1950s: The Decade of Perfect Housewives, Cadillacs & Zombies

by Eduard Joseph

for a moment and then glanced over at Agnes.

  “What?” She asked dazed, “Yes, sure.”

  “May I go to the library to get some books?” Agnes asked boldly.

  Lucy was too preoccupied with her own concerns to really hear what her daughter asked. She had to prepare herself for another run-in with the undead. She couldn’t allow the undead to enter her pristine house. She had worked too hard to keep it immaculate and wasn’t about to let one of the infected slobber blood all over her carpets.

  “Yes.” Lucy said half in thought, “Just be back before dinner.”

  Agnes smiled and jumped up before saying, “Thank you.”

  NINE

  Agnes frolicked to the library and hummed a song she heard playing on a record player at a friend’s house once. She was ecstatic and her head was in the clouds. She couldn’t wait to see Elliot again, and she knew he felt the same way.

  As she turned into the street where the library was, Elliot saw her and waited for her at the foot of the concrete steps that led to the library. It was his off afternoon and he was just about to give up on seeing her.

  “Where have you been?” He asked concerned.

  Agnes sighed and said with a roll of her eyes, “Detained by my mother.”

  “I was beginning to think you weren’t gonna show up.” He said relieved.

  “I’m sorry.” She said.

  What she really wanted to do was give him a kiss, but she felt to awkward out in the street to attempt something as daring. He lowered his backpack and took out a hardcover book.

  “Look what I found.” He said as he handed her the book.

  “What is it?” She asked.

  The book was quite thick and had the words Television: The doorway to the future written on it in gold. She looked up at him with awe.

  “My dad had it packed away in the attic.” He said, “I’m not sure what use he had for it since we don’t own a television.”

  “Televisions are overrated,” She said, “And useless thanks to the zombie apocalypse. My friend Janice has one. She said the last broadcast they received was when her mother was still a young girl. Come to think of it, the drive-in cinema is also pretty useless. It screens the same five movies over and over again.”

  “Because Hollywood isn’t there anymore to produce new movies.” He said.

  “I wish I could have seen it.” She said in thought.

  “What?” He asked, “Hollywood?”

  She sat down on the concrete step and said, “Yes, It had to be magnificent with all the lights and glamour. I’m sad it’s gone.”

  He sat down next to her and rested his hand on hers. He was a bit nervous and expected her to retract her hand, but to his splendid surprise she didn’t. He let out an inaudible sigh of relief.

  “Maybe when I find the secret tunnel we could go there.” He said.

  “What about the zombies?” She asked.

  “We’ll take weapons to protect ourselves.” He said.

  There was a moment of silence and then she said, “Sometimes I wonder whether there’s still a plague out there.”

  “What do you mean?” He asked.

  “Just hear me out.” She said, “Zombies eat humans, right?”

  “Right.” He agreed.

  “What happens if there are no humans left?” She asked.

  “I guess the zombies will eat each other?” He said.

  “I doubt it.” She said, “I think they will simply waste away. Now, my mom doesn’t talk much about the undead, but my aunt Samantha says that there were way more zombie incidents back when they were young. They had a zombie attack almost every day…”

  Agnes drifted off into her thoughts and mumbled, “It’s hard to picture my mom as a young girl fighting off zombies.”

  She snapped back to reality and looked at him. He wasn’t quite following what she was talking about.

  “What I’m trying to say is,” She said, “It’s been years since the last zombie attack. What if the zombies are dying out due to a lack of food? What if they’re already died out except for a couple of resilient ones?”

  He pondered for a moment and said, “It’s a possibility, I guess.”

  “It’s worth checking out.” She said.

  “We’ll never get beyond the guards at the wall.” He said.

  “The more reason for you to find that secret tunnel.” She said.

  He nodded and said, “Sounds like an adventure.”

  “I love a good adventure.” She said with a smile.

  Her smile was enticing so he leaned in closer and kissed her. It was her first kiss and took the words right out of her mouth. She couldn’t think a thing or say a thing. It was the greatest experience of her life so far. He slowly pulled back and she smiled shyly.

  “Let’s go somewhere quieter.” He suggested.

  TEN

  Lucy sat at the head of the set table in the dining room. Her hands rested next to her empty plate as she patiently waited for Agnes to return. She glanced at the grandfather clock to her right. It was twenty past six. She clasped her hands together and laid them on her lap. She hated waiting for someone, especially if there was food getting cold.

  Finally she heard the front door closing and the scuffling of feet across the hardwood floor. Agnes rushed in and took her place at the other end of the four seater table. She smiled at her mother as she unfolded the napkin.

  “So glad you could join me.” Lucy said gracefully, but mockingly.

  “I’m sorry I’m late.” Agnes said, “I lost track of time in the library.”

  “Was that boy there?” Lucy asked.

  Agnes hesitated a moment, but then decided she wouldn’t hide the truth. Her mother would figure it out sooner or later.

  “Yes.” Agnes said.

  Lucy calmly closed her eyes as if it would make the problem disappear. She took a deep breath, opened her eyes and unfolded her napkin.

  “What’s his name again?” Lucy asked.

  “Elliot.” Agnes said.

  “Elliot, right.” Lucy agreed.

  Lucy dished herself a plate of the lukewarm stew and rice.

  “It smells divine.” Agnes said.

  “Thank you.” Lucy said, “It took me the rest of the afternoon to prepare.”

  Agnes dished herself a plate of stew and rice and started eating. With each mouthful, she wanted to tell her mother about their plan to explore the outside world. With each swallow, her instinct told her it would be a bad idea.

  “So, tell me a bit more about this Elliot boy?” Lucy asked.

  “He works at the library.” Agnes said.

  “We’ve covered that already.” Lucy said, “What else can you tell me. Is he a gentleman?”

  Agnes thought; he is a great kisser. Does that count for anything?

  “Yes.” Agnes said.

  Two distinct screams echoed through the night outside. Annoyed at the interruption, Lucy lowered her fork.

  “That wretched woman across the street.” Lucy hissed as she stood up, “Not everyone wants to share in her joy of getting engaged.”

  “I heard two screams this time.” Agnes said, “Sounds like someone else is just as excited as she is.”

  Lucy stood up and walked over to the window. She glanced out at the house across the street. The lights were on, but it appeared nobody was home.

  “That’s funny.” Lucy said while scrutinizing the house, “I could have sworn it came from across the street.”

  She closed the curtain, picked up her steak knife from the table and walked over to the front door. She composed herself before opening the door and stepping out onto the porch.

  The evening air was crisp and cool… and completely quiet.

  “Mary?” Lucy called out, “Are you alive in there?”

  There was no answer, so she stepped into the front yard while holding the knife out in front of her. She slowly crossed the street to Mary’s house and made her way up to the front door. She knocked, but there
was no answer.

  “Mary?” Lucy called out.

  She walked over to the window and peeked into the living room. She spotted a man crouching over someone who was lying face down on the floor. The man looked up and his entire face was covered in blood. Lucy gasped and jumped back with fright. Perhaps it would be wise to call the police to handle this one. She slowly backed up and then the man jumped through the window at her. He missed her and came crashing down on the lawn as she screamed. The man stood on all fours and stared up at her. His eyes were completely blank and his skin was pale. He was one of the infected.

  “Oh, Lord.” She whimpered.

  She swung the knife at him as he pounced and stabbed him on the side of his head. She pulled the knife free and the man collapsed. She stared at the man at her feet and then over at the woman lying in the living room. The woman slowly staggered to her feet.

  “That’s not good.” Lucy said to herself.

  The woman slowly turned to face Lucy. Half of her face was ripped away and she was covered in blood. She was definitely infected. She shrieked and hurdled herself out through the window. Lucy jumped out of the way and the woman ran off into the night.

  “That’s definitely not good.” Lucy told herself.

  A chill ran down her spine when she realized this could be the beginning of things quite similar to what happened when she was a child.

  Lucy went back inside, closed the door behind her and locked it. She leaned up against the door as if it would barricade it and glanced over at Agnes who stared at her mother while chewing a mouthful of stew.

  “Is everything alright?” Agnes asked.

  “Yes.” Lucy panted while nodding, “Everything is fine. I think we should just stay indoors from now on. I think I’ll home-school you from now on.”

  “What?” Agnes exclaimed.

  Lucy hurried over to the table