Merry, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, and Festivus (for the rest of us) to you all!!
Being the time of year for giving, I thought I would share an excerpt from a story I have been working on. It takes place after the collapse of society (AKA the post-apocalypse) and follows a group of freelancers on a quest. The excerpt is from Chapter 2, where two of our freelancers get chatted up by a post-apocalyptic store owner about something he heard on the radio…
And here it is…
While Medix and Rivett were perusing the guns & ammo district, one of the shopkeepers called out to them with enthusiasm. “Hey there, young’uns!” He cried. “Did any of ya happen to hear the good news?”
Rivett replied, “If we say ‘yes’, do we get a discount?”
Medix was less inclined to humor the old man. “We don’t have time to waste on town rumors, Riv…”
“It’s no rumor, young man!” The old man then pointed to the radio and said, “It’s on frequency 14.8!”
Now, even Medix was curious. “What is?”
“The Remnants! They’re talking to us through the radio!”
Medix thought the old man was losing his mind; all he could hear on the old man’s radio was a voice narrating about ‘peaceful times’. It was Rivett who asked, “What the hell are the Remnants?”
“They’re the old guard!” The man swung his arms, gesticulating wildly. “What’s left of our old government, coming back to save us from this hellscape we’re in!! Last night I heard the President say they’re coming soon!” Then the old man said the sweetest thing either of them ever heard; “Why, I’m so excited I declare everything in my shop is 50% off!!”
Then the old man’s wife, upon hearing her husband, intervened. “Clem Abernathy!!” She exclaimed, storming up to the old man till her face was inches away from his. “You ain’t givin’ discounts like that while your wife is still breathin’!”
Rivett looked at the old man crooked. “Your name is Clem…?”
Clem stammered, “W-well, I better tend to the inventory!” Then upon regaining his composure, he exclaimed “Keep an ear out for the Remnants, young’uns! And GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!”
Once Clem was gone, his wife turned to the two. “Sorry about that lil argument we was havin’, young’uns. What can Old Catty do for you today?”
“Is there really some guy talking about unifying the country again?” Medix asked.
Old Catty sighed. “My husband has had that station on night and day. Drivin’ me up the damn wall! I can’t really blame him none; we were young when the world went to shit. Clem still remembers how things were… poor fool.”
“Yeah,” Rivett chimed in. “Must’ve smelled better.”
Old Catty laughed so hard at Rivett’s remark she almost passed out. “Certainly was, child!” She finally had the breath to say. “But enough of the small chatter. What can I do for y’all?”
…Have a great day y’all! Till next time!
Studio CreatiV: The Writings, poetry and musing of an Angry Man 