The Invitation by Nancy Moser

Author:Nancy Moser [Moser, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Religious, Fiction/Christian/Suspense
ISBN: 9781576733523
Google: CP3-ZFd-EoEC
Publisher: Multnomah
Published: 1997-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Walter hung up the phone, then stretched out on the bed. His muscles molded themselves to the mattress, their fatigue immediate now that they’d been given the chance to rest. He grabbed the remote and flipped on the television, then tossed the remote on the bed. He didn’t care what he watched. He just wanted noise. Company.

He let his mind drift as commercials for laundry detergent and cars droned by. The music blended with the words, wrapping him in a cocoon of mundane mediocrity. He closed his eyes, just for a minute...

He snapped awake as the TV blared. He grimaced as words shouted through the room: “Our investigation has uncovered that Senator Pipkin had an affair when he was twenty-two. The senator, who was the instigator of the much heralded child-protection bill, refused to comment. However, we have an exclusive interview with the woman from his past. She is currently unemployed, and there is speculation that her oldest child might have been fathered by—”

Walter fumbled for the remote and pushed the mute button. Silence.

He turned onto his side, closing his eyes. Annoying bunch of drivel.

The TV broke through the quiet. “Stay tuned as a newlywed loses more than his shirt during a night out with the guys.”

Walter groaned, groped for the remote, and hit the mute button again—without results.

“Watch tomorrow as an unfaithful husband gets what’s coming to him when his lover turns homicidal.”

The unrelenting words forced Walter completely awake. “What’s wrong with this thing? Doesn’t it know when to be quiet?” He punched mute over and over. Nothing happened.

He pressed the power button. The TV stayed on. He pushed it again. And again.

Still on.

Then the television flipped through the channels of its own accord.

“A disgruntled man murdered—”

“...embezzled two million—”

“Condom distribution—”

“A bus blew up today in—”

“Angry protesters—“

“Enough!” Walter said. He pointed the remote at the TV, pressing all the buttons, but it was out of his control.

“There was a terrorist bombing today, killing—”

“Tomorrow, watch men who love women who love women.”

“—brought a gun to school and started—”

Walter tumbled off the bed and scrambled for the TV’s electrical cord. He yanked it from its socket.

“Looting began when two opposing factions—”

“...man accused of beating his four-month-old—”

Walter put his hands to his ears, squeezing his eyes shut. “I don’t want to hear any more!”

Sudden silence filled the room. Walter opened his eyes. The television screen was black. The only sound he could hear was his own ragged breathing.

His phone rang. Walter lunged for it, hoping whoever was at the other end could explain what had happened.

“Hi, hon. Whatcha doing?”

“Bette! You’d never believe...”

“Walter? You sound scared.”

“I am...my TV blasted at full volume, then it—”

“Turn it down.”

“I tried. It didn’t help. Then it changed channels on its own. I wasn’t touching a thing.” Walter picked up the remote and tossed it to the other side of the room where it bounced off the bathroom wall.

“There must be a malfunction.”

“I unplugged it, Bette. I unplugged the TV and it stayed on.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Tell that to the television.

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