Fall came and went but only two of the trees in the forest changed colors. The temperature dropped, daylight savings time was no longer, yet the normal transformation of the woodland had not taken place.
My neighbors went on with their day to day activities, unaware that something was most definitely wrong.
“Cynthia, come in for a moment please.” I slightly opened the door and peeked through. She struggled a bit to get up from the ground, placing her hand on her knee to gain leverage and then wiping the dirt from her pant leg after she removed her garden gloves. She too didn’t realize the oddity and continued deweeding and tending to her flowerbed. I didn’t have the heart to bring it to her attention, that is….. until now.
The screen door shut loudly behind her as she made her way to the kitchen, pouring herself a tall glass of water and raising it to her mouth. “No!” I smacked it from her hands, it fell to the ground and shattered into a million pieces.
Her demeanor calm, she asked what was the matter. “Dear, you mustn’t be frightened but the water has been tainted with a growth hormone, look around you, nothing is dying, only thriving and in abnormal conditions. It’s late January!” I ran to the window, insisting she acknowledge what I was saying to her.
“It’s our government, they are preparing to build humans for defense. People, giants so tall they will have the ability to remove any plane or threat from the sky with their bare hands!”
“And what will the call them? Seal team Lakers?” She asked, smiled and looked down at the gold watch I gifted her for Christmas. “I’m so sorry, my love.” She reached towards the cabinet. I fell to my knees and covered my head with my arms.
“Here, take your medicine and you can wash it down with this last swallow of Pepsi. The water will be safe in about an hour.” She kissed my forehead and walked me back to my recliner.
Leesa Writes 