Page 26, Line 26 by Bob Harvey

Inspired by line 26 on page 26 of ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ by Pip Williams.

When she closed the door behind her, the party went quiet.

Don’t you realise just how serious this is she said. I have invited you here to let you know we are all dead, yes dead. Where have you been this last week? Do you think for a bloody moment we will be safe? Just because we live here on a dirt road miles from nowhere.

Ben has killed all the chickens, shot all the ducks down on the lake and the geese that have flown in. They will land and pass it on. On Morning Report, 20 thousand have it in Auckland. In Wellington they’ve been dying all week outside the hospitals, in the parks, down on the waterfront…it’s not like Covid when she closed the airports, closed us off from the world. It worked those lockdowns. We thought never again, the jabs, the queues. We listened up and somehow we made it through. This is nature’s revenge at its worst.

I rang the Carters this morning. Their son answered. He said they killed themselves last night. He said it’s a real quick way to go rather than the slow days of fluid in the lungs and finally drowning. That’s why I’ve asked you here. Jack will be up from the culling by 4. He said this needs to be a time to help each other come to terms with what is best.

A way out…together maybe after dinner by the pool like the old days. We were so happy. Life was so much better then, wasn’t it?

Bob Harvey