Christmas at Glosser's by Robert Jeschonek

Author:Robert Jeschonek [Jeschonek, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror
Publisher: Pie Press
Published: 2013-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

*****

Rachel was the one who finally broke the silence. “You need to accept reality, Ben. The covenants are yesterday’s news.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Bub turned in her direction. “We’ve negotiated them every year since I was, what...twenty-five? And my father did the same before me.”

“You had to bring him up, didn’t you?” Mr. Flood swung his legs off the table and lunged halfway out of his chair. “That sweet-talking son of a gun!” He stood all the way up and wriggled his hands in front of his chest effeminately. “’Ohh, that terrible flood in 1889!’” he said in a falsetto, mocking voice. “’Johnstown can’t stand another disaster like that! Please, can’t we make a bargain to keep this town safe?’”

“It was a hard bargain,” said Bub. “You’ve only ever agreed to a year at a time.”

“Poor baby!” shouted Mr. Flood. “Do you have any clue how lucky you were to get even that?”

“What about ‘36?” said Bub.

“Ah, ‘36.” A broad grin stretched across Mr. Flood’s cadaverous face. “A good year. A very good year.”

“So that’s what this is?” said Bub. “1936 all over again? Tear up the covenant, flood the city, get your jollies?”

“Why the hell not?” Mr. Flood slammed his palms down on the table. “You’ve been holding this town back for too long, Benny! How do you expect this place to grow up if we keep babying it?”

Bub leaned in and locked eyes with him. “You don’t need to kill thousands of people for this town to grow up.”

“You’re spoiled!” Mr. Flood sneered. “You’ve been getting what you want for too long. Well, the gravy train stops here, my old not-friend.”

Bub leaned closer. He had an expression of fury on his face that Jack had seen only a handful of times in his life. “You twisted, miserable...”

“Hey!” Steel Toe jumped up and threw down a fist between Bub and Mr. Flood. “Back off, Ben! I don’t care if you’re a union man, I’ll smack you down if you lay a hand on him!”

For a moment, Bub stayed right where he was, glaring at Mr. Flood. “You don’t want progress. You don’t want this town to grow up.” He leaned a little closer then, making Steel Toe tense up. “You might have fooled the others, but you haven’t fooled me.”

“Says the biggest fool in the room.” Mr. Flood howled at his joke and threw himself down in his chair.

“That’s enough!” shouted Joe. “There will be no further conflict here.” He picked up his green Alpine hat and plunked it on his head. “This matter is settled.”

“You must accept what has been ordained.” Rachel looked around the table grimly with her misaligned eyes. “The next great flood will strike Johnstown next year, in July of 1976.”

“Just in time for America’s Bicentennial.” Mr. Flood let out a little whoop. “Talk about fireworks!”

“Consider yourself fortunate, Ben,” said Joe. “You’ve been given enough warning to move your loved ones elsewhere.”

Bub backed away from Mr. Flood and slumped. “Please.” He held out his hands to Joe and Rachel.

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