The Board
Today's the day. Bill slowly opens his eyes as he reaches over to hit the snooze button. It's 8:00am again. Another day in paradise, he thought. The alarm is starting to sound eerie... maybe I should change the sound to a different tune... oh what's the point... It's 8:00am, July 24th, 2109. Today's the day of the annual costume contest of Sunnyville, Nevada. Everyone gets dressed up and meets at the town square, where the whole town votes on the best costume. Bill hated the costume contest. Bill has hated everything for the past decade. Bill turns slightly in the bed, to face his wife, Carol, who is fast asleep; unbothered by the alarm. Her satin night gown hugs her shape as she breathes peacefully. He watches her with defeated eyes. The love he has for her makes it almost impossible for him to get up out of bed each day; to carry on. How does she stay so unbothered? how does she stay so loving? Bill thought. He places a gentle hand on her hip and scooches in close, to hold her tight. Another day with the love of my life... how lucky am I? How did I even manage to keep this love alive? he thought. He gives her a loving peck on the shoulder before getting up to face the day. It's still dark in the bedroom, despite the morning light shining in through the curtains. Two costumes lay next to each other on the old arm chair, in the corner of the room. Carol had picked them out. He told her he didn't care, that she can pick out whatever costume she wanted for the contest. He remembered her being frustrated with him. She wanted him to care; she wanted him to at least TRY to care. How can anyone still care at this point? Bill looks up out the window at the Board, looming over Sunnyville. The gigantic LED screen is still black, has been for the past 22 hours. With a population of 1,700 people, the Board is perfectly placed in the middle of the sky, levitating somehow, by the electromagnetic current. Technology has come a long way, Bill scoffed. Everyone can see the Board from any point in the city. Every single morning, Bill fights the urge to just sit there and watch the black screen for hours... waiting for it to turn green. "You ok honey?," Carol's voice snaps him back to reality as she wraps her arms around his waist. He didn't even hear her shuffle over to him from across the bedroom. "Yeah honey, just.. lost in thought," Bill turns his body around to face his wife and embraces her in a bear hug. They hold each other, swaying slightly, for what seemed like an eternity, but only a few minutes had passed. "You ready for the day?," Carol asked as she lightly pulled away to turn the lights on in the room. "Ha, I'm always ready baby," Bill answered dryly. "What are we this year? Betty Crocker and a rolling pin? Mr. and Mrs. Smith? Peanut butter and jelly?," Carol shot him a playful glance before she disappeared into the bathroom, "you'll never guess." Carol was the only thing that can make him feel something... he was intrigued now as he walked over to the costumes. He let out a throaty laugh as his eyes found their way to the couple of outfits, the first laugh he had in weeks. Carol knew Bill had a dark sense of humor, she always wanted to make him laugh. Bill picks up one of the costumes; it's a cloth version of the Board, with foam to hold the rectangular shape. The screen is neon green. "Honey, this is gruesome.. Tom and Lucy will be devastated! I can't believe you actually chose THIS. wow. I mean, you don't think it's a little... I don't know, insensitive?," Tom and Lucy were their next door neighbor. They'd lost their only son to the Board last week. Carol let out a quick sigh, "honey, you know the store doesn't do refunds. Besides, I'm tired of saving face. It's a joke for Christ's sake." Bill chuckled again, "and I thought I was the asshole."
