18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 65

The first time Rosie got into a fight, it left a deep impression on her young mind. She clung to Jasper's neck, "When I grow up, I'll protect you too." "Alright."

"I'll protect Stella too, and Cooper."

"Alright."

Next, they sold fish, with Jasper showing her the ropes.

Stella listened silently. Jasper's teaching methods were rough, but in a world where order had collapsed, maybe Rosie would have been worse off if they'd stuck to the old ways of kindness and gentleness. "Yes, what your brother taught you isn't wrong."

Curious, Stella asked Rosie, "Have you ever been hungry or been beaten up?"

Rosie lowered her head, nervously fiddling with her clothes.

"That's okay. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"When Jasper didn't come home, I was so hungry. My cousin bullied me, and my aunt scolded me."

"Do you want to go through that again?"

"No!" Rosie shook her head vehemently, her voice tinged with a sob. "I don't want to."

"Well, remember that feeling. If anyone ever treats you like that again, you fight back. Don't be afraid. They can't beat you."

"But my aunt said the police would take me away."

"As long as you're not the one starting trouble, the police won't take you away." Stella comforted the little girl, "Today, when you fought, the police didn't come to get you, did they?"

Relieved, Rosie said, "I'll listen to Stella and Jasper. No one will bully me anymore."

Cooper growled his agreement from the side.

ear, "Don't encourage

she declared, "Fighting is easy. If

was no match for her brother. But after getting into a fight with someone else today, she realized that she wasn't weak. Jasper was just too strong. The

subject, Stella asked, "Rosie, what did you get for the fish you

quickly, "We got some tools, textbooks, a

was currently wearing on her head, made her

lose out on brother's fish? Cody and Lukas said we only got

you think it's worth

needs, and anyway,

a lighter. Angela passed her a pack

"I have plenty. You

"Lukas and Cody are hooked. They want to go again

few days. You go

gleefully at the idea of a

teaching Rosie math and language. When Rosie finished her homework, Stella sat on the couch to continue her project. Finally, she had finished her first thermal suit for Cooper. She called him over, "Cooper, come here." The suit was black, to hide

made a onesie thermal suit, with a hole for Cooper's tail. There was

another hole. Not wanting to put

just come out

was blunt, "It looks

immediately covered her mouth, looking at Stella with innocent eye.

the suit: 'Get this ugly thing off me. It's ruining my

is

"Cooper isn't ugly. He's even more handsome

looked at Stella, "Woof!"

my dog is the most handsome on

that and nuzzled into her arms: 'If I'm so handsome,

fabric. While making the suit, she observed Cooper's reactions. Unfortunately, his thick fur meant he didn't feel the change in temperature now, so he didn't react to the suit. When she finished the second suit, she used the leftover fabric to make a suit for Smoky

Jasper came to pick up Rosie. Stella stopped him and handed him

"Keep it."

life-saving tool, and he was just giving it