interestin’ you letting your eggs get all cold for?” Phil spooned another mouthful of eggs in as he finished talking.
“Phil I think something is wrong out there.” She didn’t even turn to him say it. That wasn’t like her at all.
“Well could you move so your husband can see what’s so wrong?” He absently slid a whole piece of bacon into his mouth as he gestured for her to move aside. Marcy obliged immediately, still without taking her eyes off the television. She turned the volume knob on the old set up so Phil could hear it.
“So reports are now telling us that overnight in about 80 to 100 locations there were very violent attacks by people who appeared to be on some form of sedatives, or perhaps sick with some form of rabies. Authorities are unsure what the root is of this strange occurrence, but the global nature of the attacks has authorities on alert everywhere.” The perfectly dressed and primped morning show host said in his mild baritone voice.
The other host, this one a far too artificially beautiful blonde lady chimed in and added, “Well Chuck, reports from Bangkok, Chicago, London, St. Petersburg, Bogota, and Sydney are all the same. These people are reaching a near-death catatonic state, and then suddenly becoming violent, biting and scratching anyone near them. It’s almost like one of those terrible zombie movies that have been so popular on late night television lately.” She giggled on the last delivery. The male news guy smiled awkwardly and played along with her joke.
“Authorities here in the United States are advising all people to be attentive to anyone acting suspicious, especially anyone who appears to fall asleep, or go into a trance. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating what exactly is causing this, but the CDC is now circulating information that it’s likely a form of virus. Perhaps some form of worldwide biological attack by extremists.”
“Bullshit. It’s Al-Qaeda.” Phil mumbled angrily. “Ain’t no fucking bird flu.” He scraped the last bit of egg off his plate and downed the last mouthful of his black coffee.
“I don’t know Phil, it’s on all the stations. I think this could be real serious.” She finally tore her eyes off the television set and looked at him worriedly. Her hazel eyes could say more in one glance than an hour of her talking. Phil paused the rant he about to give and swallowed it. He’d be a good husband and worry along with her.
Phil put his dishes in the sink and gathered his wife of 35 years up in a bear hug, “Well you just stay here in the house all day like normal, and I’ll go to the shop, and have a normal day there, and tonight we’ll start a fire in the fireplace, and that’ll be the end of it. Okay?” He kissed her warmly on the forehead. Her body relaxed a bit against his, pushing his potbelly in a little.
“Okay baby.” She smiled up at him and they kissed each other goodbye.
*****
Phil and Marcy’s house was about three quarters of a mile down the same street that Phil’s place of work was. This meant he didn’t drive to work ever, and it meant he got to fire up one of his cigarettes without driving her up a wall. She’d quit years ago when they found out they were going to be grandparents. It was a warm morning, a good June day. Phil didn’t feel like it was going to get too hot either, which was always nice. Warm but not hot and humid. To hell with humidity Phil always said.
Moore’s Sporting Goods was the only real gun shop in town. Of course three towns over there was a Walmart, and a couple sporting good stores, but Moore’s was small town owned and small town operated and you couldn’t beat that. In fact, Moore’s was opened by the Chief of Police 20 years ago, and his son was Chief of Police right now too. Two generations of locals, proud to serve the hunting and outdoors needs of its residents.
Moore’s was still locked up when Phil got there, but he let himself in with
“Phil I think something is wrong out there.” She didn’t even turn to him say it. That wasn’t like her at all.
“Well could you move so your husband can see what’s so wrong?” He absently slid a whole piece of bacon into his mouth as he gestured for her to move aside. Marcy obliged immediately, still without taking her eyes off the television. She turned the volume knob on the old set up so Phil could hear it.
“So reports are now telling us that overnight in about 80 to 100 locations there were very violent attacks by people who appeared to be on some form of sedatives, or perhaps sick with some form of rabies. Authorities are unsure what the root is of this strange occurrence, but the global nature of the attacks has authorities on alert everywhere.” The perfectly dressed and primped morning show host said in his mild baritone voice.
The other host, this one a far too artificially beautiful blonde lady chimed in and added, “Well Chuck, reports from Bangkok, Chicago, London, St. Petersburg, Bogota, and Sydney are all the same. These people are reaching a near-death catatonic state, and then suddenly becoming violent, biting and scratching anyone near them. It’s almost like one of those terrible zombie movies that have been so popular on late night television lately.” She giggled on the last delivery. The male news guy smiled awkwardly and played along with her joke.
“Authorities here in the United States are advising all people to be attentive to anyone acting suspicious, especially anyone who appears to fall asleep, or go into a trance. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating what exactly is causing this, but the CDC is now circulating information that it’s likely a form of virus. Perhaps some form of worldwide biological attack by extremists.”
“Bullshit. It’s Al-Qaeda.” Phil mumbled angrily. “Ain’t no fucking bird flu.” He scraped the last bit of egg off his plate and downed the last mouthful of his black coffee.
“I don’t know Phil, it’s on all the stations. I think this could be real serious.” She finally tore her eyes off the television set and looked at him worriedly. Her hazel eyes could say more in one glance than an hour of her talking. Phil paused the rant he about to give and swallowed it. He’d be a good husband and worry along with her.
Phil put his dishes in the sink and gathered his wife of 35 years up in a bear hug, “Well you just stay here in the house all day like normal, and I’ll go to the shop, and have a normal day there, and tonight we’ll start a fire in the fireplace, and that’ll be the end of it. Okay?” He kissed her warmly on the forehead. Her body relaxed a bit against his, pushing his potbelly in a little.
“Okay baby.” She smiled up at him and they kissed each other goodbye.
*****
Phil and Marcy’s house was about three quarters of a mile down the same street that Phil’s place of work was. This meant he didn’t drive to work ever, and it meant he got to fire up one of his cigarettes without driving her up a wall. She’d quit years ago when they found out they were going to be grandparents. It was a warm morning, a good June day. Phil didn’t feel like it was going to get too hot either, which was always nice. Warm but not hot and humid. To hell with humidity Phil always said.
Moore’s Sporting Goods was the only real gun shop in town. Of course three towns over there was a Walmart, and a couple sporting good stores, but Moore’s was small town owned and small town operated and you couldn’t beat that. In fact, Moore’s was opened by the Chief of Police 20 years ago, and his son was Chief of Police right now too. Two generations of locals, proud to serve the hunting and outdoors needs of its residents.
Moore’s was still locked up when Phil got there, but he let himself in with
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