Myra opened one eye. The first thing she saw was the offending empty smoothie container. She fought to remember what she had been doing before she drifted off.
Myra lifted a hand to her brow. Glimpsing her sleeve, she opened both eyes and focused. She pushed away the duvet covering her and sat up. Myra found herself still fully dressed in old clothes, she remembered she had been preparing to explore the attic when whatever was in the smoothie had taken effect. She knew she had laid back on the bed and fallen asleep. At some point during the night she managed to pull up two corners of her duvet and cover herself. Myra turned on to her stomach and stretched across the bed for her phone. It was a little after 8:45 am. She sat up and contemplated her options.
Although Myra was tired of being in the dark, she wanted to get to the truth without without anyone knowing what she was doing. If she mucked around in the attic this morning, she risked being discovered by Wyatt, he would know she was actively looking for something. Considering the events of recent days it wouldn’t take long for him to figure out what she was searching for.
Myra decided to wait. She would try again soon. During the day. The next time Wyatt was held up in the media room. She promised herself if something changed she would give up sneaking around and search the house any time Wyatt’s back was turned. Myra knew turning over a room whenever she had the smallest opening was not the best approach. Wyatt betrayed her trust when he slipped a sleeping aid into her smoothie. At the moment, she was not feeling concerned about betraying his.
“Come on. Come on.” Wyatt muttered as he searched through the furthest reaches of the small, tidy linen closet which housed any toiletries that wouldn't fit inside the bathroom medicine chest. He pulled out several items and discarded them pausing to wonder how a box of tampons had found a home at his place of residence. In the main house definitely, in the pool house sure, but here? He shoved the box back into its resting place. They might come in handy if Myra came back here and had an emergency or down the road, if things opened back up and he found himself entertaining a lady friend.
He reminded himself why he was mucking around in the linen closet, his third eye. “Who’s going to date me now?” He asked, releasing a sigh.
“Bingo.” At the back of a small shelf in the far left hand corner was a box of large bandages. He took them into the bathroom, placing gauze over the uncovered eye and the flesh colored bandage over the gauze, he surveyed his work. “That’s better. Now I need something to keep water out.” He returned to the linen closet for a shower cap. “Why this silly thing didn’t come with an eyelid I will never understand.” The only one he could find was tropical print covered complete with brightly colored flowers. He put it on and looked in the mirror. “Where did I put my swim cap? It’s in the pool house. It looks like I’m going to have to keep this on until I can get to the pool house at least. The things a space alien has to do to shower.” Wyatt shook his head as he removed his pajama bottoms.
By the time Wyatt returned to the bedroom his phone was going off. People were panicking about the new food ration tickets and they needed to get the new episode going by one o’clock at the latest. Wyatt sent text back to the studio outlining their plans for the episode.
The studio countered with: Don’t bother. Your packet is waiting for you at the main house, sit down with Myra, go over the information, there is a list of frequently asked questions and answers enclosed, get Myra ready and start broadcasting. Specific recipes can be addressed next week. Authorities need help NOW.
“I am being pulled from my own emergency into a five alarm blaze because a whole lot of people did not look at the potential problems that would arise when putting a plan into place without giving a head’s up to those being affected by said plan. Great. Never saw this one coming.” Wyatt rolled his eyes.
Myra had just finished showering when her phone beeped.
The studio has moved the broadcast back up to today. Our ration tickets and program packet are at the door. I will pick up the mailer and sanitize all reading material. Happy Wednesday. Meet me in the kitchen. Wyatt.
I just showered, will dress for the broadcast and do my make-up now to save time. See you in an hour. Myra.
This is a rush order make it thirty. Wyatt.
“Thirty minutes my ass.” Myra said as she turned from the phone back to the mirror. “I am the make-up artist and the boss, I will be ready when I’m ready.”
Myra arrived in the kitchen forty minutes later wearing an attractive yet conservative looking ensemble. Her hair was towel dried, combed and ready for styling, her make-up, immaculate.
“You’re late.” Wyatt said.
“Ten minutes with a third of your prep work done.” Myra countered. She looked at Wyatt, challenging him.
“Your make-up is a little heavier, rough night?” He asked.
“Rough morning. Something I drank didn’t agree with me.” Myra said, looking at Wyatt pointedly.
“Was the Greek yogurt too much?”
“No. It was one of your other special ingredients.” She looked at Wyatt and waited. No further information was offered nor would he admit he had done anything wrong. “Going swimming later?”
“What?”
“You’re wearing your pool cap.” Myra said, pointing to the black silicone cap with a gray stripe running through the middle stretched over Wyatt’s head.
“It’s the pandemic. I have gotten so lazy with my hair.”
“Something else is different…” She said as she stared at his head.
Both of their phones buzzed at the same time.
“It looks like this conversation is going to have to wait.” Wyatt said. He handed her a stack of paperwork carefully placed in sheet protectors. “You read this while I go set up the equipment. After I get your hair plaited we’re going live.”
Wyatt stood on the other side of the patio, behind the camera, “Three, two…” Myra watched as his mouth formed the word ‘One.’ No sound crossed his lips.
A man had been apprehended on her beach by the military, her best friend had betrayed her, and the studio was insisting on a question and answer session with the public regarding food rationing with practically no information at their disposal. Myra and Wyatt had been thrown into the deep end again with nothing but a single flotation device. At this moment she didn’t feel like she could trust Wyatt not to try and drown her.
“Good morning.” Myra smiled. “Welcome to another edition of ‘Sunny Days.’ Sit down, tune in because we are all weathering the storm together. I’m Myra Collins.” She and Wyatt changed angles indicating the opening was over and it was time to introduce the topic. Myra reset her smile to something more reserved and continued. “A new challenge has come to the state of California this week. A food shortage. The good news is there are plenty of food resources available, the bad news is there is an immense shortage of people available to process it. Until a vaccine can be developed for the GRMN2 virus and food processing can get back to normal food rationing will be taking place. California has implemented their program this week, it is anticipated other states will soon follow. Today is Wednesday, state officials are anticipating many people will get their books tomorrow, the number of recipients increasing on Friday and Saturday. Ninety-five percent of the state’s population will have their ration tickets by Monday afternoon. What does this mean for you and your family? It means when you go to the store you will be required to present a ration ticket for all food items being purchased. If you do not have a ticket for that item you will not be able to buy it. Keep in mind this is for the purchasing of food items only, it does not pertain to housekeeping, pet care or health and beauty supplies. Stores already have guidelines in place for the purchase of those items.”
Myra shifted positions again and turned. A speaker sat on the patio table in front of her. It was time to answer the screened calls the studio was forwarding to the house. Knowing she had fewer answers than some of her callers, Myra found these calls stressful and draining. “Wyatt...come say hello. Wyatt.” She smiled.
Wyatt waved his hand in front of the camera and called ‘Hello.’”
“Wyatt is shy, he’s also one of the best in the business. I am lucky to have him with me.” Myra announced. She hoped if nothing else guilt would help him open up later on. Myra returned to the task at hand. “Let’s take some calls.” She waited the cursory six seconds. “Hello this is Myra Collins and you’re on ‘Sunny Days.’ What’s your question?”
“What happened to the man on the beach?”
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