Stars
“Ricky"
"Yeah, Bernice."
"Look at that star."
"What about it?"
"I've never seen anything like it."
"I don't even see it."
"See the Big Dipper. It's to the left of--"
"I don't even know where that is."
Bernice sighed. "It's so pretty," she said, "I think it's changing colors. Look Ricky."
"Bern, I don't see it. I think whatever you smoked must hav--"
"It's coming closer. Right out of the sky. Coming down."
"Dammit Bernice, you're hallucinating. There's nothing in the sky." Ricky swept his hands out. Bernice wasn't even listening to him. She was focused on whatever she claimed to see. "C'mon Bernie, let's get out of here. You need to sleep off whatever you're on."
Ricky slid off the hood of the car. He had to steady himself. He drank too much and was getting dizzy. He yelled at Bernice to get in the car. She hadn't moved from the hood. He reached through the window and honked the horn. "C'mon." He yelled. She didn't move. Ricky walked to the passenger side of the car. He reached out to give Bernice a shake. At Ricky's touch Bernice dissolved like sugar in hot tea. In shock Ricky jerked his hand away. He shouted, "What the hell?"
He looked to the sky and not a star lit the night. The moon seemed to hide itself from sight. A void of black is all that hung over head.
