Summary

media type="youtube" key="camI8yuoy8U" height="405" width="660" = = Summary:  This story is about a father and son who are on a journey of survival in a time of a post-nuclear holocaust. The father and son are survivors, who are constantly on the move heading south in hopes of warmer weather, good people, and food. The land is covered with falling ash and is extremely cold, and typically raining or snowing. There is no food other then what they have been saving or what they find in along the road. Most people are cannibals because that is the only way they can survive. Sadly though, the boy’s mother commits suicide because of how hard the living conditions have gotten. She no longer wants to live in such a dreary world filled with uncertainty. The father protects the boy and keeps him sheltered anyway he can. Although, He has dreams that are happy about life before the nuclear holocaust and he worries it is because he is destined to die soon. He coughs up blood everyday and grows weaker, but he still tries to get them as far south as he can because he doesn’t want to leave the boy on his own. They have only a gun with one bullet to protect them against people who are cannibals, or to possibly commit suicide if it gets that bad. Along the road they are always looking for cans of food and water to drink. They see a lot of horrible things that really upsets the boy, but people have resorted to. When they do finally reach the sea, it is a huge let down. They boy was hoping it would be blue and have fish to eat and warm weather. He did everything he could to get the boy to the ocean safely, but not long after, the father dies from being sick for so long and leaves the boy alone. He assures the boy to keep going and “carry the fire” and do everything he taught the boy to do. For three days the boy mourns over his father and talks to him while he keeps him covered in blankets. Then, he runs into a man who has been following them. He has a wife, a daughter, and a son about his age. The man asks the boy to come join him and his family. After brief hesitation, he accepts the offer and keeps on the journey with the family.

