Anything Could Happen

Chapter 1

"Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now"

-Mattie Stepanek

 I stared at that poster for minutes, tuning out my teachers voice. Trying to figure out how the future is beginning right now was all I could think about since I noticed the poster in the middle of my teachers speech.  

How was I supposed to focus on the ever so interesting lecture on the glory of all  Porifera when I was submerged in thought? Especially in a classroom as bland as this. A small black poster shouldn't be the most interesting thing in a room for a teenager. If one is going to construct a room were the students will have to hear about sponges for an hour, at least paint it something other then two shades of beige.

Diiing

Finally! I couldn't take another minute hearing about the fact sponges don't really live in pineapples. The whole class was rushing out before I even completely came to my senses that class was actually over. I quickly gathered all my things and hurried out, faster then I think I ever had before.

The whole day the fact I was getting a  car had been the only thing on my mind; except that little episode about the poster. I rushed down the long hallway, of course also painted beige, to the crowded doorway full of kids. Kids who apparently thought a doorway was a convenient place to have a chat.

I walked out to the parking lot to look for my mom's bright red car. To my luck it was right at the front of the long row. I hopped into the car smiling and immediately noticed my mom's blank, clearly worried expression.

"Are you alright mom?" I questioned, she looked over at me and flashed me a fake smile her eyes  filled with an upsetting color, compared to her normally bright blue pair. The rest of the car ride remained quiet, taking a small toll on my once excited mood. Nevertheless I was still thrilled for the trip to the dealership in my future. 

We approached the house and pulled into the short paved driveway. The little convertible came to a halt, and I quickly got out and ran inside. To my surprise there were bags and boxes full of food, matches, flashlights, batteries, and random things like lotion and such.

"Mom, what is all this?" I exclaimed never having seen anything like it. My mother was never the type of person to stock up on anything ever, she saved money any chance she could. Her brow furrowed at my question and her light wrinkles became more visible.

"It's nothing honey, don't worry. There was a huge sale at the supermarket and I just took advantage" She replied with that same forced smile. "But there is something you need to know, and I ask you to please not be to upset." I nodded not prepared for what she was about to say.

"We can't go get you a car today honey. I am so sorry, I do know how excited you were and I hate to be the bearer of bad news. If you don't understand now you will later." She sighed and started to walk downstairs.

"Mom!" I yelled "No mom you can't do that! I've been waiting for this forever!" I pleaded with her to let me.

How could she do this to me? I don't want to understand later, I want an explanation now. Yet of course by the time I finished speaking she locked herself in her room.

Not having the slightest clue what was even going on I turned to go back to my room and never come out, in a silent protest that I was not okay with this.

The moment I turned I saw the boxes again. Curious to see what all was in them I went to investigate. There was at least ten bags of canned foods, and other of those long lasting foods. There were boxes on boxes of random little items such as toothpaste, matches, candles etc. What I found the oddest was seven full cartons of twenty pack water bottles. It's not like the world was going to run out of water anytime soon?

I figured it was best to not let my imagination get the best of me and went up to my room to just forget about the weird events that had happened. I opened the door and fell onto the pathetic pink mattress I call my bed. I grabbed the remote and flipped on my small grey TV that was surely made when my parents were teenagers. A.K.A Thirty years ago.

Top Chef was the first thing to appear on my screen. I hadn't even been watching food network, I thought, shaking my head. I scrolled through the channels looking for something interesting. Nothing caught my interest at all. Classic Dish Network, huh? 

I gave up and pressed the up button one last time in hopes of something even remotely entertaining, but it only led me to the news.

"It has been three hours since the shocking news was announced to the public by NASA. The whole world in extreme panic," A young looking brown haired lady spoke. At that I tuned in a little more wondering what was going on, I had heard nothing about some sort of nationwide panic, "multiple earthquakes occurring all around the plate boundaries."

And with that I shut off my television. I really didn't need to hear anymore, knowing it would probably just bring me unnecessary worry, after all earthquakes had such little effect on my life, being I live in the center of the United States.

Therefore, I came to the pleasant conclusion nothing was really wrong besides my mom's sudden interest in stockpiling, and of course the fact I didn't get my new car, but knowing all of this news panic wouldn't have much effect on me or my family I fell asleep with ease.

I wish I savored that sleep more, I didn't know it would be my last true moment of relaxation for a long time.

A very long time.

The real future was in fact not far way, it had already begun.