Chester stood across the street from the grocery store. Jack and Nicole were back at the house, playing with the kids. Dinner had not been a distraction, entirely, but it worked well as such. While Jack was gruffly learning about the prophecy and why it was important, Chester had work to do. He worried about leaving Jack with his children but Nicole could protect them, and half the women were there to back her up.
The other half were here, with Chester. Most of these women had experience on farms or in the circus. That was good, because getting cows to ride bicycles was not an easy task. Chester was sure he would have failed at it. Part of that came from how silly he found the idea though. He still felt that way as he looked at a scene that belonged in one of his aunt Madge’s kitschy knick-knack display cases. Cows on bikes paraded in the parking lot and through the street. Cows with umbrellas, cows with guns, cows with digital cameras, and of course cows on cell phones. The display stopped traffic.
The ones carrying objects were some of the women in costumes, pedaling serenely along. The real cows lowed their annoyance but managed to stay up and keep their own bicycles moving slowly, thanks to the leashes, sharp sticks, whips and cattle prods of the women on foot.
Jack sighed and raised the binoculars to watch the old man exit the store. Stunned, the man dropped his bags. Glass shattered, liquid stained the paper to flow over the asphalt. Jack could smell the distinct odor of spilt milk on a hot day from where he was. The cows mooed louder at the desecration of their lifeblood.
The old man whipped his head around frantically. At first he sought confirmation of the insanity, someone else understanding how wrong this all was. Then the shock overwhelmed him and he was looking for help. His right hand rose to his chest, clutching the left breast. He choked out sounds unheard over the laughter of the crowd, and of course the cows. The man fell to his knees, then to his face atop the broken glass. Chester thought if the man hadn’t died instantly that would surely hurt.
Nobody else took notice. In this day of flash mobs, look at me, instant gratification and viral videos people didn’t find it strange at all. They pulled out their phones, hoping to get the best capture for YouTube. Only a small child noticed the heart attack. When she said, “Mommy, I think that man needs helps,” her mother shushed her, told her to watch the funny.
This was not a sign of what was coming. To test the waters the servants created it. Sure, it would make the paper but as a funny piece. This is what it came to. This is what people accepted. Chester felt surer than ever that Nicole was right. It was time for the world to be reborn from the ashes.
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