Wordcount: 573
Quote:
Illuminating Conversation (3) : This time of year there are lights hanging everywhere. They come in different colors, different styles, different patterns of illumination. You might not remember when it started, but when you looked at a display, you noticed the lights seemed to be flashing in a specific pattern. When you look away, you might be able to see out of the corner of your eye that they return to normal--but any time you look at them, they repeat the same unique sequence. It’s not just one light, either; almost everywhere you go you can find some light repeating the pattern. Is something trying to send you a message? Could it be Morse Code, or something else? A coincidence? Either way, you can’t seem to decipher the message and it’s getting to you. Especially because no one else seems to notice it.
“Come on boss, let's go! Time to drink!” The more boisterous of his crew dragged him from the trailer, more than happy that the work day was over. Their work day was over, Ben still had several papers to finish up, but a glance at the clock… and knowing he detested paperwork, had him agreeing with them. Besides, New Years Eve-eve was upon them so what better time to get drunk than now?
They all met up at their regular bar, several carpooling and even more already passing their keys off to others. They planned to get smashed but none were about to drive, outside of the one kid that was too young to drink so was the DD. This was good because Ben would have to chew their asses out if they did, there was too much ******** liability for him and the company if anyone got into an accident after a night drinking after everyone from work went for drinks… it would also make them useless for at least a few days after an accident. Which would cut into profits. Better to let them get smashed then home safe rather than pay them out for sick leave or PTO.
“So what's your plan for tomorrow?” The question was asked as a whole, most said drinking. A few buzzkills said sleep but almost everyone turned to look at Ben and waited to hear his answer. Several made guesses like ‘spending time with his girl’ or ‘going out to party’ or some other mix of the two. Ben just shrugged and smiled before giving them a wink and taking a swig of his beer. He was definitely not telling them squat. No point in sharing the salacious details, especially since it was none of their damn business. So instead he kept his mouth shut and just enjoyed his beer. His men got drunk around him but Ben just nursed his one beer, he still had his ‘job’ to do later that night. He still needed to hit his energy quota so he was planning on going out later and seeing just how many drunks he could drain.
As the party really picked up around him Ben just quietly drank his beer and stared out into the night where the Christmas lights twinkled on the building across the way. He was zoning out when the random flashing lights seemed to take on a pattern. A rhythmic pattern, almost like it was Morse code. He shrugged it off, thinking it was just a setting on the lights and turned away only to see the lights strung up in the bar doing the same thing. With a frown Ben checked his beer, the alcohol content wasn’t enough to have impaired him… It had to be the lights. He studied the little LED bulbs, glancing between the ones in the bar and the ones outside. They were both blinking in the same rhythm. Even the little power light on the TV in the corner, playing a football game in silence, was flickering in the same strange pattern.
With a frown the man put down his beer and informed his crew he was heading home. He still felt sober but just in case he called an Uber. A good call as far as he was concerned because even the traffic lights were flashing the same damn pattern… Did someone slip him something? Or was he just going crazy?
