So Long and G'night

Prologue

Prologue

Little Tommy always found joy digging holes in his yard. Who didn't? It was the perfect way for an eight year old to practice the first step of farming. He loved to farm, as he lived right next to one. The boy sat on the grass with his juice box to take a break, wiping sweat from his forehead.

“Tommy, come inside! It's time for dinner,” his mommy sung. Tommy had the best mommy in the world, prudently looking out for his every move. And so he picked up his container of whatever materials were collected from his journey from underneath the crust of the earth, trotted inside to stuff it in the refrigerator, and prepared for a delicious meal of meatloaf.

The next morning Tommy awoke extra early, wondering where his daddy was. Daddy always got home from work late, so Tommy never got to see him before bedtime. The little boy practically dashed down the stairs, and looking around. No one was in the kitchen, so he decided to get some breakfast. Tommy opened the refrigerator and saw his farming 'commodity'—almost like Jell-O with its consistency and green coloring. The container it sat in was half empty. Where did the rest go? Tommy wondered to himself. Inspecting the container closer, it seemed to be stained with red.

The eight year old boy suddenly noticed how dark the clouds were outside. One would say... gloomy, frightening. A sound pierced his ears, like nails scratching a chalk board, coming from the dining room. Despite all the boy's thoughts of warning him not to, he walked forward, closer to the noise. And over the corner of the wall, little Tommy saw his mommy and daddy. But something was not right.

Daddy was doing something to Mommy. It looks like... chewing? His teeth were completely sunken in to her neck, producing a loud howl from mommy. Tommy backed away quickly, but too quick. The floorboards creaked against the little boy's foot,and Daddy turned around. “Where are your eyes, Daddy?! They're not green anymore!” Tommy cried. And soon Mommy stood up, her child almost as pale as her skin. They moved closer. “Mommy, what happened to you?” And closer. “Why was Daddy eating you?” And closer. “Mommy?” And closer. “Daddy?” Too close.

A shriek escapes into the darkened sky, yet no neighbor wakes up.