Monthly Archives: July 2021

TEXTS

by Lorraine J. Anderson

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11:00 PM. John, I’m at the Antelope parking lot on Cedar.

11:10 PM.  Lol.  Not John.  I think you have the wrong number.

11:14 PM.  John, where are you?

11:16 PM.  Not John.  Look up the number again.

11:16 PM.  John, this isn’t funny.  I need you here right now.  The elephants are coming.  

11:16 PM.  … The what?

11:17. PM. I told you. Need you here right now.

11:17 PM. Dude, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

11:18 PM.  Need the guns and bombs.

11:18 PM.  UM, what?  I think you need the police.

11:19 PM.  They are coming. WHERE ARE YOU!

11:19 PM. CALL 911, DUDE!

11:20 PM.  You know we can’t get the police involved.

11:20 PM. I keep telling you.  I’M NOT JOHN.  I’m Brian.

11:21 PM.  STOP FOOLING AROUND.  NEED YOU HERE NOW.

11:22 PM. For the elephants?

11: 22 PM.  STOP IT! THEY’RE COMING. 

11:22 PM.  I’m not messing with you!  I am not John!  I am Brian!

11: 25 PM. They’re here. 

11:25 P?M. They traced my cell phone signal. Run.  Dump your cell. RUN!

11:25 PM.  What!  Dude!

11:28 PM.  Dude…?

11:35 PM.  Dude, are you alright?

11:45 PM Dude, they’re here.  And they are not

END

Author’s note: this short short story was inspired by a group text message I was privy to of two groups trying to find each other.

July 2021.