The Mid-Afternoon of a Procyon Coral by John Argo (Empire of Time series)

Empire of Time series

= The Mid-Afternoon of a Procyon Coral =

a science fiction short story by John Argo

"Honey—," said Edddi.

"I'm coming." She stepped into the living room, saw him playing so innocently with the kids, and burst out crying. It was the only way she could draw the pain away from him before it hurt him, which it surely would. That and all the other baggage, like the expressions on their parents' faces 17 years ago at the last forever goodbye. She cried, frozen in place like a beacon, and he rose in alarm to come and comfort her.

end

"Ladies and gentlemen," Donaldo Jay Boomfani said as he reached his arms around the glass. The music was now in the middle movement, pianissimo, where soft waves of iridescent sound crusted with light stole over one another like the waves on a beach, giving luster to dead clam shells exposing the mother of pearl echo of their souls. The room was damp and chilly. Under the glass, the coral undulated happily. Its arms weaved as though under water. "Ladies and gentlemen, you must warn your customers never to let the cold air get to the coral. Let me show you." He lifted the glass away.

The crowd gasped. Suzen felt a sickened feeling. The music played on. The coral grew gray and motionless. Someone turned the music off. "This moment," Boomfani said, holding up a hand as though the moment were captured between the fingertips of his thumb and forefinger, a broad point made fine, "this point when it begins to turn gray and die is the precise moment when it realizes, in the midst of its joy, that it is not immortal. Even for the corals, there is that sudden revelation that they will not live forever." He shrugged, stared at the crumbling gray heap, and added: "The moment that broke its heart." He added with minimal emotion:

"She was the last of her species." He raised his hands to clap. "I hope you enjoyed the program today."

Sparse, scattered, hesitant, minimal clapping.

Suze and others stared in stunned silence, with tears running down their cheeks.

Thank you for reading. If you love it, tell your friends. Please post a favorable review at Amazon, Good Reads, and other online resources. If you want to thank the author, you may also buy a copy for the low price of a cup of coffee. It's called Read-a-Latte: similar (or lower) price as a latte at your favorite coffeeshop, but the book lasts forever while the beverage is quickly gone. Thank you (JTC).

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