As Safe as I’m Gonna Get
There is no other way to tell the story.
It began on a rainy Sunday when the clouds were dark and low and threatened to weep for eternity. Flood warnings and tornado warnings filled the television with their drones. People were preparing to leave, but Arnold Denton watched his afternoon shows and grumbled every time the weatherman interrupted.
Arnold’s daughter called and begged her father to leave.
“What’s the use? There is going to be flooding everywhere, the news says.”
“Dad, God promised to never flood the world again. Please, get somewhere safe!”
“I reckon this is as safe as I’m gonna get.”
Arnold’s son tried a different approach. He ordered Arnold to leave.
“Dad, get out of there now!”
“What’s the use? There is going to be flooding everywhere, the news says.”
“Dad, God promised to never flood the world again. Get somewhere safe!”
“I reckon this is as safe as I’m gonna get.”
Arnold’s daughter and his son grumbled about what a stubborn old man he was. They both grumbled about how he wouldn’t move closer to one of them so they could help take care of him. They grumbled about how his stubbornness was going to be the death of him one day.
Arnold had to turn his television up when the sirens started. They nearly drowned out his court show.
Arnold had to turn it even louder when the trucks started driving by, broadcasting that everyone was ordered to evacuate.
When his neighbors knocked on the door as they were readying to leave, they yelled out, “We all have to get to somewhere safe, Arnold!”
“I reckon this is as safe as I’m gonna get,” he yelled back as he turned the television to a game show and started yelling answers to the contestants.
When the channels all turned to bars of colors and there were no more shows to watch, Arnold grumbled, “I reckon this is as safe as I’m gonna get.” And turned off the television.
As his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep, all those around him evacuated to somewhere safe.
As he began to gently snore, all his family hoped that he had come to his senses.
As he mumbled in his sleep, the rest of the country rued the fact that they had evacuated. The worst natural disaster the country had ever seen had hit with flooding, tornados, and earthquakes. Its vengeance knew no bounds.
The entire country, save one lonely street, had fallen prey to the wrath of nature and obliterated them all.
It had obliterated all but Arnold who woke up safe but without his shows or his neighbors or his family.
There was no one left to talk to, so Arnold just grumbled to himself.
There is no other way to tell the story.
If you enjoyed this story, please consider giving it some love by clicking the heart!