"2012" by Sara Dungavell

“Beware! Beware!  The end is near!” cried a ragged old man from the street corner.

“Father!” A young woman caught the old man’s arm and pulled him away from the curb.  “It’s 2011, no one thinks the world’s going to end any more.”

Earl broke angrily from his daughter’s grasp and turned to confront her.

“The appliances are going to take over and people have to be warned.”

“Come home Dad.  We’ll make some new pamphlets and hand them out in the neighbourhood again, okay?” Earl’s daughter tried to lead him away to avoid a scene on the busy downtown street.  “I’m just worried you’ll get the wrong kind of attention, shouting about the end of the world.” The young woman shook her head in dismay and laughed nervously.  “People will think I’m a bad daughter.”

“You believe me though?” the old man asked hopefully.

“Of course I do,” his daughter said.  “Now come home.”

In the car Earl began enthusiastically listing all the things they had to do before New Years to stop the appliance revolt.  His daughter cut him off, promising they’d go over it all as soon as they got home.

“You’re such a good girl Mary.  You’re my favourite you know,” Earl said smiling and patted his daughter’s hand on the steering wheel.

“I’m Janette Dad.  Mary moved away a long time ago,” she corrected half-heartedly.  She had become resigned to her father’s mistakes.

“Oh,” Earl laughed, “I meant Janette.  You were always my favourite.  Now sweety I really do need to go over the plans-”

“Dad!”

“Mary!”

“Janette,” she corrected with a sigh.  Even resigned it still hurt to always be replaced by her sister.  “It’s okay Dad, just wait until we get home.”

“You really are a good girl.”

“And you always were a good father,” Janette, turned and smiled sadly at the grey old man. They drove on in silence for a little while.

“This isn’t the way home,”  Earl said, nervously peering out the car window at the countryside that had replaced the city.

“Yes it is.”

“No it isn’t, we’re going the wrong way.” Earl strained against the seat belt to look out the back window.

“This is the way to your new house Dad.”  Janette kept her eyes resolutely on the road, despising the note of false gaiety in her voice.

“New house?! I don’t have a new house.  Where are you taking me?  Where’s Linda?” Earl turned to face his daughter.

“Mum’s dead Dad.  You know she died just after Mary left.”

“She’s dead?” Earl’s voice was a childish quaver.

“Yes Dad.  We had the service in the legion hall, remember?”  Janette asked patiently.

“No.” Earl peered sadly at the unfamiliar countryside.

“That’s all right Dad.  There are people who will help you here,” she said as she turned the car down a long driveway.

“Help?” Earl brightened. “They’ll help save the world?”

Janette didn’t answer.  The car came to a stop in front of an imposing brick facility.  Janette got out and Earl followed her to the door.

“W-e-g-e-n-s v-i-l-l-a?” Earl read the brass plaque on the door.  “Wegens Villa?!  You’re taking me to a crazy house?” The old man stood rigid with indignation.  “I won’t have it Janette.”  As Earl tried scurry back into the car two men in white jackets came out of the building and took him firmly by the arms.

“We can take him from here Ms. Fisher,” one said.  Janette nodded.  The nurses started pulling Earl towards the door.  The old man fought frantically.

“Goodbye Dad,” Janette said calmly as she got back into the car.  She’d done this so many times in her head there was no room for emotion now.

“Come back!  Mary come back!”  Earl cried as Janette drove away.  “You can go to Alaska, your mother and I will give you the money, but don’t leave me here!  I have to save the world!  The world!”  Earl broke free from the nurses’ grasp and ran feebly down the driveway.  One of the men caught up and grabbed him again as the second nurse stabbed him with a sedative.  Earl slumped into their arms and was carried inside.

It was the new year and Janette still felt guilty about what she’d done to her father.  She needed her own life though, she couldn’t keep chasing him around town forever.  With Earl gone she’d finally been able to bring the appliances out of storage too, and that had certainly made life easier.  Dad will be calmer now that New Years has passed though, Janette thought.  He’d been screaming about the appliances taking over in 2012 ever since mum died.    Folding her newly ironed clothes, Janette sighed, her father must have had a bad night.  She should go visit him.  Janette turned to leave the room, behind her the iron emitted a low menacing hiss and slid smoothly along the board.  Oh yes, the new year had come.