The Package

The Package

Jody rapped on her daughter’s bedroom door.

“Katie? There’s someone at the door with a package for you.”

Slowly, Katie opened the door and emerged from her sanctuary.

“A package?” she asked, suspiciously.

“Why, yes, Katie. Now don’t leave the nice man waiting!”

Cautiously, Katie approached the man with her package. He gave her something to sign, and then drove off in his big, grey truck.

The package was big, but Katie got it inside by herself. Before opening it, she went to the kitchen for water.

“What was in it, Katie?” Jody looked at her daughter brightly.

“Dunno. Just got it inside.”
”I’ll go open it then!” Jody sang, and reached for a pair of scissors next to her daughter.

“NO!” Katie screamed, snatching the scissors from her mother. “It could be ANYthing.”

Jody looked startled, but said nothing. She walked away.

Katie closed her eyes for a minute, breathing through her belly. Then she went to face the box.

There was no return address. “Why didn’t I think to just ask him where it CAME from?!” she yelled out, thrusting scissors into the air.

In what some people would call a deranged frenzy, Katie ripped off the tape and attacked the parcel with her scissors. Seconds later, she had in her possession an explosive chair. She didn’t know that it was explosive, though. She just thought it looked comfy.

When she sat down in the chair, however, she realized the seat was hollowed out. And it was making clicking noises.

Without uttering a word, Katie heaved the piece of furniture on her back and hurled it through the living room window. Midair, the chair exploded, sending tiny pieces of metal and fuzz through the air.