The 28 Year Agreement

Nearly 28 years ago their lives were changed. Shelly couldn’t explain her bond with Chris and Tommy to her husband. They shared an experience that shook them to their young cores. She knew he wouldn’t believe the details, he being a practical, no nonsense man who couldn’t see past his nose in order to imagine the possibility of things.

John noticed she was edgy about their annual reunion, which annoyed him even more. She said nothing was wrong; she was just preoccupied with the demands of motherhood. But something was very wrong. Tommy was coming for his 35th birthday. And they would decide which of them would die.

Tommy, Chris and Shelly sometimes joked about what happened in the woods that spring day but it was nervousness for something they couldn’t explain even to themselves, though they’d seen it with their own eyes. However, they did know that when the last of them turned 35, the reckoning would occur. That day had come. Shelly glanced around her messy but comfy home wistfully before leaving. She’d play the mom card and return to her life.

Chris savored the fragrant odor of garlic and rosemary wafting from his kitchen. He had renowned chef skills but didn’t want the lifestyle. His food truck was parked in his driveway, its offerings perhaps enjoyed for the last time. One of them would have an extraordinary final meal. It was the least he could do. Shelly let herself in his unlocked door and headed straight for the open wine.

“What are you guys drinking,” she snorted as she uncorked and took a swig straight from the bottle. Chris rolled his eyes and opened another Pinot Noir to breathe. “What’s so wrong with wanting to be drunk if I’m gonna die?”

Before they could debate it, Tommy knocked and entered the house, looking every bit the congressman that he was, his presence tall and commanding. But his face showed fear. He was the youngest of them, 35 at midnight and he was terrified. When you’re seven, 35 seems an eternity away.

It didn’t take long for each of them to plead their case for survival. Shelly was two and a half sheets by the time dinner was served. If any of them thought one of them would be the bigger friend and sacrifice her or himself, they were dead wrong.

“But I’m a mother,” Shelly slurred.

“Oh, so what!” Chris yelled. “Mothers die every day!” Shelly clutched her imaginary pearls.

“Chris!” Tommy, ever the diplomat, admonished. “That’s uncalled for.”

“Shut up, Tommy! If you hadn’t been so nosy, hadn’t climbed up that tree, hadn’t insisted that we go check out that light, or orb or whatever it was, we wouldn’t be in this situation!”

“We were kids! I was a kid! We were always looking for adventures. Don’t blame me for this!” Truthfully, Tommy often blamed himself, but he’d never admit it. They’d spent their entire lives up to now with this nightmare hanging over them. It was excruciating.

The entity they’d happened upon didn’t appreciate their adventurous natures, or the fact that they were just kids. It had demanded a sacrifice and when they pleaded for their young lives and promised they’d never tell anyone what they saw, the creature made a deal. It would let them go, but when they were all the age of 35, one of them would have to die. They could decide whom. They agreed, because 35 was ancient and by then, their best years would be behind them.

“Look Chris, you’re the only one without any real obligations. It obviously should be you.”

Chris gaped at Tommy. “Because you’re Senator Thomas Kent, you’re too important? All you do is trade money for promises. I FEED people! Ask anyone on the street who’s more valuable, a chef, a mom or a freaking politician!”

Shelly, thankful the focus had been taken off of her, drunkenly agreed. “He’s got a point, Tommy. Politicians are a dime a dozen.”

Tommy looked stricken. He glared at her. “Shell, we all know the reason you had all those kids is because you thought they would save you. But they’ll still have John.”

Shelly grunted. “They’d starve with John. He’s practically useless.”

“Then Chris can feed ‘em!” Tommy shouted.

“Why did we make this dumb deal?” Shelly wailed.

“We were just kids! We didn’t know!”

The three childhood friends were yelling at each other when they became aware of another presence that shut them up.

The creature, that was so scary 28 years ago, didn’t look so intimidating to their 35-year-old eyes. It was short and oval, egg-like. It had furrowed brows, which no doubt made it look menacing then but now, it just sort of looked like someone had drawn squiggly lines on its face.

“Hello, my friends,” it said, its voice high and squeaky. “So good to see you again.”

Chris wasn’t a fighter but thought he could take him, or her, or whatever it was. But he found himself paralyzed.

“It’s time. Who shall it be?” The thing rubbed its hands together in greedy anticipation. The three friends looked at each other with wide eyes. To Chris’s and Tommy’s surprise, Shelly stepped forward.

“Me.”

“Wonderful. Yes, you’ll do nicely!” Something suddenly appeared in the thing’s outstretched hands. “Green, blue or pink?”

“Huh?” Shelly blinked.

“Which color hair dye? Green, blue or pink?”