This year I am working on a story called Bob vs. The Alien Slug Monsters. Instead of an outline I have a basic list of plot points I want to cover between meeting Bob and sending him off to fight the king of the slugs. There is more of a cast of characters than an actual outline, so we will see how the story develops. And with that intro we continue with Bob Versus the Alien Slug Monsters…
Day 20: Herman seemed relieved not to have to keep up the conversation as he picked his way through the brush and trees.
Herman seemed relieved not to have to keep up the conversation as he picked his way through the brush and trees. Bob was relieved the two weren’t yelling. As he watched Herman approach he wondered why the old man was out in the woods. He was fairly certain that if he cut straight through the parking lot he would come out in the woods behind the retirement community.
‘And that is where Herman lives,’ Bob thought. ‘But why would he be coming this way?’ Herman claimed reconnaissance, but only the three of them lived out this way. ‘Going into town makes more sense.’
Bob thought of the spirals of smoke coming up from various points in the Centerville Skyline. ‘Unless there is something to avoid.’
Bob tried not to let his growing fear show. Something wasn’t right today, that much was clear. Herman arrived and took a deep breath. He rested a hand on Bob’s car as he recovered from his walk.
“Well,” he said after a moment to catch his breath. “I am glad I ran into you.” His voice was loud and Bob winced.
“Do you have your hearing aid in?” Enid said loudly on his other side. Bob felt trapped between the two yelling elders. Herman blinked and reached up to his ear.
“Sorry about that,” he said in a normal tone. “Saving the batteries.”
“Doesn’t it have a charger thing?” Enid asked.
“Well yeah,” Herman replied. “Its one of those fancy new ones, but that is still a battery, sort of.”
“Why don’t you tell us why you were walking in the woods,” Bob said before Enid could debate if a rechargeable hearing ad still ran on a battery or not.
“Oh yeah, I was heading it not town to see what’s what,” Herman said. “I was nominated to go as I’m the best on rough terrain.”
“Right,” Bob said looking at the still heavily panting old man using his car for support.
“That just means you don’t need a cane or a walker,” Enid said.
“Still counts,” Herman replied.
“Why were you heading this way,” Bob asked.
“Can’
T go the other way,” Herman replied. “I was going to get you your place and go over the bridge that way.”
“Can’t go over the bridge,” Enid said. “Eddie blew it up.”
“I did not blow it up,” Eddie said.
“Why can’t you go the other way,” Bob asked.
“Road’s been taken out,” Herman replied. “Why did Eddie blow up the bridge?”
“I didn’t blow up the bridge,” Eddie protested. “I blew up something near the bridge that might have, with a slight miscalculation affected part of the structure of one side of the footings. Then someone else blew up the bridge in the night.”
“What took out the road?” Bob asked.
“Don’t know,” Herman said. “Giant chunk of it is missing.”
“Well we were going to Golden Meadows to see if you knew anything,” Bob said. So hop in and we will all go back and share what knowledge we have and decide on a plan.”
“I suppose that makes sense. If Eddie blew up the bridge, then there is no way to get across that way,” Herman said.
“I didn’t blow up the bridge,” Eddie repeated. Herman reached for the door handle and Bob made certain it was unlocked. He got in and Eddie slid over.
“Glad I ran into you before I made it all the way over there,” Herman said as he fastened his seatbelt. “I’d hate to have walked the whole way only to find the bridge was out.”
“See what happens when you blow things up that you are not supposed to,” Enid said.
“I didn’t blow up the bridge,” Eddie protested. Bob shifted the car from park to drive and continued on towards the Golden Meadows Retirement Community.
Ten til Midnight 