He took my hand and twirled me around like we were on a dance floor, I curtsied and then sat down on the concrete chair gasping for breath. “That’s more exercise than I’ve had in ages.” I laughed, coughed and covered my mouth with my fist.

He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with a clean white handkerchief, his initials embroidered in baby blue; NEW.

His body popped as he got down on one knee, pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. “Do life with me Susie Q?”

I used his arm for leverage to get back on my feet. He moaned as my hand squeezed harder around his frail extremity. Once upright and steady, I reached down and helped him up.

His eyes a cloudy white from cataracts began to well with tears. “Are you turning me down Susie Q?” His voice quivered. I held my wrinkled hand out towards him and showed him my wedding band, still missing the set that fell out three decades ago. “Newton, I didn’t turn you down sixty years ago and I won’t turn you down now you big goof.” We never had children of our own and the rest of the family had long been gone.

“Let me hear you say it. It’s not official until you say it.” His speech slowed.

“I’ll do life with you Newton.” I gently kissed his dry lips. He hobbled over to the rose bush and handed me a beautiful bud on a long stem, he gave me a quick wink. “We’re ready now. You’re just as beautiful today as you were when we first met.” I knew he really felt that way, that made this even harder to do.

His knotted up fingers opened the box and presented me with two little orange pills. He took his out and stuck it under his tongue, shaking from disease. I held mine in my hand and waited for him to drift slowly away. “I love you Newton. I won’t be far behind.” His head fell to the side, he slumped all the way over, his pulse was gone.

I crushed my tablet into the concrete and placed my flower across his lap. I vowed to never break his heart. He so desperately needed to go but I just wasn’t ready.

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.

There was an old wives tale – place a key on your empty page and prepare to write the most astounding story ever.

I took the old vintage metal piece from my kitchen “junk drawer”, I found it on the floor of my grandmother’s house right before they sold it in 1989. I sat it on the page and waited.

I giggled at my coffee cup, thinking back on the years I spent teaching school – a lifetime ago. The mug was gifted to me by a parent and an appropriate gift it was. A cow stamped on the side with the word “moo” typed underneath. I clearly remember the day I shared with her the words her ever so inquisitive five year old told me after a field trip to the farm. “Mrs. Fenley, a cow’s pee is milk.” I laughed until I cried, ignored the conversation and deemed it incredibly intelligent-actually.

I picked up my glasses, noticing how dirty they were. I brought them to my mouth and breathed hot air upon the lenses, fogging them up. I took my napkin and wiped in a circular motion, repeating the task until they were clean. I paused for a moment realizing I learned this technique from my own mother.

I ran my fingers across the paper as if, just maybe ink would flow from the tips creating my masterpiece for me. Instead, the texture of the paper sent me to a better place in time. I reminisced on the love letters my husband and I would leave for one another in secret places that only the two of us could find. I picked up the notebook, brought it towards my nose and inhaled, bringing back the memory of the tad bit of cologne he would dab on the paper. I desired more of the euphoria that came with such pondering. I hoped for just one more personal experience with those now passed.

I crossed my arms and laid my head down to fully indulge in what once was.

I gasped for breath as I was awakened from a unintentional and not very comfortable nap. I supposed the key idea was just a hoax. At the top of my page, I had merely written MEMOIRS.

The road was full of blemishes from the rough winter we had. The melting ice, water and salt treatment ate through the concrete causing it to erode. We kicked small pieces of cement all the way to school. We lived to close to qualify for the bus ride but appreciated the walk; it was never dull and kept our imaginations running wild.

Apartment five was neatly kept and cleaner than all the others but something about it, gave us the creeps. The shutters were always closed except for the last room on the left. Metal bars covered the front glass. A sheer white curtain draped across the inside occasionally blowing open, though the window appeared sealed tight.

We skipped along, laughing, trying to see who could keep the most rocks tamed until we reached our destination. I didn’t realize my shoestring was untied until it hooked onto a stick, tripping me up, causing me to fall and out of all places, right in front of number five. I pushed myself up onto my elbows and stopped. I couldn’t help but to stare at the window. Victor reached down to help me, but he too was mesmerized.

A small boy peered out, I could see his freckles and fire red hair from the street. He was instantaneously snatched away from our view by a long skinny arm, veins bulging as they distorted a skeleton key tattoo neatly centered on the forearm. I jumped up and ran as fast as I could to school. Out of breath, I put my hands on my knees and panted. I turned to speak to Victor, but he was gone. He didn’t show up for school at all that day and when the dismissal bell rang, he was nowhere to be found.

“Honey, I want you to meet Stony.” After school I ran back home and through the front door to tell my mother what happened. The strange man on my sofa put a stop to that. He stood up to greet me. She hugged him around the neck and planted a kiss on his jaw. He awkwardly smiled at me. “He’s going to be staying with us awhile. He’s having some renovations done to the inside of his townhome. It’s the pretty one, over on Gateway. You pass it every morning, number five.” My stomach turned a flip inside of me.

“So, do you like my tattoo boy?” He held his arm out, hushing me for eternity.

My life had been full of let downs, mostly by the people that claimed to love me. I no longer believed in sincerity. I trusted no one or thing. I believed only in myself.

Who would have thought that would change today.

I woke up, did my usual stretches before my morning jog, breathed in the fresh air and headed out. The ground around me was still wet from last night’s rain. I grabbed my ankle and pulled my leg up behind one last time. I couldn’t bare the thought of a charley horse.

The squishing from the small puddles beneath my sneakers gave way to reality. Life wasn’t always a bed of roses, but it wasn’t a muddy pothole either.

I entered the main highway from my driveway and made it about ten feet before I stopped abruptly in my tracks. The landscape was different. I closed my eyes tightly – twice to make sure there was no deception. The world had given birth to a multitude of colors. I couldn’t fathom what I was looking at. The once dull green was now shouting at me. Purples and pinks took over the trees and grass…. but how?

A rustling sound in the branches next to me caught my attention. The noise drew me in. I walked cautiously to see the cause, expecting a wild animal to devour me seeing as my cup was always half empty. There, amongst the forest lying in arch formation were the small offsprings of the one and only real promise. They sparkled and glittered with happiness; gurgling, spitting up the bright spectrum that gave life to our once dark universe.

I fell to my knees and pleaded for a better understanding. My once heavy heart felt as light as a feather. This sort of beauty would normally kill, instead it reminded me, just as it was meant to do, of who I was. My wavering faith was restored in a split second as I thought of my father. Did he do this just for me? A million questions ran through my mind.

A confirming voice from above spoke clearly and bold. “The rainbow never falls my son, sometimes it just opens our eyes to all the glory we take for granted.” I looked towards the sky as each little prism ascended back into the heavens piecing together the mighty assurance.

 

It was no coincidence they put the 7-eleven right across from the motel, the only convenience store in the alley. The bulbs from the first E and the L were burned out. Whenever I took to my third shift duties as the front desk clerk handing out keys to those people who participated in the night life, I would stare blankly at the sign. “EVEN”. The 7 had become a blur to me.

Everything tends to happen for a reason, I folded my arms and rested them next to the toothpick dispenser that my manager insisted be placed on the counter. I wasn’t sure why, these people didn’t care what particles were embedded in their teeth. I rested my head on my hands, pressing my glasses up towards my forehead. The broken metal frame pinched my skin.

“EVEN.” I thought out loud. “EVEN if I had a more promising job, I wouldn’t be better off. EVEN if I moved away, part of me would still be here. EVEN….” I stopped mid-sentence as the front door swung open. A man entered, his coal black hair and leather coat made me quickly straighten my stance. “Do you need a room?” 

I realized there was a blank name tag attached to his attire. He worked at the 7-ELEVEN. He smiled, his mouth leading way to many enamel swords covered in decay. “EVEN if I did, it wouldn’t help your circumstances any. Haven’t you heard, people such as myself feed off other’s insecurities?”

I looked around for help but there was none. The EVEN was now a crimson EVIL flashing to the beat of his rapid chest movements. He snapped my neck to the side and before he depleted me physically, he whispered “Self-love keeps you from being sustenance for the sanctimonious.” I imagined this piece of advice was always heeded a bit too late.

I remember thinking my dad was a giant marshmallow every time he walked through the gate after another journey through space. I was to young to comprehend the white bubbly suit with the fishbowl helmet he wore, but what I did understand was the gold locket he kept in his pocket. one side held a picture of me, the other, my mother. He told me he wanted to be sure he had his Angels close by while he was floating around the heavens.

It seemed fitting that my husband graduated the space camp in Huntsville and met my father after winning a “once in a lifetime time experience”, at least that’s how they advertised it back then.

Riley travelled to the Silicon Valley to train in the vertical motion simulator, one of NASA’s top aides, so realistic, it was held in a ten story building. It was quite a prize. My father just so happened to be the instructor. It wasn’t long until dad pulled out his trinket and showed him my picture. He bragged on his daughter so much that the two of us met. We became involved, married and now that little plastic contraption has two red lines on it. We’re expecting!

I didn’t care too much for social calls. I was a bit of a loner. So, when Riley’s first flight to the moon came around my fourth month of pregnancy, I was alright with that. My mother went to all my doctors appointments with me and took notes.

I sat alone by the water’s edge and watched the sun go down as I did most nights. I daydreamed about what it was like up there. Mom called me right before I went back in house. “Honey, Riley has a surprise for you. Look at the sky.” As if I weren’t already.

The atmosphere was a mix of a gorgeous blue and pink. The darker color began to fade.

“What do you see?” She asked. “The sky is a calm pink.” I replied.

“The doctor secretly told me what sex your baby is. Your dad radioed it up to Riley. He seeded the clouds from space causing the sky to become a perfect pink. He wanted to give you the best gender reveal ever!”

We both squealed hysterically. “Now, take pictures. We have a heck of a story to tell your daughter!”

“Penny Harpenshire, you silly girl. Those are not eggs.” Mother scolded my little sister for thinking that everyone on the hill received one large egg from the postal service. I threw my hands up. “Well, what do you think it is then mom?”

Penny ran towards the thing. “Stop!” We both shouted.

“I’m not sure what it is but neither of you need to go near it.”

That night as the sun went down and the clouds rolled in, we prepared for bed. The rain began to pounce off the tin roof. The thunder clapped loudly causing me to pull the covers over my head. I felt a slight tug on the sheets. “Can I sleep in here tonight, Matthew?” Penny was scared too. I pretended to be tough for her.

“Sure. I will protect you.” I told her. 

We stayed up most of the night making up stories of what those things really were, finally dozing off right before dawn.

“Get up! Get up!” Mother came running into my room. We both rolled over and sleepily gazed at her. “What is it mom?” I asked while using the back of my hands to wipe my eyes.

“It’s hatched!’ She was so excited. Penny became a little angry. “I told you it was an egg!” She screamed.

“Only bad children yell at their mothers.” Mom pointed her finger in Penny’s face.

“Come on!” She nearly pushed us out the door. 

There were large chunks of eggshell everywhere. Our neighbors were cheering but their children in tears. I looked across the meadow and standing there towering above us, appearing to be half robot, half man, was a thing. I had no word for it. Its legs caught when they bent at the knee. When he finally made it over to us, he handed mother a piece of paper.

“Isn’t it great kids? Our government gifted us childcare so we can save money. Santa will bring more this year. Plus, the internet was doing a terrible job at raising you.”

She knew all along what was in there. This was just another one of her lies.

We secluded ourselves in the decades old, rusted metal bunker. I didn’t think it was a good idea for Jax to open the door. He insisted that the information we were hearing over the radio had to be true. There was now enough clean air to keep mankind alive.

“They wouldn’t tell us it was safe if it wasn’t, Chase.” He turned and looked at me.

“Well, I’m putting on my gear first. You should too, better safe than sorry.”

“I guess you’re right.” He said.

We had both outgrown our protection. The plastic chin straps were cutting into our skin. Still, it was better than chancing our lives. We pulled hard to get them over our heads.

“Put the goggles on also.” He suggested.

I tried but the stretchy plastic snapped off mine stinging my neck like the rubber band Tommy Hargrove shot at me in the second grade. I never will forget that day.

“Just open it!” I was nervous and ready to know my fate.

He went through the motions of lifting the heavy bar that was placed across the entrance.

“Holy, moly! Chase, you have to see this!” I ran to peek out with him.

“Oxygen is hatching everywhere. I told you they weren’t lying.” Jax was giddy with excitement.

“Woah… It’s beautiful.” I stood in awe. We couldn’t contain ourselves. We danced through the fields, catching one after another. We gently sat them down, popping each bubble, letting them explode magnificently around us.

“Ahhhh….. Can you smell that?” I asked.

“Boys! Take those football helmets and swimming goggles off! Dinner is ready! I swear neither of you lack imagination.” Mom yelled from the half open kitchen window.

“That’s momma’s pot roast you’re smelling.” He said. We both laughed.

“Shut the barn door back. If a coyote gets in there, daddy will spank us both.” Jax was always so bossy.

 

THE END.

I cupped my hands around the side of my eyes, and peered through the window. My husband tripped over a stone and fell towards me, pressing my face slightly into the glass. I turned around and with all my might pushed him. He stumbled backwards but managed to keep his balance.

“I hate going anywhere with you!” I balled my fist up to keep from any further physical contact.

He hung his head.

“What time are your clients supposed to arrive?” He just got his real-estate license and somehow thought he could sell this dump.

“They’re already here.” Calmly he walked to the door and unlocked it. Our voices echoed as we made entry.

“There’s no way anyone is here.” I peeked around each door frame, giving myself a tour. I noticed a bronze plaque placed directly above the stone mantel. I could still feel a tad bit of heat coming from the fireplace as if someone had recently been here. I stood on my tippy toes and leaned in to get a better look.

I read the words out loud. “Because you are evil!” I shrugged my shoulders and turned to face Larry. “That’s Stra……….”

———————————–

“I couldn’t take it anymore, the physical and mental abuse radiated through my soul. I grabbed Sheila by her long, red hair and slammed her head into that metal plate repeatedly. When she took her last breath, I could finally breathe. You may see me as a monster but, you have no clue what I have lived through.”

The doctor leaned back in his chair, intertwined his fingers, and gave me a tiny smile, right before his weight caused the chair to fall backwards and hit the wall.

Just my luck, the corner of the bookshelf caught his temple. He died right there in the prison office with me as the only witness. My temporary insanity plea went right out the door with the psychiatrist in a black bag on a gurney.