Smithy by Amanda Desiree

Author:Amanda Desiree [Desiree, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkshares
Published: 2021-03-05T17:43:23+00:00

Archival Film Footage

Date: September 2, 1974

Location: The Dining Room

Eric, Wanda, Gail, Tammy, Ruby, Smithy, and Jeff sit around the table, which is spread with a platter of sandwiches, a bowl of apples and oranges, a bowl of potato salad, a chip and dip platter, and a pitcher and glasses of punch.

Wanda looks up at the camera and smiles. “Good afternoon! We originally planned to go out for a picnic today to celebrate the holiday, but the weather had other plans. We’re still having our picnic, albeit indoors.”

Tammy loads food onto a plate. Gail signs, “Smithy, what do you want? An apple or an orange?” Smithy looks up at the ceiling. He whimpers, covers his eyes, and tries to jump down from his chair, but Ruby catches and seats him again. Gail says, “Smithy, an apple or an orange? He’s not paying attention.”

Eric says, “It’s those faces again.”

Tammy says, “It’s because they don’t move or respond to him. He used to try to sign to them, but when they didn’t react, he got fussy.”

Ruby suggests, “Maybe we could blindfold them, so they don’t look like they’re staring.”

Tammy says, “Waiting for you to spill something on your blouse…”

Wanda replies, “That’s not necessary; Smithy seldom spends any time in this room. Besides, I’d rather no one risked climbing a ladder tall enough to reach the ceiling unless we absolutely had to.”

During their exchange, Smithy continues to squirm and hoot. Eric kneels beside him and says, “Calm down, little guy. They can’t hurt you. Here, what do you want to eat?” He signs, “Eat.” He says out loud, “How about a chip?” as he reaches behind him for the bag of potato chips. Smithy screeches and covers his eyes. He lowers his hands and looks up.

Ruby says to Jeff, “Now he’s trying to hide from the faces. Aww…They’re still there, Smithy.”

Smithy rapidly covers and uncovers his face three more times. The final time, he leaves his hands over his eyes. A flash of light explodes near the ceiling. Gail screams. “Fire!”

Eric yells, “Holy smoke!”

“Everybody stay calm!” Wanda yells as she shields Smithy, holding him in place. Eric dashes from the room. Ruby crouches down at the far corner of the table with her plate over her head. Tammy circles the table, moving away from the flame but continuing to gaze up at it.

From off camera, Jeff calls out, “Everybody leave the room calmly. Don’t get Smithy excited.”

Eric runs back into the room, carrying a fire extinguisher. He aims it at the flames nibbling across the ceiling and calls, “Get down, everyone!”

Smithy screams. Wanda strokes his fur to calm him, and Eric releases the fire extinguisher. Ruby says, “Eric, you got it. That’s it. Thank you!”

Eric says, “Don’t mention it. Now we know why he was so upset. Good boy!” He squeezes Smithy’s shoulder and signs, “Thank you.”

Ruby says, “You think he knew this was going to happen?”

Eric says, “He could’ve smelled the smoke.”

Tammy says, “I didn’t see any smoke, only flame. Where did the fire even come from? Did a light fixture explode? I don’t see any broken bulbs.

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