it was soon after her family died that she was given the rifle.

she had walked back from the wreckage of the camper until she reached a small town. most of the town had left and she walked down the middle of the main street, counting broken windows and empty shutters.

and then a voice called out to her: 'girl! girl, get in here!'

she turned and there was an old man. he was standing in the doorway of a shop and waving his hands at her, urging her to come inside.

she did. 'what're you doing, girl?' the old man said, his accent thick as molasses.

she was silent. what could she say?

'where's yer family?' he asked.

her face collapsed like a burning building. she wanted to cry, but her eyes couldn't, wouldn't. she never forgave herself for not crying at that moment.

'shhh,' the old man said, 'it's okay. it's gonna be okay.'

she looked at him as if to say 'how?'

the old man smiled at her and walked into the back room. he emerged with a rifle. she recoiled, but he said, 'don't worry, i'm not gonna shoot you. it's for you. it's so you can protect yerself.' he handed it to her. 'i'll show you how to use it and everything.'

over the next few weeks, he taught her how to shoot and how to hunt. they hid from the flocks and hoarded food.

and then, one day, he said, 'you can't stay here, girl. i've been seeing more and more of those huge storms. them birds are making them, i know. this place won't be here much longer. you have to go and find someplace else.'

she motioned to him as if to say, 'what about you?'

'me?' he said. 'nah, i'm too old for that. that's why i didn't leave here. but don't you worry about me. look in the back room there.' she did and then turned back to him. he smiled a reassuring smile. 'i got 'em from the old quarry. they were just lying around. when them birds come for me, i'll light the fuse and then...well, at least i'll take some of 'em with me when i go.'

she grasped his shoulders and tried to make him go. 'it's no use, girl. i told you, i'm too old. but you got many years left in you. you can survive, i know it. please go.'

so she did. she slung the rifle across his back and gave one last look at the old man.

then she started her walk.