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Small Town Talk

 They’re real, Al. That Warren boy, what’s his name—


Jeffery. 


Right! That Jeffery boy, he was scared shitless. And they’re good folk out there, Bobby is a vet too, medals and all up on his mantle. Vets don’t raise liars, Al. 


All I’m trying to say is, this Sputnik business has everybody terrified. Chasing their damn tails like sick coyotes. Lights in the sky, cars getting shut off, I mean, would you just listen to yourselves? Ain’t nothing but small town madness.. 


You sure did believe Jenny Saltrin when she came talking about Russians poking around in her backyard..


Hey! Mrs. Saltrin is a very ladylike, very Christian woman, ‘course I checked in when she said she’d seen folks in her yard at night. 



Oh, I bet that’s exactly what you did, Al, always the knight in shining armor. Was Mr. Saltrin there, too? Or out of town again?


Shut it. 


Say.. you two been getting.. odd calls, late at night? Past few nights, very early morning really— we’ve been getting the damndest calls. Phone just rings, and rings, and rings. For awhile I’d finally get my ass up to answer and it’d just be nothing. Had Dan and his boys came out, poke at the phone lines. Said everything was fine. But now, it’s different. Hissing, voices. Numbers. Just.. a man saying numbers, you know, like he’s counting lottery or something.


I won’t lie and say I ain’t been having the damndest dreams myself. 


Still think it’s all Sputnik, Al?



Shut it.

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