Pandemic A

1- Saturday Morning Cartoo--

The simplicity of the Saturday Morning routine astounded me. I sat on the couch with my brother in the small apartment we lived in, watching a nice mix of YouTube Video's and Cartoons. Television didn't fascinate us as much as it used to, so whenever Space Llamas ended we plopped our butts on the edge of the couch to watch the newest Jackpewdiplier video (the cheap computer sat on a small Ikea table next to the couch).

But that morning Space Llamas was doing a rather long episode. It was our favorite program on the television these days, everything else had become along the lines of annoying reality shows , soap operas, and the ridiculously long advertising that took up more time than the program itself.

But we liked this one cartoon the best because it had no advertising, it had good comedic writing, and even at age 14 I watched it, because some riffs and references that went over my brother of ten hit home with me.

It was a tradition, our routine, and any variety would throw us off.

Oh, we got variety. We got variety like boiling water thrown on our face.

One moment Phil (the main character) was flying the space RV through the fleet of the Octopi who seized the planet Senegal, with the blue llama named Chewy firing the plasma gun on the side, when "We interrupt this program to bring you a breaking news update."

My brother Michael looked at me with his blue eyes full of confusion. "Allen, what happened to the show?"

"Sh!"

The screen brought up a disheveled looking anchor "Hello. I'm Richard Peterson with the six o'clock news. In accordance with a breakout of the NRC virus in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa and India, NORAD has agreed to shut down all civilian air travel. France and the UK have completely shut down their borders to prevent infection. We bring you now to Paula Oleary in the field"

The scene shifted to a woman in her mid thirties standing in front of a military air field somewhere in a desert. Tanks and planes were speeding around in the background. "Richard, I'm here in Clinton Air Station thirty miles from Jerusalem." She spoke with a slight British accent "My crew and I have been here for a few months reporting the war between Israel and the US against the Islamic State, but recently this base has become the hotspot for disease control in Isreal. At first it may seem these bombers and tanks are deploying to a battleground, but in fact they're establishing order all around the country, as well as defending the base and the Israeli government from militias and other attackers."

Michael turned to me "Allen I'm hungry!"

As the news took a moment's pause I answered "there hasn't been much in the kitchen for a while now, but let's have a quick treat. You and I can split a potato!"

"With cheese?"

"Sure! Put some cheese on! Nice little brunch."

"Yay!" He said as he scampered to the practically empty kitchen to ready the measly feast.

I turned back to the television. They'd gone back to the anchor. "The NRC Virus was recognized in Mexico three days ago, and it is suspected the virus has already reached parts of the US."

My heart skipped a beat.

I stood up and walked three feet to the window. I looked out at the peaceful city, with Palm trees and the Pacific Ocean just on the horizon. San Diego was a superb place, but if the virus was in Mexico....

I heard the microwave turn on in the kitchen.

"Allen! I put on cheese! When should I take it out?"

"Two minutes!"

"Kay."

The anchor had taken a drink of water and loosened his tie as the camera panned in a bit.

"Sympoms of the virus include Difficulty breathing, Irregular heartbeat, severe fever, coughing, cardiac arrest, organ failure, and death."
BEEP! BEEEP! BEEEEEP!

The potato was done.

"We ask anyone to stay inside as much as possible."

"Allen! Want sour cream? There's a bit left from Christmas!"

"Sure. Sh."

"The CDC has assured that the disease can be managed, and that it will not outbreak in the US."

"Plate?"

"Bowl."

"There is no need for panic, although we have reports of riots across some parts of the south. More on the topic at Six, or on our Website, GNN.net. Thank you. We now return to your regularly scheduled program."

The scene came back with Chewy the llama blowing up a giant mechanical Squid.

Michael came in with two halves of a medium potato covered in cheese and sour cream in little plastic bowls with plastic spoons.

"Here you go." he said, shoving the bowl into my pudgy abdomen. I was still in shock from the program, but it was all I could do to catch the food before it fell on the faux wood of our floor. I stood by the window looking outside as I had my first bite of the potato. It might have been the first thing I'd eaten in a few days, but I swear that was the best potato I've ever had.

Michael was swinging his legs off the edge of the couch, munching his potato with absolute content. He asked casually "when are mom and dad getting home?"

"Dunno." was all I could say.

So much for simplicity. That Saturday was definitely, definitely, not part of the routine. In fact after that day nothing was the same for me ever again.

But the potato was good.

A/N there is a lot more this story has to offer. If you're into romance, there's a bit of that, if you like horror, you'll enjoy it, if you like dystopian/SciFi, welcome home!