Reed Landry: Two Friends on the interstate on a cloudy day

“Pretty gray, huh.”

“Yeah. Pretty… drab.”

It’s the kind of day where a cold wind blows you inside and the only true colors come from brake lights and street lamps, he thought. “A world of red and orange.”

“How do you mean?”

“Nothing.” A pause, as he continued driving.

“Well… can’t we play some music?”

“Eh…” he shrugged, “I don’t really want to hear anything I guess.” They continued on to the music of the tires and drizzling rain. There was silence for a while, until John broke it.

“Well it’s just kind of awkward to sit here listening to nothing.”

“Is that really what’s tipped the awkward scales for you? It wasn’t before?”

“I don’t know Eli. I guess so.” More silence.

“Well what… should we do? What d’ya want to do?”

“Go home I guess. But that isn’t really an option. So your house would be fine. Isn’t that the way you’re heading anyways?”

“Yeah, it is… What happened to the sun man? It was beautiful like, yesterday… the cafe was like a movie. There were sunbeams and stuff. Idyllic.”

“It was nice catching up in peace, while it lasted. That was some good coffee too. Probably all that’ll get requisitioned or something for government wartime necessities. Senators needing coffee.”

“Ha ha… what senators? How will that work? I guess they’ll go back to their states until they pick a capital or something. Like in the last civil war.” Eli got off the interstate, taking the exit that led to his house. “I bet they’ll close these down soon,” he muttered; he was right.

“Jesus, I don’t even know the congressmen for Washington... I wonder what my parents are doing. I bet my brother’s going full hermit with that bunker he built. What about you, man?”

“I have no idea, John. About any of it…” They arrived at the house and got out of the car. Baton Rouge police sirens wailed in the distance.

“It’s gonna be a rough time, man. But it’s been good I guess. Okay, at least.”

“Sure. I bet the front lines’ll be even better.” They both laughed for a second.

“Who are you gonna be fighting for though?” They stood for a minute before John broke the tension.

“Don’t know yet I guess. You wanna go inside?”

“Sure.” They went into the house and celebrated the world that would soon pass away.