Not Just Another Day

         The day started out much as any other. The sun rose, the birds awoke and took flight. Cars started to fill up roads and freeways. But this day was different. This day was not going to be like any other. It was just that nobody knew that yet.

         Melissa didn't know it. She packed Mandy's lunch as always, making sure that since it was Friday, it was a peanut butter sandwich with strawberry jam that got tucked in with the fruit and cookies. Checking the calendar on the fridge as she went to get a juice pack, she noticed that there was a PTA meeting that night at seven. Melissa thought that she'd best plan something easy for dinner.

         Anthony didn't know it. He put on the new suit he'd found at the Goodwill yesterday and carefully tied his one good burgundy tie; first impressions were important, and he desperately needed this used-car sales job at the local dealership. The last of his savings had gone yesterday to pay one more month's rent on his tiny studio apartment, giving him exactly thirty days to come up with the means to pay the next month's.

         Patricia didn't know it. She had a Symphony Patrons fund raising event planned in her home that evening for 100 people. And although there was no chance on her part that a nail would break or a hair would get out of place or even that her heart rate would go up in the planning and execution of the event - after all, there were "people" to see to all that - it would be an evening where her reputation would be on the line, and therefore her total focus was on orchestrating perfection and image.

         Georgie didn't know it. Georgie didn't know much of anything at the moment actually. Georgie was still hurting big time from the cheap bottle of vodka his pan-handling yesterday had provided him last night to help keep him oblivious to his so-called life. He pulled the torn pieces of cardboard over him as he laid in the alley, his whole body aching and sore from the cold and the concrete.

         Melissa first realized the day was different when Mandy came into the kitchen and asked her why the pretty news lady on the television was crying. Melissa remembered she'd left the television on in the family room where she often drank a quick cup of coffee and caught one of the morning news programs before it was time to wake Mandy for school. "Oh honey, I'm sure it's just that there's something sad that happened," she said re-assuringly, although as she went to shut off the television, she thought to herself that it was rather odd for one of the cable news professionals to be so emotional on air. "Mommy, " said Mandy following behind her, "what's thermanuklaler mean?"

         Anthony first realized the day was different when Cassie from the apartment down below started pounding on his door, yelling "Oh please open up Anthony, please!" This from a girl he knew to be fairly quiet and shy, who lived alone and rarely did more than have tentative conversations with him next to the mailboxes when they'd occasionally see each other. He opened the door to find her pale and teary, "oh Anthony, it's all over. Everything, everything is all over."

         Patricia first realized the day was different when she walked into the kitchen to find her maid Maria throwing on her coat as she headed out the back door crying. When Patricia yelled out "Where are you going Maria, you just got here and we've got the party tonight!" Maria stopped long enough to look at her sadly and reply "there will be no party tonight Mrs. Maguire. There will be nothing. Go. Go find your family, as I am going to do." She left, not even closing the door behind her. Patricia stood in the kitchen like a deer caught in headlights; her mind racing with the panicked thought that she'd just lost her maid to some craziness, with 100 people expected in her home in less than 10 hours. As she went to close the door that Maria had left open, her attention was suddenly drawn to the television mounted under one of the kitchen cabinets, and the sobbing newscaster.

         Georgie first realized the day was different when, from under his cardboard, he heard somebody walking by shouting "Repent, repent, the end is near." He raised his head up, expecting to see the usual long-haired nut Sammy that was always coming around to convert him. Instead his eyes made contact with a clean cut, nicely dressed younger man in a suit carrying a bible, who, with eyes wide stared back at him and said "truly this is it brother. The inferno is on its way and we are all out of time. Prepare, prepare." Georgie, still terribly hung-over, shook his head and laid back down under his cardboard thinking "who cares."

         Melissa knew how truly different the day was when the phone rang and her husband John said "I love you deeply 'Lissa and I'm going to try and make it home. Please hug Mandy and kiss her for me, and dear God I hope I make it home." She knew as she watched the woman newscaster on the television say "I'm sorry I can't do this anymore" and rip her ear piece from her ear and leave the desk and an obviously scared man in a shirt with no tie took her place and mumbled something about perhaps this would be a good time for everyone to just pray and find someone to be with; and then he started crying himself. Melissa looked down in comprehending terror at Mandy who was now clinging to her leg and looking for answers; she dropped the juice pack still in her hand and took Mandy into her arms.

         Anthony knew how truly different the day was when Cassie entered his apartment and asked if he could please hold her. "You can turn on the television, but I don't know if they're even broadcasting anymore," she said, trying to speak through her sobs. He asked her what had happened, and she choked out "it's supposed to be here in less than 20 minutes" before she started crying hysterically again. Anthony loosened his tie and pulled it off, at the same time managing to keep an arm around Cassie. He didn't know any details, but from all indications, he figured he wasn't going to need it anymore.

         Patricia knew how truly different the day was when she too witnessed the woman newscaster leave, and the comments from her scared replacement. And she knew when her gardener Jose suddenly walked into the kitchen without even removing his muddy boots, and asked if he could stay there with her and perhaps have a drink of something strong because he had no family and no one to be with and he didn't want to die alone. She was about to ask him what the hell he thought he was doing when her phone rang. On the other end was her husband Bill, mumbling hysterically something about how sorry he was that he had been so hard to live with all these years and that he really did in the end love her and that he didn't think he'd be able to get to her before...and then suddenly the line went dead. Patricia went to the liquor cabinet and took down the brandy decanter and poured two crystal glasses to the brim, handing one to Jose.

         Georgie knew how truly different the day was when he found himself engulfed in a serene bath of light and he suddenly wasn't cold or aching anymore and for the first time in his life, felt a sense of peace.