oddities but they now rolled in from the media with increasing frequency.
Dante asked her, 'Hey, you okay?'
She sniffled, nodded, and guessed they wanted, 'Two more?'
'Yeah…please,' Richard dared answer for them both.
'And keep them coming,' Dante added.
She walked away between rows of crowded tables, her head still low.
…BRITISH GOVERNMENT DENIES THAT SECURITY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE WAS BREACHED BY A ‘MONSTER’ LAST NIGHT AS REPORTED BY A MEMBER OF THE PALACE’S SERVICE STAFF… NATIONAL CONSTITUTION MUSEUM IN PHILADELPHIA REMAINS CLOSED AFTER INCIDENT YESTERDAY INVOLVING A WILD ‘ANIMAL’ THAT KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING TWO POLICE OFFICERS…
Richard pondered, 'First the disappearances, now people seeing things.'
'People? You mean people like you?'
'I guess so.'
'Watch your back. When things start going bad, it’s not just the weird stuff you got to worry about, you know?'
Rich did not know.
Dante explained, 'Other people, man. Did you ever stop to think about what would happen if there weren’t any cops on the streets? What happens when people start turning on their televisions and get nothing but static? You think it’s bad when we’re getting all the news? Think about what’s going to happen when people don’t get any of it; when all they get is dead air.'
'You think it’s going to come to that?'
'Man, I’ll tell you what I would do if I were you,' Dante leaned forward. 'I’d go and get your honey and find somewhere to lay low for a couple of days to see where all this is heading.'
Richard shook his head.
'I can’t do that. I’ve got work tomorrow. I’ve got things I got to do.'
'Work? Are you kidding me? Work? The world is falling apart and you’re going to sell cars?'
'Dante, it’s my job. Are you walking away from your job? What if all this blows over?'
Jones threw his hands up in exasperation.
'Have you been watching the news?'
…SECRETARY OF STATE URGES AMERICANS TO CANCEL OVERSEAS TRAVEL PLANS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…NYSE HALTS TRADING AFTER RECORD DROP IN THE SIX MINUTES FOLLOWING THE REPORTED MASS DISAPPEARANCE AT WRIGLEY FIELD…
'I hear it. I’m scared. But I’ve got a wedding coming up.'
'Man, you better start changing the way you think,' Dante warned.
Rich said, 'I’m trying to deal with reality here. And the reality is that I’ve got responsibilities and bills.'
Dante grinned and shook his head in a familiar manner; a manner suggesting he heard words so moronic he could only laugh.
'I think we’re about to find out that our cars and our big cities and our complicated tax code and must-see TV is all a fantasy. I think reality is coming right at us. I don’t think we’re going to like it.'
– Ashley paced from one end of the porch to the other, weaving between the wicker chair and glider. She barely noticed Dick’s Malibu as it stopped in front of the house.
Rich jogged to the stairs then hopped on to the porch in two bounds. Ashley paced over to him, threw her arms around her future husband and buried her head into his chest.
'Tell me it’s going to be okay.'
Rich’s mouth opened and wavered.
A late afternoon breeze punctuated his silence, blowing lazily across the porch. Sounds rode the wind: horns and rumbling traffic, music from car stereos and shouts across playgrounds. All those sounds had traveled far to find their ears. Ashley’s neighborhood seemed an isolated enclave separate from the rest of the world. Rich imagined the porch a theater and those distant noises playing on a back stage phonograph.
She pleaded, 'Tell me this is all one big bad dream and that everything will be all right and the wedding will go on like we planned.'
Rich shook away thoughts of theaters and phony soundtracks to focus on reality. Yes, reality, no matter what Dante said. He pulled her away from his chest to search her eyes. He found more red than green.
'Everything will be fine. Our wedding is going to be perfect. Your cousins aren’t going to fight and your dad is going to dance with you at the reception. It’s going to be beautiful and you’re going to be the most beautiful bride, ever. Period.'
Ashley sobbed softly.
'All…those…people…'
The front door creaked as it swung open. Rich nodded a polite hello to Mr. Trump.
'Well that about does it,' Ashley’s dad informed. 'The President says not to panic so I sure ain’t panicking.'
'What else did he say?'
'All military leave has been cancelled and the President is on his way to a ‘secure’ location-probably Cheyenne Mountain I expect. He's upped the alert status of all military forces and slapped price freezes on gasoline and food.'
Rich sneered, 'Glad to see no one is panicking.'
'Gotta take precautions ‘course.'
'Of course…' Stone chewed on an idea. 'Ashley, why don’t you get some things together and come stay at my parents’ house? Out there, away from town, might be a little safer, you know?'
She pulled away and gaped at him.
'You can stay in one of the guest rooms. Your parents could come, too, there’s plenty of room.'
'No, Sir,' Benjamin Trump left no room for misunderstanding. 'My home is my castle. You’ll understand that when you have your own home someday.'
Richard felt a vibration in his front pocket from his cell phone.
'Dad’s right,' Ashley agreed because her dad’s presence allowed nothing else. 'I’ll stay here. It wouldn’t be right-so close to our wedding day-to be sleeping under the same roof.'
'I can take care of my family, young man,' Trump insisted.
The vibration of his phone changed to an annoying loud buzz.
Rich tried, 'Don’t you think-'
'It’s about standing your ground. About doing the right thing.'
Richard tried to ignore his phone but both Benjamin and Ashley glared, as if asking, well are you going to answer that?
Dick reluctantly opened his flip phone.
'Hello…hey. Hi, Lori…'
Ashley grunted. Of course, Lori-an old friend of Dick’s-would interrupt their important conversation.
'He what? When? You’re kidding me. I’ll be there in twenty minutes; I’m at Ashley’s right now. Okay. Bye.'
Richard closed his phone and explained, 'I’ve got to go. Jon just-'
Ashley waived her hand dismissing his explanation. 'Go ahead if you have to. I don’t care.' She turned fast and stomped inside.
'She’s upset,' Benjamin Trump stated the obvious. 'I’ll calm her down. You go take care of whatever is more important right now.'
Rich nodded, skipped down the front stairs, then stopped. He swiveled about and addressed his future father-in-law.
'One thing I’ve always wanted to ask you, Mr. Trump.'
'What’s that, Dick?'
'The fourth biggest fence company in the county, right?'
Trump smirked smugly and nodded.
Dick questioned, 'So why didn’t you ever build a fence around your own home?'
