Matt's Note: Yes, this one IS #329... apparently I skipped over that number so I'm backtracking a touch!
For this one, you must teach your sibling to survive without you, during the nuclear apocolypse.
WHAT'S LEFT (any gender, mid teens through late thirties)
I'm going for help. I'm not trying to get away from you, Jessie. I just want to make sure we're not alone.
'Cause, I mean how long has it BEEN? Right? Since we closed the shelter door... my count, its been... ah hell, Jessie who cares? It's time to open the door back up. See if anyone is left out there. See if anyTHING is left out there.
Jessie, I know you're scared but we can't lose on this one. I go up and there's nothing left out there? Then I come back down, we make ourselves a tripple decker peanut butter sandwich FEAST and then we take... the tablets. And then we go to sleep and we don't wake up in fear anymore.
But if I go up there and there's help? Then we get to start again, buddy. Without mom or dad to take care of you but that was what was happening anyway, so... and... and...
And if I go up there and don't come back... I... Jessie I need you to wait for a while before you know I'm not coming back. And then I want you to fix yourself a tripple decker peanut butter sandwich... you can even have my share... a... sep...no a sextepple... fuck it, a SIX decker peanut butter sandwich. And then I want you to take the tablet. Just one is okay.
All three options are okay, Jessie. I need you to say that back to me before I go. Say "Okay."
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"