"The New America" (Spillwords Press Prompt: Echoes of a Silent City)

 

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(Photos from Pinterest) 

 

 

“The New America”

        I must be dreaming. Either that, or I have been transported to the “Twilight Zone”. Yes, that must be it. This is the “Twilight Zone” and I don’t like it one bit. Where is everybody? Yesterday, I was dodging traffic to get to the crowded bank so I could cash my paycheck; and then I was dodging pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists to get to the local pizza store for a tantalizing slice of Brooklyn pizza. Now, no traffic, no people, no voices, and no sirens from fire engines, police cars or ambulances as they rush off to emergencies. Nothing! - and where are those aromas of espresso, cappuccino, Italian pastries, or freshly baked bread from the corner Café/Pasticceria? Yesterday the wind carried those wonderful aromas through the air straight to my waiting nostrils... Oh geez, I don’t understand what is happening. “Today”, I am missing everything that I took for granted "yesterday".

 

        Where are my neighbors who usually sat out on their stoops everyday making small talk, or simply gossiping about everyone else? This cannot be happening! Could this be “Armageddon”? Maybe the “Rapture” occurred, and I was left behind? I know I was not a perfect person, but I sure as hell was not the worst in the world. God, I’m a believer, and I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. Do you hear me? Are you out there somewhere? Did you forget about me?

 

        Oh this is not good. The air is thick, I can hardly breathe; and not a breeze is upsetting one strand of hair on my head. This is stranger than strange. I need to get to my house to check on my family. Oh, this is the loneliest walk I have ever taken in my entire life. Each and every shop is closed and so dark inside. The Supermarket is locked and empty just like the Pharmacy next door. The bagel shop is closed too. Where are all the people rushing off to work with a bagel and coffee in hand? This is insanity…Oh God, help me! There is my house. At least it is still standing. It looks dark and devoid of life, like everything else around me! I fear what I might find.

 

        Okay, let’s try to be rational here. There is an explanation for everything – I hope. Now just put the key in the door as usual, open the door and wait for your sweet cocker spaniel to greet you with tail wagging, as he does his “doggie dance”… What the hell? The key will not open the door… It's the wrong key! I can't find the right key! What happened to my key? I must have dropped it through the chaos! Where is my key? ... Okay, ring the bell. Someone will answer. Ring it again! One more time! - Nothing! No one! Not even the dog. Where do I go from here? I don’t know what to do. I guess I’ll keep walking. I am bound to run into something…or someone.

 

        I am getting exhausted. My feet hurt and I am losing the ability to think. This is mind-boggling… Oh wait a minute. I see something in the distance. Is it my imagination, or do I see an airplane? Yes! Yes! It’s a plane. Someone is yelling “Get on board! Hurry! Last flight out!” – As tired as I was, and with aching feet, I began to run towards that plane – the first sign of life today. A man was waving me on telling me to hurry, and hurry I did. I boarded that plane and found one empty seat to sink my aching body into. People were calling out my name. I turned to find my family, friends and neighbors wearing smiles on their faces and sighs of relief that I made it to the plane. As I smiled right back at all of them with an immeasurable joy and peace, I heard the pilot announce to all of us that we must fasten our seat belts as we were ready for take-off. I fastened my seat belt as did the other passengers, but I still had more questions than answers. What just happened to me?

    

        As we were in the air, the pilot made another announcement. He said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, and all loving pets, I apologize for this sudden and immediate evacuation put upon you today, but know we are headed to safety. Our destination cannot be divulged at this time for security reasons, but rest assured you are no longer in danger. Communist China’s cyber and biological attacks on the United States have begun, and we will not be returning to the United States of America as we know it. Your country will soon be destroyed. Your Government has made arrangements for all Americans to begin a new life in a new destination, to be named “The New America”; and China will soon be obliterated by the United States Military, never to do harm again. So, sit back and enjoy the flight.” - What??? This is surreal. I saw both horror and relief on everyone's faces...and I saw love.

 

        I knew this could happen one day; but certainly not like this. It was as if we were in a science-fiction movie... So I grabbed a pillow like everyone else who looked as exhausted as I did, and fell asleep; eager and very thankful to be waking up in “The New America”.

 

 

 

"A Sprinkle and a Thrashing" (Spillwords Press Prompt: Personifying "Rain")

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(PHOTOS FROM PINTEREST):

           

              Have you come by to torment me once again like a thief in the night, pounding at my window, waking me from my sleep, tormenting my heart, adding to my pain? Why? Can’t you just prance away nicely beneath each cloud, with dignity, and move on to someone else who may need you? Why me? Why is it always me? Please! Rain! Rain! Just go away! 

             Oh, my dear girl, have you learned nothing from the past? How many times have you cried yourself to sleep simply because you had a bad day at school, at work, or at home with your family, your friends, or your lover? I heard you whisper to me in your dreams how you longed for my soothing touch, how you longed for my loyal friendship. Yes  - you longed only for me - sweet  “Rain” - to come pouring down and bathe you with my succulence as you fell to slumber. Oh dear girl, I did that for you…I cried my eyes out so you would find some peace and comfort in the sound of my unique voice au naturel, while you hid beneath the covers on your bed. I tapped at your windowsill in unison with the wind, and waited patiently until you fell asleep. Then I quietly left you. I answered your call and came by to comfort you through a simple sprinkle or a thrashing outburst of my liquid gold. Now that I have been aimlessly lurking around you because of Mother Nature’s request to bless the earth with my magical touch - so fresh, and so moist in all of its glory; so clear as a mountain spring; and so lovely as a limpid lake, you want me gone! You no longer have any use for me, when I had been with you from childhood to adulthood. Such a sad tale.

            Oh “Rain”, what do I need to do to make you move on. Please understand I no longer find your visits and your sprinkle comforting. I have tired of your thrashing outbursts. I no longer desire your damp touch from your moistened presence. You enhance my fear and loneliness as I struggle through my day, or hide beneath the covers on my bed when evening comes. You are always there, without me whispering to you through my dreams. You come uninvited. I do not need you at this point and time in my life. Now I am asking you, please go away and let me be. I now find comfort from the brilliant Sun that warms my soul and kisses my cheeks. I embrace the enchanting Moon that lights my way through every darkness. I welcome the Winter snow that blankets my world with the essence of  Heaven, by every snowflake that falls to earth. Maybe one day I may invite you back into my life like an old friend, but today I am begging you to leave me for now. 
  
            Very well then. Mother Nature is calling me back, so it is time for me to go. If you do not want me to return, just simply tell me tonight from within your dreams. Let your heart speak to me. I will hear you; but remember, without me there will be no April showers or May flowers. There will be no Summer rain to cool the land. There will be no visit from me at your darkest hour, and I will remain dormant in your life. I bid you a farewell…

            … Oh no, what have I done? “Rain” where are you? The Sun is gone, the Moon is bright yet silent, the Winter Snow has not yet arrived, and I long for your visit in my loneliness. I long for your touch and your comforting sprinkle of liquid gold – even your thrashing against my window was music to my ears. I remember now how you were there when no one else was. You loved and comforted me as a child, through adulthood. Please “Rain”, hear me call out to you from my dreams and from my heart tonight. Hear my whisper, hear my voice. I miss you so. I long for your return. Your syncopated rhythm was magical, as you tapped at my windowsill. I slept in peace as you watched over me. You gave me strength to face another day. Please “Rain”, please return to me in my hour of need! Please! You must!

        …and “Rain” returned to me, like an old friend, with a sprinkle and a thrashing that brought both joy and comfort to my soul. I embraced “Rain” as I fell to slumber, while “Rain” sang me to sleep with her moistened lips and dulcet voice, once again. She sang a lullaby to me from Nature’s playlist, and I heard a faint echo in my dreams that promised my precious “Rain” would be back tomorrow night and many nights to follow… What a fool I had been, but how thankful I have become.