The Coca-Cola™ Welcome Pack had everything in it you could possibly hope for. Peter started to read all about silk washes and the microwave standing on top of the refrigerator and how it cooked stuff from the inside out and went ping when it was done and where all the utensils were stored while Cooper explored the other rooms. There were vouchers with discounts on food shopping once you spent over a hundred dollars and things called loyalty cards where you could get a free coffee after twenty other coffees. Towards the back of the folder was a blank budget form with two columns so you could keep an eye on the money you had coming in compared to the money you had going out. There was a checklist for your bills, details of where you had to go to pay your rent and a full list of support groups where you could learn how to manage money and budget for bills in preparation for re-entry. Finally, at the back of the folder was a list of all the current vacancies in town plus a hundred dollars to keep you going until then.

“There’s a mandatory reintegration meeting coming up in a few days’ time.”

Cooper mumbled something from the bedroom.

“It means you’ve gotta—”

“Yeah,” said Cooper calling back. “I get it.”

“What job do you think you’ll take, anyways?”

“Pete, the beds have got some dumb fancy curtain around the base.”

“Yep. A valance.”

“Huh?”

“A valance! A stylish skirt so you can’t see the base of the bed.”

Cooper poked his head round the door. “Why wouldn’t you want to see the base of the bed?”

“Did you hear what I just said?”

“Yeah. I start at the supermarket tomorrow.”

“Oh. Since when?”

“Since I decided. And Becky’s working at the diner. Tokala talked to us about it when you was in the sheriff’s office. I’ll be working there when we’re not taking shifts lookin’ out for the Dead.”

Peter offered a smile. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m tellin’ you now.”

“I guess. Well, that’s good.”

Cooper shrugged. “Is it?”

“Well, it’s a start.”

“And you?”

Peter looked at the list. But he couldn’t really concentrate. “I thought we’d go through the jobs together over dinner or something.”

“It’s just a job, Pete.”

“I know, but—”

“Why don’t you try out the movie theatre?”

Peter nodded. “Yeah. Maybe.”

“Anyways,” said Cooper leaning into the bedroom door. “What are we gonna do with ourselves when we’re not at work?”

“We need to get our grocery shopping done.”

“What then?”

“Well, then we can start filling the place with things.”

Cooper shrugged. “What things?”