MERRY CHRISTMAS

OUT OF STOCK. Written in big, bold red letters.

Sean sighed and stared at the empty shelf. Never would have thought that soy sauce can be sold out in a lifetime, he thought to himself as he walked further the next aisle of almost empty shelves and took a canned beans and went straight to the cashier. The line was too long and only four were in operation but it was fast moving. He looked at his basket and saw how empty it was. His grocery list was nowhere near done. Almost all the people had that grim expression in them. Why wouldn’t they? It has only been weeks since and the food is already running low.

It was Sean’s turn to pay. He placed all the items on the counter. Seven beeps for the seven items and he was already handing his card. Cash was not allowed since last year, every transaction was paid with card. Even coupons were required to be converted to card points.

“That’ll be 221.75 points,” said the cashier lady who took his card and swiped it on the machine while Sean put everything in the bag.

“Can I have the receipt, please?”

The cashier rolled her sleepy eyes and some customers had to groan at his request and the printer was not at all helpful for being so slow. Sean winced. After some horrid seconds the lady chucked his receipt and it flew down but he caught it in one hand.

“Thanks,” Sean said in gritted teeth.

He walked out the store and crumpled his grocery list and threw it near a piling bin, carefully placing it on top of the trash. He frowned at the sight of it. “What’s the point?” He groaned and walked away as the alarm signaled for the curfew. He cursed and ran as many others did as well. It took him almost ten minutes to get to the apartment and a minute to climb the stairs to their room. Overhead, he saw the door was ajar and had to smile. He quickly locked the door.

“I thought you were a goner,” a girl said from the couch and saw the TV was on. Sean took his sneakers off and placed it on a wooden rack.

“I thought so, too,” Sean panted as he walked straight to the kitchen and washed his hands with soapy water. A little girl ran to follow him, placed the remote control on the table and foraged through the paper bag of goods.

“Wh-where’s my PB&J?” The girl was almost on the verge of tears.

“I’m sorry, Emma. They still don’t have it.” Sean said a water bottle in hand. “Tomorrow, I’ll try to scour the convenience store next to the university.”

“Humph! You also said that last year. My sandwich is sad for having beans for weeks and you know I hate beans!”

“I know.” Sean sighed, wiping a water from his mouth and placed the now empty bottle on the table. He took out the can of beans, a loaf of bread, a fish in a plastic tray, two apples, a pack of rice crackers, and one dented can of cola from the bag and walked towards the fridge and organized them neatly. He then placed the rice crackers by the top cupboard and glanced at his watch, it was 7:22 PM. He frowned and immediately wore an apron, washed his hands again, took a knife and chopping board and then grabbed three potatoes from a basket and began peeling. All these while her sister grumbles by the dining table.

“You and your rice crackers.” Emma shook her head and sticks a tongue out. She slumped on the table, her forehead on her arm. They were both silent for a while, the TV noise on the background.

“Have you written your entry for today?” Sean asked as he turned on the stove.

“Mm.” Emma replied.

“Good. Now, get it and let me check.”

Emma lifted her head a bit. Her arm still on the table. “But you’re still cooking.”

“Read it to me then.”

“Now?”

He looked behind. “Yes, Em, now. Before this cooks. I have to study by 8.”

Emma blew a raspberry and dragged herself like a zombie out of the kitchen. A Land Before Time movie was being played on the television as the potatoes started to soften and the rice began boiling. While placing the plates on the table he called for Emma who was standing close to the TV while holding a pencil and a big, bright pink notebook with a Stegosaurus on the cover. She did not even flinch or look at him. Her mouth still gaping as she stared at the show. Sean shook his head, his arms crossed. He grabbed the remote control on the table and pushed the power button.

Emma was startled, turning incredulously from left to right and stop to see her brother towering over her. Next thing she knew she was being carried to the kitchen and was placed carefully by the seat. She looked up at her brother and Sean nodded and pointed at her notebook. Emma frowned but flipped through the pages anyway then read out loud:

“‘Day 26 of January 2026. Did my math homework, watched cartoons and fell asleep on the couch while waiting for Sean. The curfew alarm was so loud it woke me up and I ran to open the door. My last juice box was emptied while I still waited. P.S. Please help Sean find PB&J please. Amen. Thank you.”

Sean sat across her, putting fried potatoes and a small cup of rice on her plate. Both his eyebrows raised. “Amen?”

“What’s wrong with Amen?” Emma pouting as she slid down her notebook on the floor.

“You’re writing an entry for a journal. Not a prayer.” He bites a potato and ate a spoonful of rice.

“I know that. I just really, really want peanut butter on my sandwich.” Emma replied between bites, her voice lowering. “I miss it, Sean.”

Sean nodded.

“Like how mama did it.” She was sobbing now, her mouth still full.

Sean looked up from his food and saw that Emma’s tears were now flowing. While taking a bite from her food she wipes a snot with her arm. Sean took some tissues and got up, then went to Emma’s side and knelt and wiped her snot and tears away. He’s never good at consoling but he patted his sister’s head and went back to his seat and continued eating as his mind wandered in the past.

It was Christmas Day, last year and Sean was driving home from duty at the hospital. He was tired but happy nonetheless. He missed home especially now that internship has begun. Mostly he stayed in the dorm of his university as it was also closest to the hospital he has been assigned to. He was grateful that he was let off early today and made it in time for dinner. He arrived at the apartment and saw that the door was ajar  – music and voices can be heard from the halls as he entered. A smell of roast chicken in the air. He closed the door, put his things down and took his shoes off.

“Sean! You made it,” a woman called and hugged him. “Merry Christmas, darling.”

“Merry Christmas, ma,” Sean said hugging her back. She took the pizza box from his hands and went towards the kitchen. His father was singing loudly as the tune of Feliz Navidad was being played from the television.

Sean went straight to the Christmas tree and placed the presents he has been keeping inside his backpack. Emma leaned on his back, her face on his shoulder and then pointed at one of the gifts. “That big one’s mine, right?”

“Nope, that’s definitely mine!” A boy shoved Emma and they both tumbled down the floor.

“Ow! That hurt, Eli!” Emma stood and chased Eli. He was lanky like Sean but younger and smaller than him.

Sean stood up and went to the kitchen and greeted his father as they hugged.

When dinner was over, they all went to the living room and sat by the tree each holding their presents for one another. Before they could even start, a loud, rapid knock came to the door. His father stood up, he was huge almost taller than the Christmas tree. He went to open the door and their old neighbor, Mrs. Del was at the front door, scowling.

“Switch to the news, now!” Mrs. Del said, her voice hoarse. “Something’s happening!”

Sean quickly grabbed the remote control and switched the channel. Every eyes were on the screen. Scientists were being interviewed by the news anchor – all expressions were dour and their tone all serious.

“…calculated all possibilities of our survival is less now that we have predicted,” one of the astronomers were saying.

“Less is underestimating it,” an old man in thick glasses shook his head. “Our prediction has failed through the years but this time we are certain, nothing and no one can stop this. Warning people is useless. Our survival rate is ZE-RO!” He made an O with his hand as he looked directly at the camera, his eyes were rabid red.

The newscaster was making a cut sign. The old man glanced at her and frowned as he saw the sign. He quickly jumped from his seat and ran straight to the camera as his fellow scientists tried to chase after him.

“Asteroid ALFA is going to hit Earth a year from now. It is 8,026 kilometers wide, that's more than half our planet for heaven’s sake! We are doomed! The Leaders are establishing Ordinances that will destroy us more than that giant rock! WE MUST UNITE AND STA—“

Beeeep! All screens went on stand-by, its neon lights illuminating everyone’s faces. All mouths hanged open. Suddenly, the electricity shut down. The first Ordinance has begun.