Vasquez Landholdings: A Short Story
34 years post-plague, Vasquez Landholdings, Southern Texas, fall of 2073 “Hey Giana, guess what? I’m going to give you a spanking!” “What for? I’ll tell on you!” “No one likes a tattletale and everyone knows that the birthday girl gets spankings on her birthday.” Crossing her arms and shaking her head, looking at her brother, attempting her best imitation of their mother, “I don’t think so.” Raymond, leaning in close to his sister’s face, “Ooohh is the little baby girl gonna cry for Mommy? “You’re mean, go away.” Raymond continued heckling his younger sister, “I’m gonna give you six hard swats, and then a punch in the arm to grow on.” “That’s just mean. You’re supposed to be nice to me on my birthday. Go away. GO AWAY!” The
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Giana how,” looking up, her trembling hands shading her eyes, “are you holding your brother in the air?” Shrugging “I just thought away and he went”, pointing to her brother, “there - away.” Kneeling down to her daughter’s level, “Sweetheart, please put your brother down now, slowly, and do not drop him.” “I don’t want spankings for my birthday.” Looking up, nodding at her son, “I think Raymond has forgotten all about the spankings.” Raymond, arms and legs akimbo, was nodding most vigorously in agreement. Giana relented by slowly lowering Raymond to the ground. Pigtails bouncing and her sapphire eyes shining once again with the excitement of a happy 6 year old, “Can we have sweets now Mommy? That is what I want for my birthday”, she saved the last little comment for her brother, smiling so wide he could see nearly all of her pearly whites, “not spankings.” Raymond stuck out his tongue and ran away. “Raymond, come back here!” Sighing, Becky covered her eyes for a brief moment. Standing up, she brushed off her knees and gave her daughter a stern look, “Young lady, after we have sweets, we will talk about this, together, with your …show more content…
I can move myself from one place to another – and other people too, if I touch them. I can surround myself with a bubble, and I can make people feel and not feel things.” Becky, suddenly afraid and at a loss to understand, grabbed her daughter and hugged her close, “I’m so sorry Giana. I wish I understood more about what was going on. I need to understand how to protect you.” Giana gently detangled herself, “Actually Mom, you can’t protect me. Raymond is my protector, until I meet my other self. Where I can, he can’t. Where he can, I can’t.” “What are you saying? I’m confused.” “Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay Mom. There are people who will be arriving soon. They will need help from you, Dad and Grandpa. They’re going to ask for my help too. We’re all going to find a new home and let Goddess rest.”
New York City, winter of 2080. New York City had become a barren, and unforgiving concrete wasteland. The once thriving metropolis had been reduced to a state of dilapidation by years of neglect and the forces of
Giana how,” looking up, her trembling hands shading her eyes, “are you holding your brother in the air?” Shrugging “I just thought away and he went”, pointing to her brother, “there - away.” Kneeling down to her daughter’s level, “Sweetheart, please put your brother down now, slowly, and do not drop him.” “I don’t want spankings for my birthday.” Looking up, nodding at her son, “I think Raymond has forgotten all about the spankings.” Raymond, arms and legs akimbo, was nodding most vigorously in agreement. Giana relented by slowly lowering Raymond to the ground. Pigtails bouncing and her sapphire eyes shining once again with the excitement of a happy 6 year old, “Can we have sweets now Mommy? That is what I want for my birthday”, she saved the last little comment for her brother, smiling so wide he could see nearly all of her pearly whites, “not spankings.” Raymond stuck out his tongue and ran away. “Raymond, come back here!” Sighing, Becky covered her eyes for a brief moment. Standing up, she brushed off her knees and gave her daughter a stern look, “Young lady, after we have sweets, we will talk about this, together, with your …show more content…
I can move myself from one place to another – and other people too, if I touch them. I can surround myself with a bubble, and I can make people feel and not feel things.” Becky, suddenly afraid and at a loss to understand, grabbed her daughter and hugged her close, “I’m so sorry Giana. I wish I understood more about what was going on. I need to understand how to protect you.” Giana gently detangled herself, “Actually Mom, you can’t protect me. Raymond is my protector, until I meet my other self. Where I can, he can’t. Where he can, I can’t.” “What are you saying? I’m confused.” “Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay Mom. There are people who will be arriving soon. They will need help from you, Dad and Grandpa. They’re going to ask for my help too. We’re all going to find a new home and let Goddess rest.”
New York City, winter of 2080. New York City had become a barren, and unforgiving concrete wasteland. The once thriving metropolis had been reduced to a state of dilapidation by years of neglect and the forces of