April 27, 1989
A cry rang out on the evening of that fateful day. A cry that shot through all the city noise and touch everybody's ears. A touch that caused some to shudder, some to smile and others to look misgivingly around them. The voice that carried the cry quickly broke and crackled, a repeat was out of the question. But the voice was satisfied, for it will be several years before it will again have reason to shout such a cry. The only one the cry was intended for failed to hear the cry. And therefore the phone seemed to be a better alternative.
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He sat, waiting‑ but not consciously. For that would have given him time to think about all the effects that went with the waiting. So he worked on the papers in front of him, all the while searching for an end to this god awful waiting. The phone rang and he routinely answered it. The first words from the other party cause him to stand.
He stood listening to the raspy, yet excited voice, and cut loose with his own cry that blanketed the city as the first had. Slowly he slumped to his chair. It had to be true, dear god this has to be true....
* * * *
The first cry broke the aerial ground for the second cry, allowing the second cry to carry much further than the first cry. There was no third cry. The second cry soon reached the outskirts of the city and wafted over the peripheral farms. Landing lightly it walked up to the nearest cow, who stood contently re-chewing this morning's meal. The cry walked softly up the unsuspecting cow and grabbed it by the neck, shaking the cow violently. The poor cow's eyes bulge with the onslaught. And as the beast's life slowly slipped from it, all it heard over and over was, "He's got a job!! He's got a job!! He's got a job!! He's got...."
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| Mercury News‑AP Wire San Jose‑....over last night. The cow, its name will not be released until notification of relatives, was found face down in the pasture. Neighbors and onlookers swore the animal just about shook its own head off. The Islamic Jihad was quick to claim responsibility, but authorities pointed out the absence of undarned socks and ratty blue jeans‑ typical clues left by the Holey War crusaders. Unquoted sources speculated that the cow may have committed suicide or that it may have gotten a bur stuck in its nose causing it to violently break its own neck. But authorities were quick to point out the absence of burs in winter and one was quoted off the recorded as saying that any god fearing cow would have just picked its nose. When a reporter brought up the fact that cows don't pick their own noses, the | authority‑ off the record‑ quickly pointed out the reporter was now under arrest. The press conference finished up quickly. Sources close to the investigation state that the reporter is not a suspect even though he knows too much. Sources closer to the investigation verify this statement. The Islamic Jihad was quick to claim responsibility for the man's knowledge, but nobody paid attention. In an unrelated development a Ryder Truck was seen moving south along an adjacent road. Two beaming people were seen waving good‑bye and commenced to party after the truck disappeared over the horizon. Many non‑quotable persons hinted at a connection but authorities were quick to point out that |
