The Toiling of the Bells

The Great Collapse; Part One

 "And it's an interception! Number fifty four is running the ball from the ten, twenty, thirty! No one is even near him! He's going all the way; touchdown!"

 "Yes!" John yelled, as we both jumped up and celebrated. They scored the extra point and we high fived. 

 "That brings the Panthers up to twenty eight versus the Patriots twenty seven. This is turning out to be a great super bowl." one of the announcers said.

 "I think you're right, Paul. The LXII Super bowl is truly memorable. We are now in the two minute warning for third quarter. I can't wait to see how this ends." 

 "A toast, to winning." John said. He sat in an old leather recliner matching my own. There was a circular table in between us on which our meal sat. Two plates of wings, one spicy one not(John could never handle heat very well), tons of empty and full beer bottles, and one Jumbo Pizza with everything on it. We both lifted our bottles and took a long swig. John set his empty bottle aside, and said, "I'm going to go get another one." I just nodded and took a bite out of my wings, savoring the flavor. I could hear John in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge. 

 "Hey," he called, "Do you have any liquor, perchance?"

"It's not even five o'clock yet." I said.

"So, it's close enough."

"Yeah, there's a bottle of vodka in the freezer."

 I heard him close one door and open the other. "Aha!" He exclaimed when he found it. I heard him open the cabinet to get him a shot glass. "Do you want some?" he asked.

 "No, I'm good."

"Suit yourself." He put the vodka back in the fridge and walked into the living room. Just as he crossed the threshold the tv screen went blue and produced a prolonged beep. John froze where he was at, and I leaned forward in my chair. The screen changed to a podium with a microphone and the presidential seal on it.  The president, Charles Cook, walked into the shot and spoke into the mike. 

 "Good afternoon, fellow Americans. This is a dark day for us as a people. As I am sure you are aware, World War III has been fought in Europe, Asia, and Africa for three years now. We have largely stayed out of it, but, just like the other World Wars, we have been pulled into it. At exactly 15:37, just five minutes ago, Russian Aircraft entered United States Airspace. They were ordered to leave, but remained. We opened fire and they returned it. A large force of them are still flying over the west coast. Radar also detected a large fleet, almost eighty ships, approaching from the west. They were Chinese carriers, destroyers, cruisers, and cargo ships carrying Chinese and North Korean troops and equipment. They are two hours off the coast of California, and, with no sea craft near and our pilots preoccupied with the Russians, we cannot slow their progress. Russia, China, and North Korea all mean to conquer the United States." a sharp dressed man came up and whispered in the president's ear. The man left, and the president looked fairly unnerved. 

 "I have just been notified that the Mexicans have allied themselves with our foes, and a force of 200,000 Mexican soldiers followed by tanks and artillery and crossing the border as we speak. They have already taken Arizona, New Mexico, and the southwest of Texas. The United States of America is being invaded, and we have been sent to DefCon1."

 "As well as this, the American Stock market crashed and over inflation has caused American money to become worthless. The economy has collapsed." The president paused for a moment, and took a deep breath of air before continuing. "As of now, I, President Charles Cook, declare the United States of America to be in all rights no more. The military will continue to fight, but our future looks bleak. The American government and economy is now no more than a concept. The war has been lost for us, and I am resigning as President. Good day." And just like that, the tv turned black, and America was gone.