Americans vs. Aneurysms

A crisis in 33 100-word stories: Uninsured thirty-somethings grapple with rent, the man, raising a kid, and brain surgery.

By Eli Richardson

1
Snowglobe Tornado

To the side of global events, a family eddies. Boy bouncing, Mom on the sofa eating apples, Dad at home all day. Spaghetti is boiling and date night coming. A pay-for-view movie and ice cream. She doesn't wear a bra.

What's it matter that the world is a heartbeat away from ruin, the Sun raining fire? Iraqis have their children to look at as disaster goes door-to-door. Casting shadows over another day in the Next American Century. Where everybody's getting theirs.

Inside the bubble, blood snakes against membranes drawn tight. A red Eden in the middle of a drought. Throbbing danger.

2
Dead Ringer

The Boy is the first responder; Mother jolting on the sofa. Fingers dancing.

"Breathe Honey Honey, are you there? Sweetie! Open your mouth."

"Why is Mom making that scary sound?"

"Open your mouth Sugar."

6:03. The Daily Show is on.

"Why you do that to Mom's mouth?"

"Get it out Baby. She's frothing. Look out son, I'm bringing her down."

"Why Mom making that sound? Breathe! Mom why Mom not breathing?"

"It's alright Honey. Boy! Bring me the phone. Please. Baby! Are you with me? The phone! Get the phone Boy! Breathe!"

"Mom stop making that sound Dad. Breathe Baby!"

3
Call Waiting

"Why doesn't this not do what I say? Boy! Get MY phone. Hurry! Baby! Are you with me? Hello! I need an ambulance to my house. It's yellow. Sweetie! No, it's not o.k. My wife is having a seizure."

"Calm down sir. We have dispatched paramedics to your location."

"Sweetie!"

"Sir, calm down and do exactly as I say. Is the patient breathing?"

"It's my wife. I don't know. Maybe. I thought she was dead. Baby! Are you there? Are you breathing?"

"Mom is not breathing."

"Baby! What day is it?"

"Sir! Calm down and do exactly as I say."

4
Room with a View

With it to her ear, "What's that ringing? Where's my phone? Well look for it. Where's my Mom?"

"Your head's drooping. Stay put. You need a halo?"

"I'm not dead."

The Boy gives mouth to mouth to a surgical glove.

"Say cheese!"

"Look! What the Hell? A camera?"

The nurse wags her finger. "No flash, please. Look. Sensitive equipment." She strokes the heart monitor.

"Look at this picture. Do you see?"

"What?"

"Look in your eyes. See all the way to China."

"It looks like my head is hollow."

"Looks like you blew a fuse. Look Boy. Mom's not home."

5
Go-Go Googoo

"Really." She rolls her eyes. Her head follows.

"O! Don't do that. It freaks me out."

"Why?"

"I don't know when you'll have another one."

A guy with floral scrubs peeks around the curtain. "We've got your resulth," lisps the resident. His shoes whisper over the tile. He looks at his chart, then her ID bracelet. "Well! Lookth like you had a theizure and there'th an inthidental aneurythm."

"What?"

"Aneurythm."

"What's that mean? Rhythm."

"An-your-rith-em. We'll be keeping you overnight."

"We got the beat," he says and dances with The Boy.

"Really," she says and rolls her eyes.

"Thurgery thoon."

6
Memory Trip

"How are you? Has it sunk in? No. I'm whispering."

He ducks out. Gopher heads pop out of the cubicles. He presses the phone to his ear as he makes for the door. "I have to split. This is between us."

He starts into the bathroom. Stops. "The money will take care of itself. We've got motive and opportunity. I can't sit around and wait for it."

He tries the stairwell. It's the lunch rush. "Mexico. The neurosurgeon said flying's fine. Christmas poolside. Besides, it's good for The Boy; culture and something in the vault in case of the worst."

7
Stroke

Dog-paddling, he says she has pretty feet. She goes, "I hear you fine Mom. It's not quite Mexico. The neurologist says flying with aneurysms is fine." The Boy splashes water in his nose.

He sinks to the bottom where he can touch the sun.

"United bumped us in San Francisco. I'm still mad. He made me hike up the crookedest street in the world."

On his back the sun is piercing but without form.

"We miss you. Christmas sucks without family around."

He pushes off hard for the other side. The Boy clings to the wall in the deep end.

• << TEX Home
• Page 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next >>