Case:Black - 29. Chapter 29

Southaven, MS

Suburbs

2200CST

Jason Miller was surfing the net. At the moment the 15 year old didn’t like much about his world. It was bad enough to be stuck at home, inside during summer time. It was worse that he couldn’t see anyone. There was a ragged edge of fear permeating everything like a skunk’s odor: blinding and unpleasant. You could pretend that it wasn’t there but that’s all you could do- pretend. There was simply no escaping it.

He had seen it in people’s eyes all day. He had to go home from his job at Kroger when the government shut down the world. At least he had enough of his wits about him to go home with a full cart of groceries.

Worse still, he knew that at least some of his friends and their families were in the hospital.

There was nothing on TV but an endless parade of bad news. He had turned if off and was wandering the net. The crisis was there too but he could choose to go places where he didn’t have to face it.

His phone chirped a text alert.

Bobby: I’m back home.

He picked up the phone and entered: I thought you were sick?

Bobby: I am. I just don’t have the Russian death plague. Just Mono. Go figure.

Jason eyes stung with tears. He wasn’t going to lose his best friend. It was the first good news he had gotten all day.

He replied to the text with a tear rolling down his cheek, Maybe you’ll live long enough to get coordinated.

Bobby: Oh you’re real funny. It was really scary Jay. I mean 28 Days Later scary with all the soldiers, doctors and nurses in their masks. I’ve never been gladder to be home.

Jason texted: The Townsends are in the hospital, so is Gina’s Mom and both Davis twins.

Bobby: I hate that for Gina. Her Mom is cool. I don’t even want to think about the others.

Jason: There’s a whole lot of suck going around.

Bobby: Truth. Look, this stuff makes me tried and they say to sleep it off. Would you let people know I’m OK? I'm too beat.

Jason: No problem Bobby. Who did you kiss to get Mono anyway?

Bobby: Oh, you’re just full of laughs tonight.