I sat on my porch waitin' for my neighbors to bring me their part of the trade. Produce for meat. It been about thirty minutes before a truck sputtered up my road. The Sawyers, looked like the two younger ones. Jed and the ChopTop. I always liked when Bubba came along, he made the trade far easier. He just had some kinda natural brute strength. Carryin' 100lb generators hardly affected em'. I admired him for that. Choptop parked the truck a bit from my porch, he was always so jittery, couldn't sit still. He was a little funny sometimes though.

"Hey- H- Hey! Got your meat in-in-in the back."

He pounded on the side of the passengers door and Jed hopped out like it was routine. Choptop opened the hatch and let him do the rest of the work. Jed walked passed me, avoiding my eyes. He looked nervous. He set it down gently by my front door.

"There ya-ya-ya go, 25lbs of meat. We had extra, tho-though-thought we'd be generous this time around."

I looked at him a little shocked.

25lbs!? that's impressive. Hey, Bubba, would mind helpin' me out with these crates.

He nodded and grabbed two at a time, loading up the back of the truck like it was nothing.

Well, thank you.

I smiled at him and thought for a second.

Why don't you boys join me for dinner? Lord knows I got plenty ta' cook.

Bubba froze up at my suggestion, I couldn't tell if he did or didn't want to.

I'd love to but I can't, got a few more rounds to make. Bubba could though, I think he'd love to.

Choptop seemed to be mocking him, teasing. I smiled

Alright, sure. C'mon Jed, help me move the meat inside, yeah?

He hesitantly nodded and walked up my porch steps as his brother sped of laughing.

How does steak sound?

He seemed so excited at the suggestion he nearly dropped what he was holding, He just smiled and nodded.

Well, then we better get cookin'.

I walked inside and opened the door for him, as he walked past me I could see the skin beneath his mask was beat red.