The Blue Screen Of Death
by Rickey E. Pittman

New Year's Eve 1999

Kay turned on her computer fearfully. At first, the computer ran normally and she contemplated the pristine lake on sky-blue computer screen and watched the thick white clouds swirl above it. She whispered, "I come with the clouds. Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

But then what she feared happened again. The lake burst into flame and the light blue sky darkened into a cobalt-blue screen and a message appeared. Her preacher's computer kept getting the same message. The minister called it "The Blue Screen of Death." It was a sign of the end of the world:

YOU HAVE COMMITED A FATAL ERROR. SYSTEM HAS FAILED. TRY TO RESTART.

This time Kay unplugged the computer, intending to never turn it on again. She dressed for church, then slipped into the den. Opening her father's gun cabinet, she removed the .22 revolver and loaded it. She held up one bullet and studied it in the light, amazed that something so small could be so final. She knew she must be strong tonight. The words of Brother Bobby's sermon last Sunday burned in her brain. He had spoken about the Y2K problem being a sign of the end of the world. She lifted the pistol and pointed it at her reflection in the dresser mirror. "Bang," she said. She slipped the pistol into her purse, went out to the porch and waited for Travis to pick her up for the millennium church service.

At the service, Travis and Kay sat on a back pew and listened to brother Bobby's fiery preaching. The man of God shouted, sang, and wept, constantly wiping at his forehead with a handkerchief. Kay closed her eyes and could see in her brain every image the minister's sermon conjured-a fiery lake of fire, Jesus coming on the clouds, the saved raptured into heaven to forever be with the Lord. Yes, she could see it all.

She reached for Travis's hand and put it in her lap-something she had never done during church. Travis shifted his legs and scooted closer.

Kay leaned over and whispered, "Mama said she wouldn't mind if we took a drive together alone since the service is going to go on all night. Come on."

She took him by the hand and led him out to his truck. They traveled south on Highway 65 towards Tallulah, and turned onto a levee road which led them into a pecan grove.

"About anywhere will be fine," she said.

Travis parked and cut off the truck. His hands were still clamped tightly onto the steering wheel.

Kay leaned against the window and looked at the stars. "This could be our last chance to be together." She unbuttoned her blouse and slipped her bra straps down over her shoulders.

"I suppose," Travis said. He stared at her bare white shoulders and her exposed breasts.

"Do you love me, Travis?"

"Oh, Kay, I do love you. I'd marry you in a minute if I could."

She put her hands behind his head, pulled him to her, and kissed him hard.

"I didn't know you knew how to French kiss."

"There's a lot you don't know about us Pentecostal girls. Make love to me, Travis."

They left the car and lay down on a blanket in the grove.

Travis fell asleep, but Kay remained awake until the sun had risen. The sky was blue and the air crisp and cold. She reached down and stroked Travis's face.

"Wake up, sleep head," she said. "It's time."

"Time for what?"

"Oh, Travis, I can't bear the thought of you suffering because of all the evils coming upon us."

"I'm not suffering. I feel great."

"She put a hand on his lips. "Shhh. Travis, this is because I love you."

She placed the pistol's barrel against his ribs and pulled the trigger. She looked up at the white clouds swirling across the bright blue screen of the sky.

"Poor baby," she said. "It will be alright now." With her fingers she wiped at the blood trickling from the side of his mouth, then moved the pistol to his temple.

"Why?" he asked.

"To keep you from suffering when the end comes."

"Kay . . ."

©2002 Rickey E. Pittman

*Red River Fever, a new novel by Rickey E. Pittman.
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Rickey E. Pittman, Grand Prize winner of the 1998 Ernest Hemingway short Story Competition, is originally from Dallas, Texas. He earned a BA in New Testament Greek and an MA in English from Abilene Christian University in
Abilene, Texas. After moving to Monroe, Louisiana, Pittman was added to the Louisiana Roster of Artists in 1998. Working closely with regional art councils, he has written historical plays for Franklin (1997) and Madison (1998) parishes. In addition to free lance journalism and non-fiction writing, he has published short stories, two chapbooks of poetry, and one novel, --- Red River Fever. In addition to teaching high school English, since 1994 he has taught freshman English at universities in Louisiana and Texas.