Tales from the Red: Afternoon

             "Did you see the news?"

            Annie looked up from the kitchen counter and the magazine she'd been reading. Her roommate, Jen, had come out of her bedroom.

            "Nope," said Annie. She glanced down at an article, something about how the Red was being politicized by the Demorats and Republicraps.

            "There's riots on the East Coast," said Jen, practically bouncing with ghoulish excitement. "They've called out the National Guard in New York and Massachusetts."

            "It's probably fake news," said Annie, giving a careless shrug.

            "Don't you have family in Boston?" asked Jen.

            "None I give a damn about."

            Annie's disinterest seemed to deflate Jen's mood. She sighed and flopped down on their threadbare couch. She picked up the television remote and flipped through the channels until she came to one of the newscasts.

            "Don't," said Annie. "Please. I am so sick of the news."

            "There might be some news about a vaccine," said Jen, teasingly. "I read Dolly Parton just donated a million bucks towards research."

            "Like the government's not already pouring money into research?"

            "Please." Jen waved a hand, dismissively. "Like politicians give a damn about the people dying."

            "They better. It's mostly old people. By the time the Red's through, the whole political landscape in the country could change."

            "I doubt it," said Jen. "People are stupid. They'll keep voting for the same stupid ass parties they've always voted for."

            "Yeah, but the people they're gonna be voting for will be different," said Annie. "How many senators and congressmen have died from the Red? All those old farts who refused to wear a mask or social distance are toes up in the grave. And it was mostly Republicraps."

            "So you think the Democrats are gonna come into power?"

            "I don't know," said Annie. "And I don't really care. I just want the fucking plague to be over with already. I want a week to go by without hearing that someone I know either has the Red or has died from it. And I want you to turn off the fucking news because if you don't I'm going to smash the fucking t.v., Jennifer."

            Annie's flat, cold delivery of the last few lines made Jen stare at her. She picked up the remote and switched to some telenovela.

            "Christ. Who pissed in your Wheaties?"

            "Look, it's just been a rough morning. Okay? I heard they've got rolling blackouts in California and I can't get in touch with Evita and I'm worried. Okay?"

            "It's cool," said Jen. "I'm sorry," she added, almost as an afterthought. "I'm sure Evita's fine. She's tough as leather."

            "Yeah, probably, but I'm still worried. What if there're riots on the West Coast? People are losing their shit, Jen."

            "It'll be okay. Cali people are more laid back than those numbnuts in the Northeast. They'll probably just sit back and smoke a joint or something."

            Annie snorted.  "Can you picture Evita sparking up a joint?"

            "No," admitted Jen. "I figured she'd be more into coke."

            Annie laughed.