Day 2
I am writing this from the cellar, on my lap top. It’s the only place I’m safe. Those little nightmares don’t like the cold down here. Neither do I.
Yesterday went from bad to worse. I got the bright idea to try blasting the bugs with steam. I had a long heavy hose I could connect to a steam line. It worked well. I killed thousands of ‘Them’ as I tried to steam clean the building. Just when it seemed most were driven away or cooked, more came. They swarmed in around the back door, the windows, through any little hole. They didn’t look like they were particularly pleased with me. I would think if you had several million siblings, children, and in-laws you would be happy if someone reduced their numbers for you! I kept blasting away at ‘Them’ until the boiler couldn’t keep up and shut down. They started closing in.
That’s when I got the idea to retreat to the cellar, but I knew I would need a coat, some food, and what ever else I could grab to stay down there for long. They had me cut off at both ends of the building on the main floor. Everything I needed was upstairs, across a squirming sea of ‘Them’. I needed a diversion or something to lure them out of my path.
Just then there was a banging on the back door. Someone was here! I yelled “Be Careful!” to whom ever but to no avail. It was the UPS man. He burst in only to meet ‘Them’ head on. As he stopped to look down a huge speckled mass peeled off the ceiling and covered him. I’ll never forget the look on his face as he turned in horror and bolted back out the door, screaming. But that was the diversion I needed. I darted past the preoccupied mass up the stairs. I looked out the window briefly to see the man running madly through the Colony Inn parking lot and then out of sight.
As soon as I turned from the window, I noticed my blow torch sitting on my bench. Perfect. I grabbed it on my way to the office. I grabbed my coat, some munchies Aaron left out, and this computer. I lit the torch and began the now long journey to the cellar, Indiana Jones style. (I knew watching all those movies would eventually pay off.) The prospect of becoming tiny bits of charcoal seemed to keep ‘Them’ at bay and I moved along. Down to the main floor, past the silent bottling line, through the door into the salesroom. Ahh, chips and salsa, I figured Teresa wouldn’t mind if I nabbed some from the shelves under the current conditions. Oh yes, my beer glass, I knew I would definitely need that!! Then down the stairs to the cellar, a box of stuff under one arm, the torch blazing in the other hand. But a hideous carpet following close behind.
Once in the cellar, I turned down the thermostats in both rooms. The overhead fans whined as the colder air came pouring out. But I seemed to be safe, with lots of beer to keep me company. I did my best to console those full tanks, but eventually I think I just passed out in a blur of relieving numbness.
Today, no numbness, except from the cold. Not feeling too good. ‘They’ are waiting for me out there. Playing solitaire isn’t helping. The thought of more beer, well, I’m sure you’ve been there. Chips and salsa is good, though. I had Aaron’s fancy bagels twice, not so good the second time. Not sure how long I can hold out here.
The lights just went off. Along with them went the cooling. It’s just a matter of time now. One or two days if the weather is warm. Then they’ll come. I’m turning off the computer now, save its batteries. More later, maybe…