4th of July
feeeew–BOOM Crackle-Crackle
Tonight is the worst, for it is July 4th, or fireworks night. And I hate the fireworks going on outside. They’re loud, noisy, and make it hard to sleep.
Boom-Boom-BABABOOM
See? Back to sleep.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…
“FRANK! Wake up! We have to go!”
Slowly, I stumble out of bed to see the water rising outside of our small room. Hundreds of panicked people are getting out of their rooms. Far below, I see a murkiness. It’s rising. Oh my gosh. That’s water. And it’s rising.
“There’s a HOLE in the wall! Water’s coming up!” someone screams.
“HELP! I can’t sw–[bubbling & thrashing]”
“Please calmly evacuate and walk up the stairs to the emergency exit,” says the intercom. The company used a soothing voice. It’s really not working. Case of point: ME. I’m. Literally. On. The. EDGE. OF. PANIC!
“Everyone’s going to die!”
“Everyone for themselves!”
“RUN!!!”
***
“HELP! Can anyone hear us? HELP! … SOS …”
“…970 people have been found dead in the disaster. Most are saved by life rafts [static]… [Radio dies]”
***
I need to get into the building before the end of the day. I sneak towards the side door, and see all the trucks ready to come in as soon as July 1st starts at midnight. I keep moving, my head down.
The lock on the employee entrance is easy to pick; it comes open with ease. Inside, several security guards patrol.
“Hey! What are you doing here?!”
They don’t know I’ve already completed my task…
***
“Welcome to ABC channel 12 for July 7th. I’m David. First, regarding the deadly disaster. Int. Cruises LLC, based in Thompson City, is witnessing its stocks drop dramatically due to the disaster and loss of property. Instead, Cruise City Inc. is taking its place. Gerdie, how will this affect us, being a port town?…”
***
It’s the 4th of July, and I’m in a good mood. The firework show is amazing, and I’m paid just to stand here and watch it. All I have to do is make sure no one plays around with the fireworks that have not gone off yet.
feeew–BOOM Crackle-Crackle
See that? It’s amazing!
beep……beep……beeP…..beeP
“Will someone–beEP–stop that?” my boss yells. “Is that you, John?”
beEP
“No”
bEEP…bEEP…bEEP..BEEP..BEEP BEEP BEEBEEBEE–“Uh-oh”–BEBEBEBEEEEP
BOOM-BOOM-BABABOOM
I am flung backward, and —
***
“Hello, welcome back to ABC channel 12 for July 5th. Today, we come to you with breaking news. Thompson City flooded overnight after a fireworks warehouse housing unused fireworks exploded, damaging the levee that holds back the Mississippi. We still do not know what set off the fireworks. The city is 40 feet below sea level in some areas, and satellites have shown that the Mississippi has found a new path, right through the heart of the city.
“970 people have been found dead in the disaster. Most are saved by life rafts, which, due to the threat of the sea, are found in all buildings. Despite this, most rafts are near the top of tall buildings, because of a local law loophole, causing many deaths. Tens of Thousands more are missing, but they could just be on life rafts that haven’t gotten picked up yet. For a city with millions of people, this is a pretty high survival rate.
“Int. Cruises LLC‘s headquarters was a one-story flat building, and many people were missing from there. The corporation will have to find a new headqua–Dora the Explora!”
***
Transcription for Cruise City Inc Board of Trustees Meet May 9th:
…
CEO: Int. Cruises is taking all of our business. We must do something!
Everyone else: Yes, Boss.
CEO: I say we destroy their headquarters!
Secretary: You know this is being recorded, right?
CEO: Turn off the recording!
[Transcription ended]
***
From the Cruise City Inc. spending record:
-120 million dollars to [Scratched out]
-500 dollars to Meniflome.
Comments:
“Why did the company spend millions on something that needs to be hidden. And why did they hire a criminal known for torture?”
***
“Is it true that you planted the device that blew up the fireworks?” I ask. “Remember, you are under an oath.”
The defendant answers, “Yes.”
Gasps ring out. “And what was your motive?”
“Cruise City Inc. told me to do it, Judge.”