Zombies are real!
Sorry for the delay in posting, but I’m writing from the bed at Lexington Hospital in Columbia, S.C., Saturday evening. I’m unclear why I’m here or how I even got into this bed. But I felt it was important for all the Kids Sea Camp families to understand what may be happening in Utila over the next two weeks. To be honest, maybe Margo and I didn’t know what we were getting into with the Zombie Apocalypse.
I’m going to warn you that there are gaps in my memory from Friday to Saturday. What I’m going to tell you is the best I can remember. Which is not much at the moment.
But this is how much I recall from Saturday morning.
8:00 A.M. Saturday: “Good morning, Mr. Peyton.” A doctor walks into the room; he is tall, thin, a bit pale and grey at the temples. “I’m Doctor Postal. That’s a nasty bruise you have on the back of your head.”
I touched the base of my skull and felt a bump the size of a large golf ball. ” How did I get that?”
“Hmm,” The doctor stroked his chin and paused,” That’s why I was asking. You have had a mild concussion. No long-term memory damage, but short-term memory should be affected greatly. Who was the last person you spoke to?”
“Woody!” I said, abruptly sitting up in my bed and falling back on the pillow, feeling quite dizzy,” Where’s my cell phone? I think I can get some answers. What day is it?”
What is happening
“Saturday, and the cell is right here,” the doctor said calmly, handing me my phone. “You know you’re not ready to leave just yet. I need to keep you one more day for observations… I’ll give you a moment.”
I picked up the phone and called Woody immediately.
“Woody, what the hell happened?” I yelled into the phone.
“Well, hello to you too, Mr. Peyton,” I could see him smiling as he spoke,” Not a nice way to say Hi to someone who saved your life last night.”
“What?” I paused,” What do you mean?”
“You don’t remember?” He laughed, “I guess I hit ya too hard.”
“It was you?” I asked,” You know I’m in the hospital.”
“Oops,” He laughed again. It’s all that law enforcement training. Sorry.”
“Where are you?” I asked, ” And is Margo with you?”
‘Atlanta, heading to Kids Sea Camp,’ Woody said, suddenly changing his tone to a whisper. ‘Oh no, I’ll call you back.’
Old Texts
The cell phone went dead. I looked through my messages and texts, looking for any communication from Margo. I saw a series of texts from Friday night to Saturday morning.
Hi, sweetie, at the Atlanta airport, looking forward to diving again since my back surgery. Call me. How are the dogs?
Text 2: Sweetie?
Text 3: Met with Woody. He seems nervous. Acting odd.
Text 4: Why aren’t you answering me?
Text 5: Are you OK?
Text 6: Are you at the Karaoke bar, again?
Text 7: Alright, now I’m worried.
Text 8: Cell phone running low. I don’t know where you are, but you have to call me in the morning.
Text 9: Luv u.
I immediately called Margo.
“Hi, honey,” I said, ” Before you get mad at me, I’m in the hospital, and I don’t know why. You need to talk to Woody about the Zombies. I think there’s more to this thing than we know.”
“SWEETIE!” She said in a panic. HOSPITAL!” WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU SAYING!”
“Margo, Margo,” I repeated her name too many times to count. “Find Woody. Ask him what happened Friday night. I don’t remember. I have a mild concussion. Find Woody. Find Woody.”
“Damn, ” Margo snapped,” My cell phone is dying, again.”
“Sweetie,” I repeated again,” Find Woody. He knows more than he is telling us.”
Zombies are everywhere
” Delta Flight 575 now boarding,” I heard over the cell phone, ” Sweetie, I’ll be fine. Just talk to Woody.”
I hung up the phone, and then Woody called.
“Tom?” Woody said in a hushed tone, ” They’re everywhere.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
‘The Zombies, stupid. Oh my god, you don’t remember Friday at all, do you? They were in the KSC office! It was terrible. You have to go back and look at what they did. They are following me to Utila!’ Woody said, his voice softening with panic.
“To Kids Sea Camp?” I said.
“Yes. Yes, damn it, Tom, they are “real”. They’re everywhere, and they are coming to Utila,” He said in a hushed tone, ” But don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”
Then the phone went dead. The silence was haunting. The words “they’re everywhere” bounced and punched around inside my mind like a ping-pong ball. And what the heck did he mean… he’s got a plan?
To be continued. . .maybe
