The armored carrier came to a halt about twelve feet past an electric fence.
Colin and Josephine held Riley's hands as they walked off the carrier and stopped at the checkpoint.
"Excuse young lady, you know where your parents are?" the checkpoint man asked.
"Well....." Riley paused.
"If you don't have parents, you'll be going over with Colonel Baxter over there." the soldier said, pointing to a gray haired man yelling orders at a group of kids carrying an over-sized sack.
He looked like he was about to bust a blood vessel.
"So... where are they?" the soldier asked again.
"Ummmmm... well..." Riley nervous stammered.
"We're right here." Colin interjected.
'What are you doing?' Josephine whispered.
'Go along with it... trust me.' Colin whispered back.
"Are you sure?" he asked, "She doesn't look like you ma'am..."
"I'm his...." Josephine thought for a moment, adding "second wife."
The soldier stared at her with a "Second wife? Really?"
"Yeah, the first one..." Colin paused, "was.... hit by a car!"
The man's face practically told Colin "X: Doubt".
It was shattered when Riley burst into tears clinging onto both of them, crying "Don't let them take me away!"
"Alright, alright, I believe you." the man said, "Names?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Bennett." Colin said.
"First names?" the soldier asked.
"Colin and Josephine." the officer replied.
"Her first name?" he asked.
"Riley." the girl said.
He jotted it all down and said, "Family Sector, Trailer 2B."
The "couple" took their "daughter" and followed two soldiers to their new home.
***************************************************
It was a pretty quiet evening.
Not a thing was said once the three got settled into the cramped but neat little trailer.
Riley was poking her fork into her MRE spaghetti, wriggling it around as it steamed.
Colin swallowed and broke the silence with "Soooo.... this is pretty decent for... shelf stable spaghetti in meat sauce."
"It's fine..." Riley said as she took a small bite.
"Do you like video games?" Colin smiled.
"Not really." Riley sighed. "Never played."
"Oh... okay." Colin said as he went back to eating.
"Listen Riley." Josephine said, "I know we aren't really your parents. And neither of us really know anything about parenting... but I promise you we'll make this the best it can be."
Riley smiled, replying "I think I'd like that."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.