She can’t believe the weekend has finally arrived. It’s five pm, her last class is over, and it’s time to party, party, party! She’s been invited to the Halloween party of the century, taking place at a vast mansion in the next town. Her roommate has agreed to drive since it’s two hours away. Since they will only be there one night, she stuffs her costume and cosmetics in her backpack. Her party outfit consists of high heels, fishnet hose, a black slip dress, and cat ears.
He can’t believe the weekend has finally arrived. All his life, he’s been the black sheep of the family. His parents are professionals, his brothers have Ph. D.s, his sister is married to an attorney, and he works as a cashier in a 7-11. But this weekend, he will be “The Man,” the one his group of ne’er-do-well friends can count on. They promised no one would get killed, but the IRS will need a new building after he’s through.
She has it all planned. She and her roommate will meet at the coffee bar on campus and leave from there. After they arrive at the party venue, she will need to check into her room, get dressed, apply her makeup, and then show up as a sexy black cat with all the boys drooling.
He has it all planned. He will arrive at the tech park. After checking things out, he will plant the bomb at the IRS building and walk two miles east. At midnight, he will dial the correct number on his phone, and then BOOM.
She drops her backpack on the coffee shop bench and stands in line. She orders a double macchiato and a lemon drop cookie when she gets to the counter. She’s too excited to eat much, plus the black slip dress she plans to wear is already alarmingly tight.
He drops his backpack on the coffee shop bench and stands in line. He orders black coffee and a sesame bagel when he gets to the counter. He’s too nervous to eat much.
Her phone starts to ring. Her roommate’s out front with the car, so she grabs a backpack and runs outside.
He sits inside to eat his bagel and drink his coffee. When he finishes, he grabs a backpack and walks outside.
She and her roommate chat excitedly as they navigate the heavy traffic. Her roommate plans to dress as a witch, and she keeps taking her hand off the steering wheel to show how tall her hat will be.
He walks silently to the terminal. He’s sweating and wipes his hands on the outside of his backpack. He gets into the subway car for his long ride to the IRS building.
She checks into the hotel and goes to the bar for a drink. She chooses a Manhattan because it sounds sophisticated. The party doesn’t start until midnight, so there’s plenty of time before she needs to get ready. Several cute guys are in the bar, and one drink turns into four.
He arrives at the tech park needing to urinate. No public restrooms are open, so he walks behind a building and pees on a plant. The air is hot and muggy, so he sits on the ground next to a tree. The only sound is that of buzzing mosquitos, which is oddly calming. He closes his eyes for a second and falls asleep.
At 11:30, she finally staggers up to her room. Her backpack is on the bed where she threw it. She unzips it and dumps out the contents. Her mind is fuzzy, and she thinks she must be dreaming. There are no fishnet stockings, black slip dress, high heels, or cat ears. Instead, on the bed are a couple of dirty towels and a small rectangular device that looks like a cell phone. She starts to cry.
At 11:30, he finally wakes up. One eye is swollen shut from a bug bite, and his legs are cramping. The backpack is on the ground where he threw it. He unzips it and dumps out the contents. His mind is fuzzy, and he thinks he must be dreaming. There is no bomb. Instead, on the ground are some sleazy-looking women’s clothing and shoes. He picks up the cat’s ears and places them on his head.
She stops crying and picks up the rectangular device.
He stops rubbing his legs and picks up his cell phone.
Neither of them knows what they are going to do.
— opelikakat
He can’t believe the weekend has finally arrived. All his life, he’s been the black sheep of the family. His parents are professionals, his brothers have Ph. D.s, his sister is married to an attorney, and he works as a cashier in a 7-11. But this weekend, he will be “The Man,” the one his group of ne’er-do-well friends can count on. They promised no one would get killed, but the IRS will need a new building after he’s through.
She has it all planned. She and her roommate will meet at the coffee bar on campus and leave from there. After they arrive at the party venue, she will need to check into her room, get dressed, apply her makeup, and then show up as a sexy black cat with all the boys drooling.
He has it all planned. He will arrive at the tech park. After checking things out, he will plant the bomb at the IRS building and walk two miles east. At midnight, he will dial the correct number on his phone, and then BOOM.
She drops her backpack on the coffee shop bench and stands in line. She orders a double macchiato and a lemon drop cookie when she gets to the counter. She’s too excited to eat much, plus the black slip dress she plans to wear is already alarmingly tight.
He drops his backpack on the coffee shop bench and stands in line. He orders black coffee and a sesame bagel when he gets to the counter. He’s too nervous to eat much.
Her phone starts to ring. Her roommate’s out front with the car, so she grabs a backpack and runs outside.
He sits inside to eat his bagel and drink his coffee. When he finishes, he grabs a backpack and walks outside.
She and her roommate chat excitedly as they navigate the heavy traffic. Her roommate plans to dress as a witch, and she keeps taking her hand off the steering wheel to show how tall her hat will be.
He walks silently to the terminal. He’s sweating and wipes his hands on the outside of his backpack. He gets into the subway car for his long ride to the IRS building.
She checks into the hotel and goes to the bar for a drink. She chooses a Manhattan because it sounds sophisticated. The party doesn’t start until midnight, so there’s plenty of time before she needs to get ready. Several cute guys are in the bar, and one drink turns into four.
He arrives at the tech park needing to urinate. No public restrooms are open, so he walks behind a building and pees on a plant. The air is hot and muggy, so he sits on the ground next to a tree. The only sound is that of buzzing mosquitos, which is oddly calming. He closes his eyes for a second and falls asleep.
At 11:30, she finally staggers up to her room. Her backpack is on the bed where she threw it. She unzips it and dumps out the contents. Her mind is fuzzy, and she thinks she must be dreaming. There are no fishnet stockings, black slip dress, high heels, or cat ears. Instead, on the bed are a couple of dirty towels and a small rectangular device that looks like a cell phone. She starts to cry.
At 11:30, he finally wakes up. One eye is swollen shut from a bug bite, and his legs are cramping. The backpack is on the ground where he threw it. He unzips it and dumps out the contents. His mind is fuzzy, and he thinks he must be dreaming. There is no bomb. Instead, on the ground are some sleazy-looking women’s clothing and shoes. He picks up the cat’s ears and places them on his head.
She stops crying and picks up the rectangular device.
He stops rubbing his legs and picks up his cell phone.
Neither of them knows what they are going to do.
— opelikakat
Very compelling. Very tightly structured. The mind races ahead certain of catastrophe, but maybe not. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteI was holding my breath. Agree with Daniel, tightly woven. Great read
ReplyDeleteReally great suspense. Glad "something" didn't happen--- yet. Maybe it will happen outside the story, where stories go to complete themselves. Not that it's not complete as it is! Funny, the things different people look forward to! ---Macoff
ReplyDeleteThis is a super read. Two stories make a third. Very suspenseful and clever.
ReplyDelete