1950s: The Decade of Perfect Housewives, Cadillacs & Zombies Read online

know.” He insisted, “Every book is the same—”

  “Isolation by zombies.” They both said.

  She gasped at the coincidence of them sharing the same view on books as the waitress came up to their booth.

  “Are you ready to order?” The waitress asked.

  Agnes looked up at the waitress who was in her early twenties and had curly blond hair – something Agnes hated. Blond girls reminded her of Marilyn Monroe and she was of the opinion that all blonds were sluts, so it didn’t matter that the blond was simply their waitress; she was convinced that the blond whore would try and wriggle her way in between Elliot and herself.

  Agnes’s face contorted with disgust, but she tried to restrain herself.

  “I’ll have the Mint Malt Shake.” Agnes said with superiority.

  The waitress glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and jotted the order on her notepad. She turned to Elliot and smiled.

  “I’ll have the same, thank you.” Elliot said.

  The waitress jotted the order down while Agnes stared at her from the corner of her eye as she left.

  “What’s wrong?” Elliot asked amused.

  Agnes’s face relaxed and she smiled again, “Nothing. Why?”

  “You seemed so serious for a moment.” Elliot said.

  Perhaps she was being foolish. She had no reason to hate the poor waitress. She shook her head and fidgeted with her fingers.

  “So, what is your favourite book?” Elliot asked.

  She thought for a moment and said, “Anything about travel or adventure. I simply love the idea of exploring the world.”

  “I love a good adventure story.” Elliot said.

  “I don’t just want to read about it.” She said, “I long to explore the world, but…”

  “But there is nothing outside the walls to explore anymore.” He said with a sigh.

  “Exactly.” She sighed, “And it’s so unfair. Why did the dead have to rise? Why couldn’t they just stay dead for heaven’s sake?”

  Elliot leaned in closer and whispered, “I found an old book in our attic which has blueprints of the town. Did you know there is a secret tunnel that leads to the outside world?”

  “Really?” She asked enthralled.

  “Yeah,” He said, “But I haven’t found the entrance to the tunnel yet. I’d love to go explore it one day.”

  “Maybe I’ll join you.” She said, “I’m so tired of this boring place.”

  “Oh I know!” Elliot said, “And the constant smell of cremation is driving me insane.”

  “The smell is even worse at my house.” Agnes said, “We’re a few blocks away from the crematorium.”

  “That’s got to suck.” He said amused.

  “You have no idea.” She said.

  They stared at each other in silence for a moment and then Elliot smiled at her obvious desires.

  “This is nice.” He said, “We should do this more often.”

  Are we a couple now? She thought.

  “I’d like that.” She said casually.

  She still couldn’t believe her luck; the cutest boy in town was sitting across from her. Life was good, despite being trapped in a town by circling zombies. The waitress came back with their milkshakes and Agnes tried to keep her cool. She faked a smile when the waitress handed her a milkshake, but kept a close eye on her when she handed Elliot his. When the waitress was gone and she was sure everything was fine, Agnes smiled at Elliot and sipped her milkshake. She tried to make it look sexy by toying at the straw with her tongue, but then she got an instant brain-freeze… not very sexy.

  FOUR

  They each had two milkshakes and talked for about an hour before Elliot finally walked her home. The moon was hidden behind a canvas of clouds, and the only light was that of the streetlamps. The streets were quiet after dark. Most families were at home reading or making dinner. Only a handful of families owned a new imagery machine called television. Agnes was one of the select few who had one, though it was a pointless apparatus to own. There hadn’t been a broadcast in years.

  When they reached the house, Agnes and Elliot stopped. They stared at each other in awkward silence, neither one wanted to say goodbye, but neither one knew what to say to keep the conversation going either.

  “Well,” Agnes finally said, “This is my house.”

  “Yes.” He agreed nervously, “It was a nice evening. Can I ask you out tomorrow evening?”

  Agnes’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

  “Yes.” She said, “I’d love that.”

  Elliot nodded, though he wanted to kiss her goodnight. He smiled and walked away. A gentleman doesn’t kiss a lady on the first date – that’s what it was; a first date. His heart skipped as he walked away.

  Agnes stared at him as he walked away and when he disappeared from sight, she went inside. She locked the door behind her and went to the kitchen. Her mother was bent over in front of the oven.

  “I’m home.” Agnes greeted.

  Lucy straightened herself and Agnes gasped when she saw her mother had changed her hairstyle. It was a short curly bob hairstyle… and she was blond!

  “Where have you been?” Lucy asked furious.

  “Mom!” Agnes gasped, “What have you done to your hair?”

  “Do not change the subject.” Lucy insisted, “Where have you been little lady?”

  “At the library.” Agnes said as she studied her mother’s hair, “And then I went for milkshakes with – a friend.”

  She knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to tell her mother that she had milkshakes with a boy she just met. Her mother would have a heart attack and complain about how dangerous it was.

  “Milkshakes?” Lucy asked cynically.

  “Yes.” Agnes said, “I didn’t think—”

  Lucy interrupted and said, “It is always did not and never didn’t. Please refrain from using conjunctions. It is not proper English to abbreviate words.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Agnes asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I never kid.” Lucy insisted, “No daughter of mine will enter the world and abuse the English language like that.”

  Agnes tried her utmost best not to roll her eyes. Her mother was melodramatic about every little thing.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Agnes sighed.

  “And do not take that tone with me.” Lucy insisted, “You have no idea how hard it is to run a household these days.”

  Agnes bit down on her lower lip and thought to herself; how hard can it be?

  She wished her father was still. That way he can deal with her insane mother and she was free to do what she liked. He died a few years earlier from liver complications.

  “Is your homework done?” Lucy asked.

  “Most of it, yes.” Agnes said.

  “Then I suggest that you retire to your room and attend to your homework.” Lucy said, “You need to be taught discipline, and it is for this reason that I have decided I will give you private lessons in being the perfect housewife.”

  Agnes’s face contorted and she thought to herself; wait, what? I don’t want to be a housewife. That’s not my desire. I want to explore the world. I want to live a life worth living.

  “But mom…” Agnes sulked.

  “Don’t ‘but mom’ me…” Lucy insisted.

  “You just used a conjunction.” Agnes said mockingly.

  “Do not mock me.” Lucy warned her, “Go to your room.”

  Agnes rolled her eyes, sighed and slouched her shoulders forward as she left.

  “I saw that.” Lucy said as Agnes disappeared down the hallway.

  FIVE

  Lucy was always an early riser. She loved the smell of morning dew upon the grass and the feeling of the evening chills surrendering to the warmth of the morning sun. Mornings made her feel alive, and that was mainly the reason why she went for a morning walk at six AM.

  The world was still asleep at the crack of dawn, and slowly but surely everything would wake up and tackle a new day.
She had on her walking shoes, knee-high walking dress with its lapels that covered her chest up to her neck and her hair was neatly tied into a bun at the back.

  She walked upright and swiftly, always keeping her perfect poise – just in case she passed a house whose residents were awake to see her. Her mother always said that life was short and one should always dress to impress, so she did. You’d never see her in a dull dress or ugly shoes and you’d never see her hair a mess or her face without makeup.

  The paper-man walked down the sidewalk in her direction as he dropped off the daily newspaper to its subscribers. He tipped his hat at her and smiled.

  “Morning Ma’am.” he greeted.

  “Morning Charles.” She greeted with a nod.

  “Lovely day.” He said as she walked on by.

  “Sure is.” She said and continued on her way.

  “Just a shame I have this nasty cough…” he said and coughed as she disappeared around the corner.

  Lucy sauntered forward like a Lipizzaner horse on show and passed a tree with baby birds chirping in a nest. She glanced up at the birds as their mother landed on the branch next to the nest. It would truly turn out to be a wonderful day.

  She passed the Smith’s house on the right and continued down Lexington Street. She passed a house with a barking dog and kept her distance as she crossed the street. The barking died down as she disappeared around the corner into Loop Street which would ultimately circle back home. She took a shortcut through the Loop Park like she always did and glanced at the wall in the distance. One could clearly see the wall behind the trees that bordered the park.

  Some days she would wonder what it would be like living without the wall; what it would be like living in a world without zombies. Other days she was glad the wall was there to keep the world at