Pandora’s Drop

It was nondescript. It could’ve come from Raphael or Saint Michael, but we never would’ve known who the sender was. Its robotic courier had disappeared into the overcast. There were no trailing footsteps. Just a little taupe box that sat over the welcome mat, muting out the word c-o-m-e.

I picked it up and gave Doris a lingering quirked eyebrow as she threw up her hands in surrender.

“What is it this time?” I asked as we disappeared back inside the house.

"That was last week, and it was just one." she griped.

"That's how it starts. " I said, shaking the box at ear level. "Then it gets a family,"

I sat it on the kitchen counter and proceeded into the living room..

"Don't you even want to find ou-? "

"Nope." I plopped down on the couch, remote at the ready. My channel surfing reached the news as Pedro arrived. The headlines were as enjoyable as an aged saltine cracker.

"It's probably the neighbors," I told Dorris. When I smelled Dior, I knew Shante had walked through the front door and I had forgotten to lock it.

“What’s in the fridge, Pete?” I asked, knowing he’d already rummaged through it. He twisted off the lid of one of my favorite sodas.

“The good stuff,” He answered with a long swig. Doris peeled an onion and the knife pummeled the cutting board as she began to slice through it.

“You've got mail. " Pedro said. He dropped the nondescript box on the dinner table. Shaunte slurped a wooden spoonful of marinara from the bubbling saucepan on the stove.

“It was on the porch this morning,” Doris said, batting her eyes.

"I just added salt,” Dorris said.

“Should we open it?” Shante asked stirring the marinara sauce.

“Why?”

“Maybe it's a gift." Shaunte asked. "Something luxurious or expensive. I'd been done opened it."

“T-r-o-u-b-l-e, if you ask me. Rhymes." Pete said.

"Amazon ain't going to miss it. They probably lose packages all the time. There's no return address?" Shante said.

"Nope."

Dinner is ready" Dorris called. I muted the news and went to the dining room. Shante's eyes followed me all the way to the table, where the little box whispered to her. Pedro sat to my right and Shante took the far end of the table. Shaunte began helping herself to the bottle of White Wine on the table.

I forgot my cell phone until its vibration reminded me of its existence in my pocket. From across the table, I felt Doris eyes boring into my temples.

"Nah uh" Dorris said, "What did I tell you?"

"No cell phones at Dinner."

"You better be a good little boy," Shante said, as the wine gave her extra courage. I ripped a dinner roll in half and stuffed part of it in my mouth. Dorris took the seat next to me.

"It's supposed to be our time together, " I said, taking Doris' side with a comforting hand over her balled fist.

"I'll let it go this time. "Dorris said. I silenced it with my thumb and back into my pocket it went.

"So, what's in the box?" Shante asked.

"Probably the cooties. We picked it up outside this morning. I don't know who left it."

"Ruh oh," said Pete. Shante cut a meatball with her fork and slurped up a mouthful of Spaghetti.

"Aren't you a little anxious to find out?" She asked.

"Nope. It's probably something we don't need."

"I would." Pete added.

"That's cool. It can wait till after dinner."

"Ok, we'll keep ignoring the elephant box in the room. Pass the rolls please."

"Ok, fine, if I open it, are you going to stop asking?" I said,

I spun the point of my steak knife around and gracefully sliced through the tape. The edges peeled apart like a freshly sliced orange. Inside, was a giant wad of tissue.

"See, it's got to be some kind of--"

As I was about to finish the statement when my fingers found something solid. It was a smaller white box. I opened it. Unlike anything I'd seen before there was a smooth and streamlined watch, unmarked except for four tiny squares on the underside. I unlatched it and tapped the watch's face, hoping it would come to life.

“Oh shiny!" said Pete,

"Does it connect to your phone?” Doris asked. She hid her face behind her wineglass as she sipped it.

Baby come back played on my Cell phone.

"You want to pick it up, don't you? "Doris asked.

“For crying out loud--” I said shaking what I supposed was a paperweight. “How do you turn this thing on?”

I put it on my wrist and the latch closed on itself.

"Can you get it off?" Pete asked.

"This thing doesn't seem to want to unlatch itself," I said, pulling at the watch on my wrist. Secretly, I knew it didn't want to come off. I'd stall for the moment and cut it off after dinner.

“Looks good on you”

“I’ll get around to it.” I said. I didn't know how to get it off my wrist. Baby come back began to play on my cell phone.

Dorris slapped the table.

“That's the fifteenth time!” She reminded me, with an exaggerated sigh. “We talked about this.”

I glanced at the screen. UNKNOWN CALLER.

“It's probably just a telemarketer, “ I said, pressing a button so the screen went dark.

“The bringer of the apocalypse,” Pedro chuckled. Ominously twirling his glass just in front of his lips, he sipped it.

“We’ll he picked the wrong number.” I objected, “This guy does not take calls at the dinner table.”

"So, it's a guy now? "Doris asked.

The television faded in and out. The wind started kicking up outside. The swing in the backyard began to rock.

“Is the satellite going out?” Pedro asked.

“It’s probably just the wind.” I countered.

“It's

My phone buzzed again.

“Who’s calling you at this hour? "Dorris asked, frustration seeping through her voice.

“Heck if I know.”

I jerked. Quieting Dorris with a side glance, hoping she wouldn't notice the buzz in my pocket. Whoever it was really wanted my attention.

“We talked about this!” said Dorris.

“It's Connie, isn't it?”

“What no?!”

“Who’s Connie,” Shante goaded.

“That's why you were at work so late?" Doris asked.

“Are you serious?”

“We want to meet her,” Shante goaded.

“Answer the phone,” Doris said.

“Yes!” I said, finally answering my phone. I didn't recognize the voice on the other end.

“You’re a difficult man to get a hold of Mr. Pandora.”

Something about that name sent chills down my spine.

“Who’s this?”

“Zeus.”

The lights flickered immediately, and the house shook uncontrollably. There was unmentionably loud overhead. drowneding out Dorris' scream.

"What was that?" Pete shouted.

"No idea." I said as we raced outside.