SLEEPOVER IN THE BACKYARD

    Audrey and Phoenix lay low, behind a long table that served as the nursery of Audrey’s garden. Spending the night crouched in your friends backyard wasn’t exactly Phoenix’s idea of a sleepover, but when Audrey had sounded the alarm and asked for her friend’s help during the 1-week break in September, Phoenix had willingly agreed.

The zombies were coming one of the nights that week, and it could well be THAT night. Thank goodness they were prepared. Since the early days of July, the friends had started in earnest to sow the seeds of their potential defenders. The seeds were well ventilated and provided with the ideal conditions of water and temperature, had germinated. Firstly, the seedlings had sprouted roots that grew downwards into the soil, towards gravity and water. Soon, the seedling began throwing out shoots in the opposite direction of the sky and sunlight, carrying the seed coat with it. Before long, the seed leaves had opened, capturing the sunlight much needed to make new food for the growing plant. As the plant grew taller, new leaves appeared and eventually flowers. Audrey especially enjoyed watching the pea flowers bloom. After they had been fertilized, the petals fell off, and the familiar shape of a pea pod began to appear. The fruit of the pea plant would contain the seeds, peas, and these would prove useful against the zombie invaders. “Perhaps..tonight.’ Audrey shuddered, feeling a strong longing to be under the covers of her bed, warm and safe. “It’s our brains they’re after.”

A hundred miles away, something in the graveyard stirred.