Copyright © Crowded Quarantine Publications 2011
All Rights Reserved
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
ISBN 978-0-9571033-2-0
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
WAKE
UP
DEAD
CONTENTS
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR – Suzanne Robb 7
EUTHANASIA – Chantal Boudreau 60
SUGAR SKULLS – Rebecca Snow 83
RANDY'S NIGHT OUT – Douglas Vance Castagna 101
VOODOO CHILD – Caitlin Gunn 122
SUICIDE SOLUTION – R.D.Teun 134
OUTBREAK ON THE COMMONS – Guy James 183
ANNIVERSARY – Mia Darien 197
FLORENCE'S DIARY – Adam Millard 209
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
Suzanne Robb
Clare Jones worked a double shift at a local restaurant to help pay her tuition and rent. Tired and ready for a break, she felt her heart stop when she walked in, the girl of her dreams beautiful with perfect breasts. Dana, she overheard it while eavesdropping, her smile made Clare weak in the knees.
As usual Dana sat in Clare’s section with some girl. Dana came in at least three times a week that Clare knew of, and always sat in her section. She wondered if perhaps this was some sort of torture.
She braced herself as she walked towards the table to give them their menus. Their fingers grazed one another and all thought left Clare’s head, she was fairly certain she was going to pass out.
“Hi, my name’s, Clare, and I’ll be your waitress. Can I start you with something to drink?”
“I’ll have my usual. You remember what it is right?” Dana laughed sweetly, and Clare didn’t even care she was laughing at her.
She was about to walk away and get Dana’s order when the other girl cleared her throat.
“I’ll take a strawberry milkshake.”
Clare hated her immediately. Who likes strawberry milkshakes? She thought to herself.
“I’ll be right back with those.” Walking away from the table Clare headed for the back room.
Clare took several deep breaths in the safety of the supply closet. After a moment she left the room and prepared for what was to come.
“Here you go ladies.” She placed their drinks on the table. “Our specials today are pea soup and glazed chicken breasts with garlic sauce.”
Dana looked at Clare and smiled. “Are the breasts good?”
Clare knew she was doomed to say something stupid if she opened her mouth, but couldn’t help herself.
“Your breasts are fantastic…I mean the chicken breasts are good. Yes, they’re tasty, you’ll like them.”
“We’ll get the special then,” Dana said.
“Great, I’ll be back with your breasts in a few minutes.”
What is wrong with me? Am I terminally stupid in the presence of Dana?
Clare walked away from the table begging God to strike her down, send in a team of commando lesbians to revoke her dating card. Anything so she didn’t have to show her face at the table again.
Clare decided to ask Lisa, the other waitress if she would switch tables with her.
“Lisa, you need to help me.”
“Let me guess, she’s, here, you said something stupid and want to switch tables.”
Apparently this happened a lot more than Clare realized.
“Yes.”
“Nope,
last time she got all huffy when I refused to let her talk to you.”
“She wanted to talk to me? Why didn’t you tell me?” Clare got flustered at the news.
“Of course not, you make a fool of yourself when you get within ten feet of her.”
“Right, point taken.”
Clare needed to bring them their food at some point. She couldn’t toss it, or slide it to them in order to stay out of the ten foot idiot zone. She would have to do it herself. Clare needed to be a waitress.
A ringing bell roused Clare from her musings, their order ready. Grabbing the two plates Clare walked to their table as if she was about to face a firing squad. Eyes focused on the food, she placed the plates on the table. She began to turn around when she felt a hand on her arm forcing her to turn around.