the season, and a building collapse in District 89147 , causing no injuries and only minimal personal property damage.
It took Shelley over two hours to purchase the rest of the items on her list, and her hands were full by the time she got onto the shuttle back to Housing. The rain picked up, but luckily, transportation services continued to move. Shelley’s bags grew heavier the longer she held them, but she dared not set them down in fear of someone else quickly claiming them. Luckily, the Line 250 Shuttle gave her a direct shot back to Housing and she had only a short walk from the garage. She remov ed her mask and gloves as she entered her building.
As she approached her apartment, she noticed that William and Judith stood in the hallway, talking to George. William and Judith were both wearing facemasks and gloves, as if George might somehow be contagious. They had apparently given him a bottle of tequila, and he held it close to his body with a protective grip . The group saw Shelley and moved so she could get all of her bags through the door. Tired and cranky, she dropped the bags just past the kitchen door and sat down beside the wall heater.
“Would you like to come in and help me drink this?” George asked William and Judith through the door, scratching at the week-old stubble on his face.
The couple exchanged glances, and then William very politely answered, “No.” Neither had the heart to tell George they couldn’t take the chance that his apartment might still be infected with the new virus everyone was talking about. They wished George and his family well, but they also felt it best to keep some precautionary distance from them for the time being. One could never be too careful.
“Come by if there’s anything you need,” Judith said.
George nodded gratefully. “Thanks.”
William shrugged as the couple moved to their side of the hall. “What are neighbors for, right?” William opened the door, and they rushed inside, looking terrified that the virus might seek them out if they linger ed in the hall any longer.
George closed and locked the door, and then took the bottle of tequila into the kitchen. He pulled a tumbler from the cupboard, poured himself a generous serving of the potent, amber liquid, and then sat down at the table. He took a swig of the drink, cough ing lightly as it burned its way down to his stomach.
Shelley watched, curious. “It can’t taste that bad.”
“Well, you’re not going to find out tonight, so don’t ask.” George took another swig, swallowing hard.
“I wasn’t going to,” Shelley lied. She got up and began putting away the groceries.
George looked terrible. He hadn’t slept since he got the news about Virginia, and his hygiene had diminished considerably over the week.
Kurt stormed in. “Took you long enough! I’m starving! When’s dinner?”
“I’m going to start it as soon as I’m done putting away the groceries,” Shelley said.
“Are we going to have dinner in the dark again?” Kurt whined.
“Maybe.” Shelley worked to remain patient with the boy, knowing his anger and confusion.
Kurt stomped his foot. “It’s not fair!”
“Go play in your room, Kurt,” George said.
“It’s getting dark in my room!” Kurt cried.
“Then bring your toys in here. Dinner will be ready in a little whil e . ” He grimaced as he swallowed another shot of tequila.
Kurt gave George an angry scowl, but he didn’t move.
Shelley dug the batteries out of one of the bags. “Kurt, look what I got for the click-light.” She tossed one to him, and he caught it with both hands. “Why don’t you change it out, while we still have the kitchen light on?”
Kurt left with the battery, his mood instantly diffused.
George poured himself another serving of tequila. He noticed that Shelley left out a package of spaghetti and canned sauce. Virginia always made spaghetti on
It took Shelley over two hours to purchase the rest of the items on her list, and her hands were full by the time she got onto the shuttle back to Housing. The rain picked up, but luckily, transportation services continued to move. Shelley’s bags grew heavier the longer she held them, but she dared not set them down in fear of someone else quickly claiming them. Luckily, the Line 250 Shuttle gave her a direct shot back to Housing and she had only a short walk from the garage. She remov ed her mask and gloves as she entered her building.
As she approached her apartment, she noticed that William and Judith stood in the hallway, talking to George. William and Judith were both wearing facemasks and gloves, as if George might somehow be contagious. They had apparently given him a bottle of tequila, and he held it close to his body with a protective grip . The group saw Shelley and moved so she could get all of her bags through the door. Tired and cranky, she dropped the bags just past the kitchen door and sat down beside the wall heater.
“Would you like to come in and help me drink this?” George asked William and Judith through the door, scratching at the week-old stubble on his face.
The couple exchanged glances, and then William very politely answered, “No.” Neither had the heart to tell George they couldn’t take the chance that his apartment might still be infected with the new virus everyone was talking about. They wished George and his family well, but they also felt it best to keep some precautionary distance from them for the time being. One could never be too careful.
“Come by if there’s anything you need,” Judith said.
George nodded gratefully. “Thanks.”
William shrugged as the couple moved to their side of the hall. “What are neighbors for, right?” William opened the door, and they rushed inside, looking terrified that the virus might seek them out if they linger ed in the hall any longer.
George closed and locked the door, and then took the bottle of tequila into the kitchen. He pulled a tumbler from the cupboard, poured himself a generous serving of the potent, amber liquid, and then sat down at the table. He took a swig of the drink, cough ing lightly as it burned its way down to his stomach.
Shelley watched, curious. “It can’t taste that bad.”
“Well, you’re not going to find out tonight, so don’t ask.” George took another swig, swallowing hard.
“I wasn’t going to,” Shelley lied. She got up and began putting away the groceries.
George looked terrible. He hadn’t slept since he got the news about Virginia, and his hygiene had diminished considerably over the week.
Kurt stormed in. “Took you long enough! I’m starving! When’s dinner?”
“I’m going to start it as soon as I’m done putting away the groceries,” Shelley said.
“Are we going to have dinner in the dark again?” Kurt whined.
“Maybe.” Shelley worked to remain patient with the boy, knowing his anger and confusion.
Kurt stomped his foot. “It’s not fair!”
“Go play in your room, Kurt,” George said.
“It’s getting dark in my room!” Kurt cried.
“Then bring your toys in here. Dinner will be ready in a little whil e . ” He grimaced as he swallowed another shot of tequila.
Kurt gave George an angry scowl, but he didn’t move.
Shelley dug the batteries out of one of the bags. “Kurt, look what I got for the click-light.” She tossed one to him, and he caught it with both hands. “Why don’t you change it out, while we still have the kitchen light on?”
Kurt left with the battery, his mood instantly diffused.
George poured himself another serving of tequila. He noticed that Shelley left out a package of spaghetti and canned sauce. Virginia always made spaghetti on
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