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

 

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/  

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44  

(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”.