone who didn’t know that was an idiot. Did this kid somehow know she didn’t like Gene very much? Odd thing to say but the context evaded her. But now she understood the family dynamic. Gene was being fostered by Shea Walsh. Momentarily interesting...but then she remembered she didn’t like Gene and it shouldn’t interest her. She straightened up and scanned the fishing pole which thank goodness just worked this time. Miranda told Shea the total “That’ll be $83.25.” She kept it all business and only looked at him as he tapped his card. “Thanks so much….uh happy hunting? And fishing?” She realized it was Gene’s fishing rod when she said the second part and felt her cheeks go pink and then cleared her throat “Have a good day.” She said politely but briefly and then tried to step away from the till, only to be kept there by Mrs. Norris lining up. Miranda stepped reluctantly back to the till.

Mrs. Norris looked suspiciously at the young man with Shea “Hmmm…..” she really stared for a minute.

Shea took the traps and handed Gene the fishing rod and then saw Mrs. Norris standing behind them and gave her a big old grin. He knew she was a racist old cow but his approach was to get just enough in her face that she didn’t know what to do with him “Ursula...you’re looking...healthy. We’re off to catch us a rabbit.” Also as he was the only electrician in town he knew people had to be somewhat nice to him even if they didn’t feel it.

“A rabbit?” She croaked at him “I see….” She grumbled something inaudible and then stepped around Shea to the counter and looked at Miranda “Now I want you to count these again young lady. There should be exactly 37….why do you kids stick all that metal in your face and ears?”

Miranda took the bag and carefully dumped it out, looking like she had to work a lot harder to be polite to this customer.

Gene winced at the total and made himself nod at Miranda's wishes for a good day. He looked at the old woman, but couldn’t catch any of her words, really.

Lyra was out the door the moment she saw money about to change hands.  She started for Ruth’s house, because she was dying to meet the wildman and learn how to make rabbit traps.

Shea was behind Lyra and had held the door for Gene behind him. They left to the sound of nails being counted back into the bag and Mrs. Norris nattering at Miranda “What is your natural hair colour anyways…..oh did you lose count? I swear the young have no work ethic….” Shea snorted “God the poor kid.” Meaning Miranda of course as he picked up the pace “Lyra...wait up...I’m old you know….” But they caught up easily enough.

Ruth Samuels was pacing at her front window waiting for her friend Lyra to come collect her with her father and her new foster brother to go find Jude and catch rabbits. She had of course told her father and Levi about the posters so they knew about the injustice in the school and they had told her that Natalie had been informed and it would be ok. But she wanted to see the justice happen. Sometimes life didn’t work out that way. Ruth was dressed for the weather in a hoodie and jeans and runners, which she was rebelliously wearing in the house because she was ready to leave the house.And she had a backpack on with a raincoat,a  first aid kit and even a toothbrush in case they needed to sleep in the woods. You just never knew. How long would it take to catch a  rabbit? Would they cook one over fire with her spy friend Jude? Now she looked out and saw Lyra coming up the street ahead of two men and called back to her father “They’re here...see you later!” She made a mental note to put how do you feel about rabbit stew on her list of interrogation questions for Ms. Fisher. Ruth was of the mind that some animals could be more than one thing...pets or food. Cats and dogs were in their own category and not to be eaten. Ruth ran to Lyra and waved madly at her.

Lyra ran and met Ruth halfway.  She jumped up and down in excitement as she informed on her father.  “Dad BOUGHT traps for the rabbits.”  She rolled her eyes.  “Let’s see if we can find your friend so he can show them how it’s REALLY done.”  she insisted.

Joseph Samuels appeared at the door wearing his beloved Oy Vey apron over a tshirt and jeans.  He didn't try and stop his daughter but waved.  “Hello, Mr Walsh and Gene!  Good to meet you both. I won’t keep you because the girls will be in Florida catching alligators if you give them half a chance!”  he called after his daughter.  “Tell Jude I said hello.”

Gene watched the girls and waved at the old man at the door.  He knew that was the head honcho of the Samuels and Sons law firm, but the man didn’t look remotely like a lawyer now.  He laughs at the alligator comment and then looked curious about telling someone named Jude hello.

Ruth looked surprised by the purchase of traps but then shrugged “OK...he might make us hollow out a log and whittle and spin our own string but we’ll see what happens. Her view of Jude in his absence had become greatly exaggerated. He was like a folk hero now and that was how she talked him up to Lyra; the wild man of the woods. “Ok Daddy…” She called back almost absently. “Honestly Lyra, what does he think we’d even DO with an alligator? I guess some people eat them….”

Shea laughed heartily at the alligator comment. His Lyra had definitely found a kindred spirit in her pal Ruth. “Hi Mr. Samuels!” He waved back. Since he was addressed formally he returned it in kind. Funny apron the guy had on. Jude. The wild man. Jude. Shea was clearly working something through in his mind as they walked “Hey uh Ruth? Your wild man pal wouldn’t be Jude Murphy would he? That’s the only Jude I know of around here….”

Ruth tossed a thoughtful look back “Jude Murphy. Yes that’s him. That is his surname. He lives in the woods…” They were well on the access road by the time she said the last part.

Lyra didn’t recognise the name Jude Murphy.  Part of it had been her grief, but he just did not remember anyone by that name.  She ran with Ruth onto the access road and straight into the woods.  She felt a thrill of fear and hoped Ruth remembered where this wind man lived, because getting lost was not in her plans for the days.

Gene didn’t knwo the name, but hed only been around for a little bit of time so he just followed the girns as they ran headlong into the woods.

Ruth ran and ran with Lyra, eager to meet Jude. The first time she’d found him by accident but she’d since learned the way. So she led them towards where Jude lived and the other man Nick who really didn’t like strangers. She was there for Jude and she finally crept through towards his hut. She could see it and she called out “Jude?”

Shea was more curious than ever now as he understood who it was. The man had always been an oddity, even during the fog. “Maybe we shoulda called ahead?” He wondered out lout, hoping just walking on in wasn’t going to offend the guy or catch him in the bathtub. Though it didn’t look like the sort of place for a bathtub.

Jude had been going through his winter stores.  Even though they were back from the fog, he had decided that he liked that way of living much more than he’d thought.  He’d already picked and preserved the blackberry  bushes on his property and was now setting out racks for the skinning and drying of rabbit coats and meats.  He stood up and turned around when he heard his name called in a child's voice.  These days that meant Ruth Samuels had come to visit him.  He had to admit he didn’t mind the visitor, although Nick was a bit more annoyed, or at least seemed to be.  But Nick was getting his own racks ready, so that wouldn’t be a problem.  Scanning the trees, he could see her and, more importantly, that she was not alone, as she usually was.  There was another little girl and two men with her.  “Hello, Ruth.”  he strode towards his fire pit.  “I see you brought me some company…”  he looks at them and doesn’t recognise the younger man, who is more a teenager.  But he knows Shea.  “Hello,  Shea.”  he doesn’t offer to shake hands but does look at the little girl, who seems to be Shea’s daughter.  He had not know this family very well, but he knew well who had died in the fog.  He was dressed in dirty rugged jeans, a tshirt and a well worn flannel shirt with a pair of hiking boots on his feet.

Lyra ran with Ruth and saw the cabin in the woods.  Just like out of the movies.  As they came into the clearing a gigantic man with wild black hair and stormy grey eyes approached and called Ruth by name.  She stopped and absolutely beamed at the man.  Ruth had been telling the truth.  Of course she had.

Gene had to walk fast but he kept up with the girls and, when he saw a gigantic man who was easily 6 and a half foot tall, he stopped a bit short. Even when Shea spoke to him.  With his curly hair, this white man did look wild … and like a skinny fit Saschquach.

Shea lagged a bit behind but often that was on purpose with his kids to give them room to explore their world and even the less than common friends of their friends. He knew of Jude more than he knew him personally but what he did know was how much Jude had helped teach everyone how to survive in the fog. Now here he was, still living it it seemed. He gave a little smile Gene’s way and then looked up at Jude because there was no other way “Jude Murphy. Quite the place you got out here.” He head jutted at Gene “This is Gene Sinclair. He lives with us now, as part of our family,” Gene didn’t often say the word foster as that implied a division and he wanted Gene to feel included in all ways, part of them as much as he could.

Ruth beamed at Jude “Hi Jude. This is Lyra too…...we’re here to ask you about how to catch or hunt rabbits. Mr. Walsh has traps but you might have your own...or maybe you can teach us how to make them? How are you? Is Nick here today? He was very grumpy last time….I think I asked too many questions…”

Jude nodded at Shea but then Ruth started going like pre teen girls tended to, if he remembered his visits home when Fiona was one.  He looked at Shea with a grin.  “Thanks.  It’s my home .. got me through the fog and the years before that.”  he nodded at the teen.  “Welcome to Alexandra, Gene Sinclair.”  he then turned his attention to Ruth.  “Well, Nick is a grumpy old man and no he isn’t here.”  he looked between Shea and Gene.  “He’s working through some things so if you’d not mention even hearing his name … I’d appreciate it .. and so would he.”  he explains, but then looks back at Ruth.  “Well it’s the season for rabbit hunting.”  he motioned behind himself at his racks.  “That’s what I’ve been preparing to do.  And the rabbits are thick.  You can almost leave a pot open and one will hop right in.”  

Lyra is fascinated that her father knows the Wildman and the Wildman knows him.  “We bought traps but … can you teach us to make them?”  she looks back at her father.  “We really should know how, but we don’t.”

Gene looks amused at the fast talking Ruth and he nods at Jude when he asks him to keep his knowledge of this Nick to himself.  He actually does laugh at Lyra.  “It’s a lost art … but it would be cool to learn it again, cause she's kinda right .. we should know how.”

Jude shrugs.  “I can teach you.”  he looks at Shea curiously.  He is an electrician and so was on the list of people who were taken care of automatically because of his value to the community, so it made some sense that the Indiginous man had not gotten into hunting and trapping.  “It’s a lost art.  I have a hand drill to help for mine and i have ot make a few anyway, so if you’d like to learn…”  he motions to the logs around is fire pit.  “I’ll get the materials and we can get started.”  He was not a social butterfly, but he was an expert at looking like he could be social.

Ruth picks up on the request not to mention Nick’s name and nods solemnly. She could keep secrets well. “I will not speak of him again. And I know what it’s like to...work through things...but I know grown up things are bigger.” she looks at Shea, Gene and Lyra and then sits down on a log ready to learn. “I would love to make a rabbit trap...snare? What’s the right word Jude?”

Shea looks self conscious at his lack of knowledge of hunting and trapping “I’ve fished but in many ways we’re still coming back to the land. I’d love to learn more about trapping.” He’s not sure he knows Jude well enough to immediately reveal his disconnect from parts of his own culture. Lyra knows. Gene would likely understand. He’s not so sure about Ruth.

Lyra considers their family.  “You’re never too old to learn, Daddy.”  She tells her father and sits near Ruth to learn as well.

Gene sighs and nods.  He wants to learn and part of him feels a flare of anger that he was never taught.  “Who taught you the ways, Mr Murphy?”  he wonders using as respectful a tone as he could.

Jude looks around at them.  “I don’t think the terminology matters so much Ruth.”  he tells them, sitting on one of the stump chairs.  “And Lyra is right .. never too old, eh?”  he smirks a bit cheekily under his mustache and long beaded beard.  “Don’t think too little of me to know I learned from the military, which means a combination of Indiginous practices and good old fashioned wilderness and doomsday preparation.  I’m no Indiginous.”  he admits.  “I am just Black Irish in a Canadian military.”  The few rumors about him were more true than not, but he had cultivated his wildman reputation very carefully even before the fog.  “But a snare is a snare if it snares.”  he tells them, as he shows them a couple of ways to make the trap.  “To answer your question, Ruth … I’d say a trap is more something you’d use if you wanted the rabbit alive.  Like to keep as a pet.  But there have been so many rabbits on the island this year they are completely out of control … so we don’t need a license this year.  I might get a coat out of it.”  and giving his size … that’s a lot of rabbits.

Ruth takes some supplies and tries to copy what she sees Jude doing and explaining. She’s a quick study and has mostly got it. She loves to hear Jude talk about his life regardless. “Black Irish because of black hair? I’ve never heard that before.” She replies about the rabbits “I was thinking of rabbits for pets awhile ago but I think I might have convinced my Dad to let us get a cat…...a natural hunter of rabbits.” She smiles “If you make a coat I want to see that.” She looks at Jude from his shoulders to his hips trying to do the math on rabbits.

Shea settles in and listens as he follows along and makes a snare of his own. He’s curious about Ruth's Black Irish question as well as he knew nothing about that. “You know I used to think the doomsayers were all a bunch of nutballs until the fog...and now Covid…” He chuckles. “Some of them are probably still nutballs but I’m sure they’re ready for the winter.”

Trap making was always a good time to tell stories, so Jude looked at Ruth when she asked about the whole term Black Irish.  “Well, mostly the term comes from Irish people who have black hair and black eyes, but my eyes are grey.”  he shrugs.  “Made my father very angry, which made my mother very angry.”  he rolled his eyes.  “But that is the term and one of its definitions, anyway.”  he chuckles at the mention of a cat.  “Yes, you shouldn’t have a cat AND a rabbit, because the cat will try to kill the rabbit sure as anything.  And maybe I will aim for a full length rabbit coat.”  he chuckles.  “But I couldn’t wear it when I go into town.  Some of those folks love the animals a little too much for my tastes … no pun intended.”  he turns his attention to Shea.  “The information comes in handy in a pinch, but not many people wind up in that kind of a pinch.  I learned it because sometimes my job put me off the grid pretty far, so I had to live off of the land if I wanted to get back to HQ.”  he chuckles.  “And Covid isn’t curing the nutjobs, believe me.  It just reinforces their insanity.”

Lyra listened with fascination to all of the talk.  She wasn’t entirely sure, but it sounded like Jude was saying that his father wasn’t his father or something.  Before she could think too much on it he moved on to fur coats, survival, nutjobs and Covid.  But it was still a very good time.”

Gene nodded as he worked on the snare and listener to the talk.  He got the idea that Jude’s mother had an affair and his black hair and grey eyes betrayed that to his father, which caused problems with both of his parents.  It was interesting to see an adult that may have been abused.  He was always interested in hearing about the fog and was glad to be learning survival techniques.  Soon they had several traps and he looked at his.  “How long does this take.  Sparrow … she was thinking of making rabbit stew this weekend…”

Jude lifted his brows.  “Well you set the traps and then come back.  There are so many that you’ll probably catch one today, but if you’re in a hurry you can always just shoot it.  Something low caliber .. or a pellet gun or slingshot.  But a slingshot takes more talent than just a snare.  If we don’t catch your supper by the time the sun starts setting we can shoot one from a distance, if you think you could do that.

Gene looks mildly interested.  “I’d rather use a snare, but I think I could shoot a rabbit for food.”

Shea listens to Jude and catches the drift of what he’s saying about his parents anger. “Genetics can be a curious thing.” Is all he offers on the topic “So what kinda military work did you do that was so remote? My….well my adopted grandfathers were both in the army….World War II and all that so it was a big deal in our house. Bit disjointed for me but I respect those who make the choice to serve.” He looks curiously between Gene and Jude as they discuss shooting a rabbit if the snare plan is slow. “We don’t have a gun or a slingshot….are you offering those options if that’s an issue?” He chuckles.

Ruth listens carefully and digests what Jude is saying but doesn’t know quite what to make of it. She knew her mother had cheated on her father and she thought that’s what she was hearing from Jude. But it was vague. And was he then not his father’s son? At least she and her brother were both born of their parents….but her father also was never an angry man. Her mother, as it turned out, was, in various ways. She watched Jude talk with Shea and Gene with that intense stare of hers, trying to figure it all out. Lyra was quiet too and Ruth turned her gaze on her and her snare for a moment and then looked down to her own. Her dad was adopted. She didn’t know that part. Not that being adopted was a bad thing if people couldn’t have kids the biological way. She wasn’t sure she could shoot anything but she admired Gene for his willingness to take it on.

Lyra listens and bites her lip, trying hard not to be angry at the people who adopted her father.  They were why they were so lost from their history.  But her father was working to change that, so that was a good thing.  She wondered if she could shoot a rabbit.  She wasn’t sure if she could and she wondered what the difference really was … the rabbit would be dead regardless, right?

Jude considers his answer to Shea.  “I was CSIS.” he explains.  He looks at the younger people who might not know the acronym.  “Canadian Security Intelligence Service.”  he shrugs.  “Part of that is why I now live out here, away from people.”  he then grins.  “I have the equipment if it comes to that.”  he told them.  “Adum knows .. and so does Josh.  It’s far from an arsenal, but it’s all legal.”

Gene listens and he looks a little shocked to find out that Jude was CSIS.  “A spy…”  he breathes.  It isn’t so much in awe, but he knew that had to be a dangerous job and Just had scars on his face that he imagined came from his work in Intelligence.  But he doesn’t really talk about that, saying simply.  “If it comes to it I’ll shoot the rabbit.”  he’s pretty sure that he can.  Thinking back to his days in prison and even before, he wasn’t sure he would be able to shoot another human being … but he’d never really been in a position to do so.

Shea looks at Jude with a slow nod “Not the answer I expected but definitely interesting work then. Shit…” He laughs a bit. “So if Alexandra HAS to go off the grid, like not a fog….well maybe another fog or so many pandemics that we…” He’s not sure where he’s going with it and he doesn’t want to scare the girls “You’ll be watching for big brother?” He nods at Gene about his declaration that he can shoot a rabbit. Maybe it would be a way to cathartically connect to the energy of the life cycle “We’re part of the food chain right?” He shrugs. “Not for food but in my work...which is completely mundane compared to what you just told us Jude...I’ve uh had to kill a few vermin. Mice, rats, voles….they get into the wiring and chew.”

Ruth knew about Jude’s work as a spy but she loved to hear it again. The wild man of the woods had many layers and she looks at Lyra with an expression of see it’s all true. She gives Gene a little smile and then nods at Shea “I’m not a vegetarian or anything so rabbit coats and rabbit stew don’t freak me out. I don’t know if I could kill anything, even to eat it. Does that make me a hypocrite?”

Lyra listens and nods about the whole fog and living through it, even though it is still sad for her because of losing her mother.  She looks at Ruth.  "I'm not sure I could, either.  But . maybe we are but still."

Jude smiles at Shea after he mentions Big Brother.  "Well, in many ways I AM Big Brother .. or I WAS.  But Alexandra has proven that we can go off the grid ... on purpose even .. and still be fine."  he nods.  "Yes, we are part of the food chain.  Yes, we can survive without meat, but if we don't HAVE to we won't.  A lot of people went straight back to beef after we came out of it."  he's gotten the idea that this Gene knew about the fog, which was fine by him.  He nods.  "The vermin can be a problem.  Ironically ... they're all edible to humans .. we just have to get past the ick factor."  he's had to eat those in the past .. in the dark past.  He looks at the girls.  "It doesn't make you a hypocrite.  Some people can and some can't.  Those of us who can will help those of you who can't."

Gene listens and nods.  Jude was kind of like Big Brother.  But also he was right about taking care of those who can't shoot meat but want to eat it.  "I'd do it to feed my family."  he looks, almost shyly at Shea and Lyra.  They had become like family to him so fast, but it felt so right.

Shea found the whole conversation very interesting. The girls were both very mature for their age with big questions and ideas. He nodded along with Jude about the big brother thing and then even about eating small animals “Well lots of trappers eat whatever they catch right? I get that.” He heard Gene refer to he and Lyra as family and since Sparrow had requested the rabbit he knew he meant her too. And he saw the look and grinned back at Gene. He had hoped it would go this way. Gene was a natural fit for their family too so it was mutual. He looked over the snares that had been made “So…..do we tempt them with something they wanna eat? Like bait?” He’s thinking they may be ready to set up but will defer to anything that still needs to happen.

Ruth looks at her snare too “Carrots? Berries? How do we tempt the rabbits?” She thinks about what Jude said “Could I eat a rat…...don’t some of them carry diseases? Mind you….mad cow disease? Hoof and mouth? What else….I think it’s pigs with e-coli right? And I’m Jewish so we don’t eat those…..”

Lyra beans at the idea of being called family by Gene.  She looks at Ruth.  “Carrots make sense.  Berries too, probably.  And I suppose the whole disease thing would depend on what can be transmitted to humans?”  she asks, deferring to Jude.

Jude nods.  “When it’s a matter of life and death, you wind up not being too picky.”  he tells Shea.  Looking at the girls, he nods.  “Vegetables and fruits.”  he tells them.  “I set up snares around my garden and greenhouse.  You can set up there and around the trees a bit into the woods, but not too far.”  he grins at Ruth.  “Well it depends on where you are, also.  Here most of the animals we usually eat are healthy, because the farm has some goats and ducks .. like that.  If we ever get stranded someplace again I hope its here, because we have everything we need.  Food, water and even electricity.  If Alexandra was on the mainland grid before the fog, they aren’t now, or am I wrong, Shea?”  he looks at the older Walsh.

Gene listens to the talk and nods as he looks at Jude’s garden and greenhouse.  Being nearly winter his garden seemed a bit bare.  “So you like preserve food for the winter here?  I mean it sounds like you don’t get into the town much.”

Jude nodded.  “Exactly.  I preserved a lot and this winter for the first time I ordered extra wood and even some coal.  My toilet, shower and one sink are outside of the cabin, so it helps if I can warm up fast after that. In the winter I sometimes just bathe inside by the stove if it’s too cold outside.”  he stands.  “Let’s set some of those traps and see what happens.  I have a radio inside, if you kids need entertainment, but also we can just talk like they did in ancient times.”

Ruth stands up and holds up her snare “Can you show me how to set it please Jude? And yeah showering outside in winter would be horrible.” She shrugs about the radio “I like time travel. This Is entertainment for me.” She’s ready to see what happens with the traps.

Shea nods along and slowly stands holding his snare and looking towards Lyra and Gene “The fog actually helped my kids not become tech junkies like some kids you see with their faces in their phone tuning out the world.” He suspects prison may have done some of that for Gene, or his life before it from the things he’d endured. But he’s not going to voice any of that without Gene being the person who brings it up. “Ruth you didn’t live through the fog...but somehow you’re not a smartphone zombie either?”

Ruth shrugged “I have a phone and it’s interesting. But people are always more interesting to me. I know lots of kids in my old school lived on their phone but it also leads to lots of rumours and bullying because it’s easy to type mean things and not think about who it hurts.”

Lyra takes a final look at her snare and nods.  “Yea, we didn’t have a lot of that so we had to talk and play board games or cards.  It was fun, actually.”  she looks at Ruth.  “That makes sense.  People are not a 7 point font.”

Gene gives a small grin.  “I’m not one of those kids, you know.”  he half protests.  “I didn't have a lot of friends at school to begin with and my other families always had chores  So I did chores and homework .. well and then my job or whatever.”  he shrugs.

Jude nods.  “Over here and like this.”  He shows them good places to place their traps.  “And now in the cabin.”  he leads them in, chuckling at Shea.  “You sound like my brother in law.  John?  Of course you know John.  He almost … ALMOST cheered when the fog cut us off, but he had worries of his own with his son on the mainland.  But still … he liked not having the internet.”  he grins at the kids, but takes some note of Gene who seemed like he had a few foster homes before this one.  He doesn't bring attention to it.  The inside of his cabin is dead simple.  Completely open with a cast iron wood burning stove in the middle of the back wall, a cot on the left wall.  Along the right wall was a giant cable spool table and several boxes around it as stools or chairs.  On the table was what looked like a radio of some sort, which Jude took off of the table and set in a corner on yet another box.  There were also several crate and trunks.  The space was small, but neat .. almost cosy.  In the middle of the room hanging from the ceiling was a candle lamp with chimney, so the space was not completely dark.

Ruth had been in the cabin before, but it never got old for her and it was nice to warm up after setting their traps. She turns to Lyra “I love board games. We found some more at the thrift store after moving here.” She nods at Jude “I could live without the internet. I mean it’s handy for looking stuff up for school and I do love to research. Hey Jude, with your….work before….did you ever….interrogate anyone? I have a  little project. I don’t actually want to terrify the person or anything, just dig a bit, make sure there’s nothing...untoward.”

Shea had set his trap up and then walked around taking in the simplicity and peaceful feeling in Jude’s cabin “I can see why you like it here.” He chuckles “Yeah I know John well...and I forgot to answer your other question. Yeah we’re on our own self sustaining grid now power wise. Combination of wind, solar, ocean turbines. It’s pretty phenomenal.” He noticed the radio and then heard Ruth and couldn’t help but laugh “I’m glad you don’t want to terrify anyone….geez kid..” What the heck kinda project did this little girl have going on? He had heard Gene confirm why he wasn’t so hooked on a phone and the spoken but unspoken sadness of his life before.

Lyra looked eager to learn about interrogation.  She knew why Ruth was interested, but she thought she might someday be able to use the techniques … for what, she had no idea.

Gene arched his brows at the cabin.  It really did seem peaceful, but he wasn’t sure he could do it all the time.  He’d never been camping or any other family like weekend activities, so that didn’t cross his mind.  He did look curiously at Ruth, mildly amused a 10 year old was asking about interrogation techniques.

Jude had a small indoor sink with a cabinet beside the stove.  He poured a large coffee pot with water and set it to heat as he listened to Ruth.  Turning back, he looked a bit amused.  “I …  have … interrogated people…”  he replied very slowly.  He took a container of what looked like tea or an herbal mixture out, followed by a few cups as he considered more answer.  Finally, he turned back and sat at his table near the stove.  “You should probably approach them like a friend … or at least not like an enemy.  Talk to them with respect and don’t accuse and … you’ll probably get what you want without having to result to torture.”  his voice is teasing, of course, as if he never had and never would do that to anyone.  Then he looks at Shea, almost in relief to not be teaching basic interrogation to a pre-teen.  “With all of that, we never have to be part of the mainland ever again.”  he rolled his eyes mockingly.  “Of course tourism would be in the toilet, but … such is life back on earth.”

Ruth’s attention was rapt. She could only imagine who Jude may have interrogated and all scenarios ended up in a dark windowless room with him circling someone blindfolded and tied to an old wooden chair and speaking softly to them in Russian. “A friend...of course...it is for friendly purposes.” Then she laughs “Torture? Oh no…...this is a complex screening tool to try and help my Dad find the right girlfriend...before he meets the wrong one again and we get stuck with someone horrible…..we being Daniel and I. Funnily enough my brother has no interest in this. Probably because he has a girlfriend now...honestly...priorities. Don’t get me wrong she’s nice.” Then Ruth goes quiet thinking about tourism.

Shea was still chuckling at Jude’s advice and then laughed out loud when Ruth revealed her purpose “Good god Ruth. Does your father want a girlfriend that badly? Maybe just trust the process. Usually when us grown ups screw something up….we know..” Shea snorts “Yeah gotta please those tourists eh?”

Lyra bit her lp, because she had met Ruth’s father and understood things a bit better.  But she didn’t want to contradict her father and say that Ruth’s father didn’t seem to understand when he screwed up choosing a wife.

Gene suppressed a grin, which was not something he had often had to do.  He sort of got where Ruth was coming from, but still.  That girl had balls.

Jude pursed his lips.  “I see..”  he paused and looked at Shea.  “For good or ill … but sometimes it couldn’t hurt … to have a guiding hand…”  he looks at Ruth.  He’s met Joseph and he considers.  “Well if you know a woman you think your father might like and want to get to know her before you maybe invite her over for coffee and conversation with your father … you just have to talk to her.  Don’t expect this to be the perfect woman for him, or even he for her.  If nothing else, they could just be friends.”  he suggests.

Ruth takes in Jude’s advice but looks pretty confident in her plans “Coffee and conversation ...yes! We have very good coffee so that helps. I have a list of potential candidates but there is a top contender who…” She looks at Lyra “We actually know and like. She doesn’t talk down to kids...which is very important. And she’s not half his age like my mom was which got me bullied at my old school. Plus they won’t have more babies. I overheard my Dad say he had a vasectomy and I looked that up…...don’t image search it by the way. That was a bit alarming. But the science is interesting. Basically they cut and tie the vas deferens so that they can’t send the sperm on their path to the urethra. Anyhow old enough to not even want more babies is a plus. I have way too many brothers.” She folds her hands in her alp and smiles like she’s simply been explaining the recipe for cookies and not talking about the male reproductive system.

Shea laugh coughs and shakes his head, unable to add to what Ruth’s been explaining with more than a “Eyep…”

Lyra nods.  “Coffee is very good for conversation.  And the top contender is a wonderful lady.”  she nods.  “No offence, but your father is a little old for more babies, in MY opinion, which doesn’t matter, but there it is anyway.  You have nieces and nephews that are older than you … that’s hard to wrap my head around.”  she looks at her father.  “Vasectomies are easier to get.  That’s another thing it is easier for males than females.”  she looks at him closer, as if asking silently if he’s guaranteed they will have no more younger siblings to deal with one day.  “Men make sperm forever.  How is that even a thing?”

Gene clears his throat and examines the spool table.  “Were you making tea?”  he asks, because that is a far more comfortable topic of conversation than vasectomies.

Jude nods about the coffee, but before he can blink, Ruth and Lyra are talking about vasectomies.  “It’s a ene with gratitude.  “Yes.  Tea.  I make different blends myself.  Since its still early in the afternoon, I figured a mint tea.  Adum, the mayor, has a great collection of mints.  He can’t kill them .. not a big green thumb on our mayor.”  he stands and begins to prepare them by spooning the dried leaves into small muslin bags and tying them closed with what looks like simple string.

Shea evades the vasectomy topic completely and gets very interested in the mint tea. He had one years ago but this is not the day to discuss it and clearly these girls were a little too sharing of the family secrets of Joseph Samuels so he dare not give them anything else to work with. “Tea. Mint is always good. We have a community garden box with some of that, few other herbs, Got some good tomatoes this year and squash. “ He observes Jude’s tea making.

Ruth nods at Lyra and then notices they’ve made the males uncomfortable and looks almost amused and just calls it “Men also get weird when you talk about their parts too openly...which is funny considering some of the stuff I’ve seen on my brother’s computer screens.” She shrugs “But Miranda warned me about that. She said something about fragile little egos. We’re kind of oddly related to the Rogers family now because of my older brother dating Jasper. So those kids feel like cousins but I guess technically they’re closer to a stepneice and nephews...which again weird older brother stuff. But they feel more like cousins…”

Lyra also notices.  “Does he watch porn?”  she asks, fascinated.  Then Miranda’s name is brought up and she looks a little taken aback.  “Well … so far I don’t know much about fragile male egos.”  she looks at Gene, curiously.  “I never liked my other foster brothers like I like Gene.  He feels like family.”  she speaks a little wistfully.  “He’ll get a girlfriend soon, I bet.”  she goes back to concentrating on Ruth.  “I’ve seen some girls look at him like he is very handsome, which of course, he is.”  for her it is a conversation more between she and Ruth.

Gene blinks at the question about porn while drinking the tea.  “It's really good.  I love the water around here.”  but then Miranda is brought up and then Lyra starts by defending him again, but moves on to his getting a girlfriend and girls looking at him.  He blinks again and takes a large swallow of his tea.

Jude listens to the girls and decides he will just concentrate on the other men.  “That community garden is really a great thing.  I was a little surprised to see the people come together, and I’m glad I was wrong.”  he looks at Gene.  “BC has great water, compared to other places, that’s for sure.”

Ruth nods and then shrugs, like it’s just a fact of having older brothers “Since you’re new to the older brother thing again...as in foster brother…..if he shuts his laptop real fast when you walk in the room, it’s probably porn...or closes it when he goes to the bathroom. Just hope for headphones because the dialogue is stupid.” She doesn’t look at Gene but of course she means Gene. then something dawns on her and she actually whispers “Do older sisters watch it? Does Sparrow?” This had never dawned on Ruth and the whole of the human experience was fascinating to her sponge like brain. “I can lend you my interrogation questions if Gene gets a girlfriend.” She half teases. “We’d have to modify some because I’m trying to encourage no babies….Gene’s younger….and yes he is handsome. Don’t worry I’m not looking like THAT. Gene’s a bit old for me to look like that. He might want babies one day so that question would have to be changed.” She perks up about gardening “We moved too late to garden. I want to grow giant pumpkins. And sunflowers. I love sunflower seeds. And maybe we could get a pear tree…..” Now she’s wandered away from illicit topics to the natural world and things that grow.

Shea stifles a chuckle into his tea. God these girls. He was becoming a  little frightened for when Lyra became a full on teenager, especially with Ruth Samuels at her side. “Yep good water...and good community.” He answers Ruth now to try and keep the girls on the topic of fruit trees “I think pears would grow here. We’re not that far from the Okanagan...mild enough winters. Giant pumpkins eh? Carve great big jack-o'lanterns. Missed it for this year’s trick or treating but next year…..the Park Ranger and...what were you again Ruth?” Lyra had gone with Sparrow to Ruth’s house.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” She said proudly.

Shea smirks “For Halloween? Of course you were.”

Lyra nods, absorbing the information about how to tell if Gene is watching porn.  She leuth when she's asked about Sparrow and whispers back.  "No, but she has the most INTERESTING books.  She's a lesbian, so the stuff in the books is probably different than with straight males."  she smiles happily.  Oh, he'd be a good father, I can tell."  she nods, but then happily moves on.  "We don't have the space for trees, but we have space at the community garden, of course."  shen she grins.  "Of course she was.  She does come from a family full of lawyers, after all.  But mostly guys, I think.

Gene shakes his head at the warnings and at what Sparrow might be reading.  “I think I’ll be upping the security on my computer.”  he murmurs before moving on.  “Great water, community and gardening.  Man .. it's like getting back to the earth.  I mean I know I’m kind of a computer nerd, but I could learn to garden and stuff as a hobby.”

Jude smiles while shaking his head.  “Would you be interested in being a lawyer, Ruth?”  he asks.  “You definitely have the brains to be one.”  he then looks at Gene.  “Back to the earth and your roots.  I assume you’ve met most of the islands indiginous people?  Don’t let Fred scare you .. he might be nicer to you than to others.  The Academy used to be a Residential school and Fred was really integral to changing that.”

Gene looks truly interesting.  “I am really interested in learning the history of this place.”

Ruth looks completely fascinated with what Lyra is saying about her sister’s reading materials and nods about Gene’s potential as a good parent in the world one day. “I would be the first woman lawyer in the family...but Natalie is the first woman lawyer in the Samuels firm.” She knows Natalie was Gene’s lawyer now but she doesn’t call that out in front of Jude. She had been instructed to be discreet about the prison thing but then of course that stupid flyer went up allover the school. Still she wasn’t going to say it again now. She looks at Jude as well as Shea and Lyra “How many Indigenous people are there? You make it sound like a small number when you ask if Gene’s met them all already? I mean I know there’s not that many Jewish people…” She frowns “Did they change the building between it being a Residential School and the Academy? I can’t remember if they told us that on Orange Shirt Day. “

Shea tries not to listen about Sparrow’s books. He really didn’t want to know. She was old enough for that to be private but having a  little sister was a challenge to privacy, especially sharing a  room.. He does hear Gene’s murmur and snickers a bit. He just can’t help it. He nods about Ruth being a good lawyer. He keeps nodding along with Jude and then answers Ruth “It’s not that many of us. Our family of 4…” He’s including Gene in the count. “Fred, Shirley, Fred’s granddaughter Gwen, Bruce…...Jack Douglas, Shirley’s nephew and his daughters are half Semiamahoo and their mom was Canadian born but of Spanish descent….like Spain not Latin America. That guy who uh runs the dive shop told me they’re Metis…..I guess it’s growing.” He smiles a bit and then sighs “The school got renovated but not torn down and rebuilt. Money right?” He shrugs.

Lyra smiles.  “Times change slowly.”  she says, thinking how long it must have taken for the Samuel’s firm to stop being all male.  She considers the population of Indiginous peoples on the island and nods.  “We’re all different nations, but I think that’s OK .. isn’t it?  And money is always a problem in towns, isn’t it?  Or was that just their excuse?”

Gene nods.  “I’m learning a lot.  It feels like a tribe in a lot of ways, I think.  We get along, I think, but I’m still new.  There meetings I want to go to when I can.  I want to learn.  Not just about Mohawk but .. all the rest.  I’m good at languages, but only speak Mohawk and that was most I guess good luck than anything because a neighbor when I was like 9 or 10 was Mohawk … she was … what is it called? Expelled or excommunicated but .. she taught me, at least.  Or I wouldn’t know anything.”  he sighs softly.

Jude looks at them all.  “History is important, so learn all you can.”  he tells the young people in particular.  “I think the council probably used money as an exhaust not to tear down a quote perfectly good building end quote.  Back then they didn’t care about the memories that might have for the kids that were abused there.”  he smiles at Gene.  “You’re on the right track, I think.”  he stands and heads for one of his front windows.  “Ahh you greedy little …  we have a couple contestants, folks…”

Ruth stays quiet now but she’s keenly listening as she looks between Lyra, Gene and Jude and then Shea. Gene’s story was interesting too but he felt an overtone of sadness or something both about his experiences and those of his friend, the one who was expelled. The school history was also dismal so when Jude announced there might be rabbits she brightens and jumps up “Rabbits?”

Shea nods at Lyra “Of course that’s ok Stargirl. We’re all working and healing together, and learning together. It’s good.” He sighs about the money thing “Who knows…” He answers Gene about his Mohawk neighbour “Sounds like your friend maybe lost her status or not to pry maybe she pissed off the council….had a feud….most likely the status if she was actually kicked off the land though. People can scrap it out for years and still stay in the same community. Hell knows we have that on this island too with some people.” He looks to the window as the announcement of rabbits comes up “That was quicker than I thought.”

Lyra looks curious about the loss of status, but is completely distracted by rabbits.  She hops up and runs to the window.  “Oh my god!  Four?  They’re still alive….”

Gene nods.  “It was something, but I was 9 when we met but kept coming to visit her sort of secretly until I came here.”  he looks towards the window and stands.  “That’s … got to change, doesn’t it…”  he looks at their host.

Jude nods from the window.  “That isn’t hard, but not for the faint of heart.”  he looks at them all.  “I’ll go out and … end them .. I can teach anyone who wants to know how.” he offers.

Shea sighs and then nods “Well if my kids want to trap rabbits, I better learn what to do. Shoulda brought a pipe wrench. Smacked a few rats with it. Takes them out….” He walks out after Jude.

Ruth presses her face by Lyra’s and looks “Drat. Can I watch but not kill...this time?” She’s curious but wants to do it in steps, if she can do it at all. She also follows to the outside.

Lyra takes in a deep breath and lets it out.  She’s ready to learn.  It’s all part of the circle of life.  She follows everyone out and tries not to be upset at the struggling rabbits.

Gene also follows.  “Yea.  I need to learn this.”  he follows and is soon watching the rabbits.

Jude walks out of his door and grabs what looks like an old broomstick handle.  His voice is calm and almost friendly.  “There are a few ways to do this.”  he tells them, reaching the first rabbit. “This one seems to cause the least stress and you want it as unstressed as possible.  and Es, I know it's snarred so stressed, but it could be worse.  The least we can do is make it quick and as painless as possible.”  He begins. “Lay the rabbit on the ground and put the broomstick handle across its neck…”  he shows them what to do and in the end the rabbit is shuddering.  “Death throes.  It’s perfectly natural for them.”  he pulls a large sharp looking knife from a leg sheath and cuts off the rabbits head.  Then he hangs it from an external point on the greenhouse.  “Next…”

Shea watches Jude rather stoically but then glances at the kids, especially the girls who are younger. He’s ok but he’s hoping they still are with all of this. He looks at Gene and gestures “I will if you’re not ready. You ok Stargirl? Ruth?” He pauses.

Ruth understands the logic of what jude is saying and doing but seeing the shuddering actually makes her audibly gasp. It was like a murder scene. But she had been eating meat her whole life so every product she ate from an animal...died. She steps back a bit to process it all but gives Jude and Shea a little nod. “Uh….I can’t do it yet.” Somehow the beheading had been less horrible than the shuddering. She didn’t know why.

Lyra watches somberly.  It’s not easy to watch, but it also isn’t shocking.  Her imagination had given her way worse.  “I’m OK, Dad…”  she takes a deep breath and pats Ruth on the back.  “May I try?”  Jude walks her through the process verbally and she manages it, but noticed that Jude had to quickly stomp again, she assumed because her legs weren’t strong enough yet.  She also had trouble with the large knife.

Gene takes in the whole process and even nods at Lyra’s turn.  “I think you’re still too small, Stargirl.  That’ll change with time.”  He encouraged her.  He then looks between the men.  “I’m ready…”  and he takes a try and doesn’t know what exactly to think when he does it flawlessly.  He’d never killed another living creature before, even though he had once tried with a human.

Jude stomps quickly after Lyra.  He nods.  “Your brother is right.”  he tells her.  “You’ll have to be bigger and stronger to get it done quickly.  And … my knife is too big for your hands.  Time kid .. time…”  he looks at Ruth.  “You might have the same problem, but I can do the same with yours as I did with Lyra’s rabbit if you want to try it anyway.”  he offers.  If not, he will let Shea do the last one and if Shea doesn’t he will kill the last one himself.

Ruth watches Lyra take it on with admiration, even though it doesn’t quite go as planned. She still tried it. Then Gene says it’s about her size and he does it flawlessly. Jude concurs about Lyra’s size. She almost exactly the same size as her friend and she doesn’t want to draw out the next creature’s suffering if it takes her longer. She’s also not ready so she shakes her head “No thanks. I’ll keep watching though.”

Shea looks lovingly at Lyra “You did awesome. I know that was hard. You too Gene…” He understates on Gene to not make Lyra feel self conscious but Gene was amazing at this. “OK.” She takes his turn and hesitates a bit more than Gene but still does the deed as it was taught and then exhales “Thank you for teaching us Jude.”

Lyra moves to Ruth’s side and, if allowed will hug her arm.  This one they can talk about later.  She looks at Gene with a small smile.  He called her Stargirl!  Like a brother would!

Gene nods, getting the understatements.  He watches Shea and nods.  “Ea.  Thanks for teaching us, Mr .. um .. Murphy, right?” 

Jude watches and gives Ruth a respectful nod and is impressed with Shea as well.  He looks at Gene.  “Yup.  Jude Murphy, but you can call me Jude.  And now for the last of it.”  he hangs all of the rabbits up.  “They have to drain, then we can skin them and prepare the meat.  I can do it for you guys and deliver it, but it doesn’t take long with practice.”

Shea looks at the kids “Can you stomach it? I’m good either way….Really appreciate it all Jude.” He’s loving how Lyra and Gene are bonding still. He called her Stargirl. The family name, like he was meant to just be a Walsh kid.

Ruth leans her head into Lyra as she feels her arm hugged “Yes I can stomach it.” She can see the smile Lyra gives Gene and it makes her smile. “I’ve watched horror movies I was too young to see when my brothers were babysitting. I can deal with guts from something we’re going to eat.”

Lyra  hugs Ruth’s arm.  “Can we watch and learn more as we go.  Eventurlly we’ll be ig enough to do it ourselves.”  She is determined to grow up.

Gene nods.  “I’m ok with blood.”  is all he says, but at this point, even Ruth and Lyra have seen his mug shot.

Jude nods to them all.  He takes the rabbits and lets them hang, then eviscerates them, skins them and cuts it up for them.  He actually has butcher paper in his house.  “I even have a working freezer, thanks to solar power.”  he tells them.  Finally the meat is neatly wrapped in crisp butcher paper.  He sets it on the table while they decide who will carry the kill home and is ready to bid them adieu.  The impromptu visit has left him emotionally exhausted.

Shea still has his bag from the hardware store with the traps and he starts to bag the rabbits with gratitude “Thank you so much. It was really good to talk with you Jude Murphy. Solar power kicks ass.” He chuckles and is ready to walk after offering a hand to shake but with no big pressure “If you do...no worries if you don’t”

Ruth had stuck close to Lyra like they were inseparably joined at the hip as she watched the whole thing, eyes wide a few times. Eventually when it’s done she walks up to Jude and gives him her usual intense stare and then unexpectedly hugs him around the middle, not for long, and she’ll back off if he dodges it. “Thank you for helping and teaching us all Jude. Super spy wild man of the woods.” She says as a farewell.

Lyra clung to Ruth as she watched Jude .. it was absolutely fascinating.  Then she watched Ruth hug the big mysterious man who had helped her when she first decided to move here.  “Thank you Jude, wild man of the woods.  We’ll keep your secret too … about not being crazy and all.  I promise.”

Gene watches and makes mental notes on the process.  Now he hopes he likes rabbit meat, as he’s never had it before.  He grins at the girls and nods.  “I can keep that secret too.  Thanks Jude.  I learned a lot.”

Jude considers and shakes Shea’s hand.  They had literally killed together.  A handshake should be alright.  He pats Ruth on the back as she hugs him and nods at Lyra.  “I would appreciate that.”  he tells them.  “I don’t want people just showing up ..  I have my favorites.”  he pats Ruth on the shoulder.  “So if you keep that fable alive, I can keep my isolationist ways from here on out.”  he sees them all out and, after securing his home, goes to visit his fellow wind man of the woods to unwind after all his socializing.