Soap Opera1
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep2
Silver bells. Silver bells.3
It seemed to Christine like the one thing that kept her chained to her body4
was that Christmas tree smell. It pulled her time and time again from that5
abyss that she so wanted to sink into forever. She'd been driving to the6
college to pick Jenny up for Thanksgiving, then this strange twilight.7
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.8
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.9
Someone must have left the TV on. It sounded like one of those soap10
operas, City Hospital or something. They were discussing some poor soul11
who had a terminal brain injury.12
"Look at that monitor Zack. I tell you she's waking up. Every time I mop13
in here it's the same thing. That little dohicky there lights up and the14
beeping gets faster. Faster every time too."15
"I tell ya Lois, it's nothing. Like Doctor Wublonski said; it's just the16
mop water changes the humidity for a few minutes. She can't wake up. She17
doesn't have enough brain to wake up with. It leaked."18
"I dunno. I think you're wrong. She's gonna wake up. I can feel it."19
"She ain't gonna wake up. March first they're gonna pull the plug and20
she's goin' outta here in a body bag."21
"Silly people." thought Christine. "Talking about March and here it was22
just almost Christmas." She faded with that piney smell.23
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.24
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.25
Red lights. Green lights. It had been an enormous effort, but she had26
finally managed to open her eyes a crack. Seeing the flashing lights that27
she had expected cheered her up immensely.28
"Man, you gotta see this."29
"See what Lois?"30
"Her eyes Zack. They opened. She looked at the monitors."31
"You gotta quit smokin' that stuff Lois."32
That interminable soap opera went on and on.33
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.34
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.35
"Hey Lois?'36
"Yeah Zack. Whaddaya want?"37
"Hurry it up willya. The family will be here soon."38
"What family?"39
"Her family. Didja forget; it's March first."40
That Christmas tree smell was strong, strong, strong.41
When Lois turned around to pour the cleaner into the mop bucket there was a42
man in faded Levis and a Tigers sweatshirt that looked like it hadn't fit43
him in a dozen years right in front of her. She gave a little squeal of44
surprise and dropped the Pine Sol bottle which went off like a bomb,45
spraying it's strong smelling contents all over the room.46
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.47
Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.48
Jingle bells, jingle bells.49
Jingle all the way.50
It sounded like the kids were up. Stiffly she sat up on the strange bed.51
"Merry Christmas." she tried to yell, but it came out a hoarse whisper.52
Now why was everyone laughing, crying and carrying on so?53
Author notes
This story kept trying to push its way out when I was trying to write It's Christmas. I finally let it.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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It's an interesting style, it's requires a little closer attention when reading. A little experimental, it ends traditionally enough...on a positive note. There's a nice blend of subtle humor throughout.
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I almost didn't write this. I was trying to write something else; the It's Christmas poem, and this kept intruding, then I forgot it for a couple of days. We are in the throes of an election up here and as usual I am 'way involved with that as well as a dozen other things, each of which could take all of one's time.
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I am blown away by this. Blown away. Wow, I wish I weren't so behind on my allpoetry commenting...I've missed so much. I had to read this twice to catch everything. The first time, I read it too fast, again. I always do that! This was really neat though.
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