“It is an unfortunate fact that
we can secure peace only
by preparing for war,”
- John F. Kenndy
2 weeks before the end of the world.
Pov - Geronimo
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*Hit ya (Hit ya) with the (With the) punk (Punk) tactics* Geronimo didn’t bother to open his eyes as his hand reached for his phone. Touching the screen, he tried to grab it, but it only caused his phone to fall.
“Ugh,” Geronimo groaned.
“Floss..my phone,” Geronimo grumbled.
No response.
“Ugh,” Geronimo groaned again as he reluctantly opened his eyes.
The phone was still blasting music as Geronimo picked it up and looked at the caller ID.
“Michiel from work”
Geronimo sighs and answers the call.
“Hello?” Geronimo groans.
“Hey, Jim. We need you to come in for surgery,” Michiel said.
“What surgery?” Geronimo slightly woke up.
“Uhhh. That one patient needs a pacemaker replacement,”
“Isn’t that Laurie’s Patient?” Geronimo asked as he sat up in bed.
“Yes, but Doctor Hall was supposed to assist and guess what happened,” Michiel tried not to chuckle.
“Ugh, he magically got sick,” Geronimo sighed.
“Always on my days off,” Geronimo rubbed his eyes.
“I know. I’ll tell Laurie you're on your way,” Micheal sighs for Geronimo.
“Thanks,” Geronimo hangs up and gets up out of bed.
Geronimo looked into his closet, took out the last scrubs, and quickly put them on. Running down the stairs, he saw the kids and his wife ending breakfast.
“Hi, Daddy!” Helianthus excitedly waved to his father.
“Hey, Sunflower!” Geronimo ruffled Helianthus's golden blonde hair.
“Hello, Uncle Geronimo,” Tillie quietly spoke.
“Hi, Tillie!” Geronimo tried to ruffle Tillie’s black hair, but her hair simply stayed straight. He was causing Tillie to smile at Helianthus as his hair looked messy.
“Hey, honey!” Geronimo smiled at hsi wife.
“Where are you going?” Floss sighs.
“Got called in,” Geronimo shrugged as he walked to the coffee maker.
“I’m going to drag your coworker to work,” Floss grumbled.
“Now, Floss, you know that's a little violent,” Geronimo chuckled.
“A…little... Violent,” Floss grumbled. Helianthus laughs.
“Yeah, and I’ll help mommy!” Helianthus smiled.
“See? Now you're teaching our boy to be violent,” Geronimo chuckled.
“I’m not! Helianthus, you are not allowed to help mommy commit a crime, and Tillie, I expect you to keep Helianthus in line,” Floss spoke firmly.
“Aw,” Helianthus pouted.
“Ok, auntie,” Tille said.
“I was just jesting,” Geronimo chuckled.
“Well, you need to jest your way into planning where the kids are going,” Floss said.
“What?” Geronimo laughs.
“You know what I meant,” Floss sighs.
“That didn’t even make sense, babe,” Geronimo chuckled.
“Listen, I have parole in an hour and a half, and you were supposed to watch them,” Floss says.
“Oh, Well, isn’t it Tallulah's birthday today?” Geronimo asked.
“Dad! That was last week!” Helianthus yelled.
“Yes. We gave Tallulah her new bracelet kit, remember?” Tille asked.
“Oh right, my bad. Well, maybe Uncle Tony will still look after you two?” Geronimo suggested.
“Damnit, Geronimo,” Floss said.
“Swear,” Tillie shot a glance at Floss.
“I’m a grown-up. I can swear. Also, Geronimo, what if Tony had to work today? We can just drop the kids on him whenever we are busy,” Floss says.
“Hey, what if I run over real quick and ask, and if he can’t, I'll just take them to the hospital with me,” Geronimo suggested.
“The hospital?!” Floss was flabbergasted.
“Yeah, just put them in a waiting room while I work; no big deal, I've done it before,” Geronimo smirked.
“I highly doubt your colleges would appreciate that,” Floss sighs.
“Ah, hell with them,” Geronimo went to the front door.
“Swear,” Tillie spoke before Geronimo closed the door.
Hell isn’t even a swear word. Geronimo chuckled as he walked across the street to Tony’s house.
Geronimo knocked on the door and heard some shuffling coming from inside. Soon, a short, bearly man opened the door.
“Ah, Geronimo. Let me guess. I called in at the last minute, and Floss has parole check-in,” Tony chuckled.
“Damn. I don’t do this shit that often, do I?” Geronimo smirked, but his question was genuine.
“Eehh?” Tony couldn’t bring himself to lie.
“Ouch. well, are you able to look after Sonny and Tillie?” Geronimo asked.
“Yeah, I'm taking Tallulah to her gymnastic practice at the rec center,”
“Nice, thanks a lot, man. I got to buy you a drink or something,” Geronimo smiled.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“No problem. Tallulah loves seeing Sonny and Tillie, so there is no issue. Just get to work before they yell at you,” Tony waved off Geronimo.
Geronimo walked back home and grabbed his keys off the counter.
“Alright, kids, Uncle Tony is going to take you two to Tallulah’s gymnastic practice, so listen to what he says, alright,” Geronimo kissed everyone’s forehead.
“Ok, Daddy! Love you!” Helianthus waved goodbye.
“Goodbye, uncle,” Tillie quietly said.
“And be safe,” Floss says as Geronimo leaves for work.
Pov - Floss
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Floss had just finished washing dishes when she looked at the time—10:45 am.
“Ugh, I fucking hate check-in,” Floss thought out loud as she went to the kid's room.
Floss put her head to the door, trying to listen to any noise inside.
“Hey, Sonny?” Tillie asked.
“Yeah!” Helianthus seemed happy.
Floss opened the door just a little bit. Seeing Both Tillie and Helianthus packing their backpacks.
“Why does your mom have to leave once a month to go to jail?” Tillie asked.
“What? No, she doesn’t go to jail,” Helianthus said.
“What? But I heard kids at school say parole is at jail?”Tille asked.
“No. Mommy says she did something bad a long time ago, and now she has to go to an office so the government can make sure she isn’t still bad,” Helianthus smiled.
“Oh. Ok. That makes sense,” Tillie says.
Floss opened the door.
“Hey, kids, are you two ready to go to Uncle Tony’s now?” Floss asked.
“Yes, mom!” Helianthus smiled.
“Yes, Auntie. We are ready,” Tillie said.
“Good. Remember to be on your best behavior, or you two will have an earful,” Floss spoke firmly.
The kids nodded their heads. Fluss nods her head, and she leads the kids next door.
“Can I knock on the door?” Helianthus asked.
“No,” Floss shot down as she knocked on the door.
Tony opened the door and smiled.
“Hey kids, Tallulah is just in her room getting ready,” Tony waved the kids inside.
“Hi, Uncle Tony. Thank you,” Both Helianthus and Tillie said as they walked inside.
“Again, thank you for looking after them again. I owe you a drink or gas money or something,” Floss said.
“You don’t owe me anything, Floss. You gave me this life, and I’ll be thankful for that,” Tony smiled.
Floss just grumbled to herself. Then Tony got closer and whispered
“Did you hear about the new drills schools want to introduce when they go back?”
Floss shook her head.
“Duck and cover,” Tony said.
“Duck and cover? Like the drill in the 50s?” Floss squined her eyes.
“Yeah, the schools emailed the parents yesterday,” Tony whispered.
“Are you fucker serious?”
“Yeah,”
“How the hell is that supposed to comfort parents? Damn, drills from the 50s that don’t do jack shit. How are my kids hiding under a table going to stop a nuclear fucking bomb,” Floss was more quickly yelling.
“I think it’s more supposed to comfort the kids,” Tony said.
Floss just sighs.
“I think Roadie and Bae were the lucky ones,” Tony says.
“Don’t say that,” Floss said.
“I know,” Tony sighs.
“Especially not Bae. Don’t say that shit in front of Tillie,” Floss was agitated.
“You're still mad,” Tony said.
“Of course. Bae could have told anyone, and we would have listened! God, she’s lucky she isn’t alive, or I would strangle her myself,” Floss huffed.
Tony looked at his watch.
“You got parole in 45 minutes. Happy thoughts,” Tony tries to smile.
“Happy… thoughts…” Floss grumbled.
“I’ll pick up the kids when you return from gymnastics,” Floss sighed as she left.
“Do you want me to drive you there?” Tony asked.
“No, I can just walk. It won’t take me long,” Floss waved off Tony’s offer.
Tony sighed as he went back inside. Floss continued to walk down the road, and the heatwave slowly went up.
“This heat wave can suck my dick,” Floss grumbled.
Pov - Helianthus
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Helianthus and Tillie helped put Tallulah’s dolls away as Tallulah finished doing her hair. Tallulah had always been into caring for dolls, and Helianthus would always play along with her, but Tillie preferred to watch them play.
“Hey, Tallulah, can you help me redo the little twist you put in my hair last time?” Helianthus asked.
“Oh, sure, ok. Do you want your hair twisted too, Tillie?” Tallulah asked.
“The twist isn’t going to stay,” Tillie said matter-of-factly.
“Even if it doesn’t stay, it’s still fun!” Helianthus smiled.
Tillie just raised an eyebrow and looked at both Helianthus and Tallulah.
“Fine if we have time. You two can try,” Tillie didn’t sound too happy but smiled at the two.
“Kids! Time to roll out!” Tony yelled.
The three of them jumped up and quickly grabbed their things.
“Last one to the Car sucks eggs!” Helianthus yelled, causing both Tallulah and Tillie to race to the car while Helianthus was behind. Eventually, all the kids piled into the car, giggling.
“Seems like you suck eggs, Sonny! Sorry,” Tallulah apologized.
“It’s ok, we had fun! And I do like eggs,” Helianthus laughed.
“Alright, kids, seatbelts,” Tony said.
After a short struggle, all the kids were buckled in, and Tony drove off. The car ride was uneventful, and Tillie almost immediately fell asleep; Tallulah was listening to the music on the radio, and Helianthus looked out the window. On the way closer to the recreational center, Tallulah decided to redo a slight twist she had done to Helianthus's hair, much to Helianthus's delight. Helianthus had to shake Tillie awake as the group arrived, and Tallulah almost danced her way inside. Making their way to the Gymnastics gym. Helianthus and Tillie sat where the grown-ups were while Tallulah practiced with the rest of her group. Tillie had taken out a book called Introduction to Genetics. Tillie had asked Floss to get it since she was interested in science, despite Tillie being a year younger than Helianthus. She was brilliant in science, and most of the time, Tillie taught Helianthus how to use scientific methods. Helianthus rested his head on Tillie’s shoulder as she read the book, and Tillie decided to read it quietly out loud despite knowing Helianthus wouldn’t understand what it said. She knew he would always listen to her talk, and Helianthus was happy to hear.
Pov - Geronimo
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Geronimo had entered the hospital and quickly clocked in. As he went to the surgery unit, he saw Michiel working at the front desk.
“Ok, where is Mister Pacemaker?”Geronimo asked.
“Well, good morning, mister Eaton,” Michiel chuckled.
“Haha. Now, where is the patient?”
“Didn’t you hear? Mister Pacemaker decided to eat three sandwiches about ten minutes ago. Surgery canceled,” Michiel explained.
“Are you fucking serious?”Geronimo groaned.
“Sadly, yes,”
“I could have been home with my kids, and instead, I'm at work on my day off to do surgery. That isn't happening,” Geronimo rubbed his forehead.
“Trust me, the nurses gave him an earful. So I’m afraid you can curse him out,” Michiel chuckled.
“You mean the female nurses scolded him,”
“Well, yeah, I can do the good old IV and CPR, but telling my patients off isn’t my style,”
“You're a resident. You don’t do anything,” Geronimo smiled.
“Not true!” Michiel protested.
“Really, when was the last time you even put an IV in?”
Michiel didn’t say anything.
“Well, if you doing fucking nothing and I’m here on my day off, I'm going to put you to work,” Geronimo laughs.
“Me and my fucking mouth,” Michiel sighs.
Geronimo was true to his word and dragged Michiel all over the hospital, ensuring he got into the muck of the problem. He mostly fed Michiel to the nurses and watched him struggle to restrain and irritate the patient to the stretcher. Having him do CPR on a patient coding was the most exciting thing. Let him watch surgery on a patient who came in and somehow accidentally cut his whole hand off; by the end of the day, Michiel was sweating.
“See, good workout. You did good today, kid,” Geronimo smiled.
“I’m just amazed you could save that dude’s hand,” Michiel rubbed his eyes.
“Yeah, it might not work the same, but it’s attached,”
“Speaking of attached, did you hear the news?!” Michiel sat up.
“Oh boy, here we go again,” Geronimo sighs.
“It’s serious, dude!”
“I’m not your dude,”
“Fine surgeon, Eaton. What I heard is if a nuclear bomb were to hit us like right now, we wouldn’t know till after it already hit the country!” Michiel yelled.
“And where did you find that information? Fearmongering website number 54?” Geronimo chuckled.
“Hey, I did research!” Michiel protested.
“Listen, I’m more willing to listen if the government was giving us hospitals a ton of Pedialyte and telling us to stock up on Potassium iodide and even a ton of DPTA, but we haven’t had that happen yet,” Geronimo waved off.
“But what about the fallout shelter drills? We've been doing that shit for six months now.” Michiel said.
“And six months and nothing happened yet; trust me, we would know if shit was about to hit the fan, so just chill. Alright, kid,” Geronimo smiled.
“Alright, whatever you say, man,” Michiel sighs.
Geronimo waved goodbye as he made his way back home. It was pitch black outside when he entered, and he could only see the microwave light on. He looked at the time: 9:32 p.m.
“Damn,” Geronimo sighed as he took a quick shower and got something to eat. Afterward, he checked on the kids, who were already fast asleep in their room. Finally, he made it to bed around 10:00 pm. Geronimo gently laid beside Floss, who was half asleep.
“Hmm, how was work?” Floss grumbled.
“Work. Sorry if I woke you up,” Geronimo said.
There was a moment of silence.
“Is shit hitting the fan?” Floss grumbled.
Geronimo took a second to understand what Floss meant by that.
“It’s late honey, don’t worry about that now,” Geronimo cuddled up against Floss.
“I’m always worried,” Floss confessed
“I know,” Geronimo says as he stays by her side.