Life’s interruptions can have devastating effects on all of us, whether we are humans, animals, or members of other species unknown to man.

Trying to understand what is happening can shake us to our very core, as is evidenced in . . .

Piercing Eyes

     Sunshine illuminated the streets of the sweet suburban town of Greenlawn. A quiet calm permeated the neighborhood on this beautiful Thursday afternoon in the middle of May. All God’s creatures lived in peace and harmony.

     Then, without warning, a loud roar from a large bluish gold, somewhat bewildered, Coliaterax interrupted the pleasantness of the day. He bellowed at the top of his lungs, “I thunk thar’s trouble comin’ this way.”

     Running in circles around him, a brilliant yellow and red Beaterax fumbled for the words to express her concern. “Yuh, yuh, you sure?” she blurted.

     Tumbling out of his well-concealed hill house above the two confused critters, a ruby red Aperterax brought himself to his full upright position, revealing his three-foot-seven-inch frame. Awakened from a sound sleep by the bellowing of the Coliaterax, he peered at his two friends running in circles in his front yard. “What? What’s up?” he murmured, as he tried to purge the sleep from his eyes.

     At that moment, harsh rumbling sounds coming from the road beyond their view grabbed the attention of the three pals. The noises became louder and louder as a blurry distant creature approached. Moving together, they attempted to find comfort in the touch of each other’s bodies. Still, they shuddered at what they saw. A huge, black and gray van, with the shiniest sides they had ever seen, rolled up to the curb adjacent to the front yard. The three companions, huddled together, shook in fear of what might emerge from the mysterious vehicle.

     The deafening noises coming from within the van overwhelmed them. Never had they been subjected to such awful sounds. Just when they thought things couldn’t get any worse, from the gleaming side of the van, six scary eyes stared at them and penetrated deep into their inner beings. They clutched each other in fright. They turned their heads trying to avoid the fearsome eyes piercing both their hearts and souls. However, being curious by nature, they turned to face their nemesis once again, only to feel the glare of these six eyes, stabbing like swords into their helpless bodies.

     The awful sounds from the van continued to get louder and louder. They became almost intolerable. In their hearts, the three wished to run, and run, and run. Yet, the harder they tried, the less successful their efforts became. They remained petrified and motionless in the face of impending disaster.

     The van began to shake, vibrating back and forth. As it did, they peered once again at its gleaming, shaking sides and trembled at what they witnessed. The six eyes rolled up and down in a violent, troubled manner. Have we made the creature angry? the trio thought.

     “What’s it goin’ to do to us?” the Beaterax shrieked. 

     All of a sudden, the ground beneath the feet of the three moved, almost as if the violent shaking of the van had caused an earthquake. Wispy gray smoke, coming from its hood, created a murky fog that engulfed the vehicle. 

     Cachung, baroom, baroom, belched the van.

     The three comrades cowered in a clump, with their eyes turned away from what they thought would lead to the end of the world.

     The minds of the three “condemned” creatures filled with thoughts of doom. The Coliaterix whimpered, “I don’t wanna die.”

     The Beaterax, teeth chattering, prayed for forgiveness for her sins. The Aperterax cried, tears dripping from his eyes.

     Again, the van emitted the harsh sounds, cachung, baroom, baroom, compounding their thoughts of doom. This time, however, more frightening sounds erupted from the monster, baroom, baroom, baroom, kaboom, kaboom, kaboom.

     “What’s goin’ happen to us?” the friends screeched.

     As their anxiety levels reached outlandish heights, their hearts palpitated out of control. Once more they chanced to look up at the van. The six eyes staring at them from its side seemed to penetrate deeper and deeper into the inner cores of the three. These probing sensors devastated them. 

     The Aperterax cried out, “Why me, why me?” The others said nothing and all seemed frozen to the ground rumbling beneath them.

     Then, the demon that had descended upon the peace and quiet of their home managed to overcome its gasping and belching and began moving slowly into the distance. The ground stopped rolling. The three companions lay in a lump, feeling relief, but still unable to move. As the van proceeded further down the road, a large sign could be seen posted on its rear door. The words, in huge red letters, read, “Miracle Mirror Company—Helping You To See Yourself.”

Copyright © 2009 Alan Lowe. All rights reserved.