“Eddie said we could visit lots of places where cows live,” Amber announced from the backseat. “He said that Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas have the most cows and that I could even feed some.”
Marissa looked at Akil oddly. “How come you know so much about cows?”
“I dunno. I guess I read it somewhere.”
“I’m hungry,” Jo-Jo whined impatiently. “Are we almost there yet?”
“Mommy, listen,” Amber said, bracing the toy organ on her lap. She pressed out the tune perfectly with two fingers.”
“Amber, that’s beautiful. Who taught you that?”
“Eddie did,” she said, beaming. “Mommy, does McDonald’s turn cows into hamburgers?”
“Well, yes. Some cows are used for meat, and also milk and butter.”
“Does McDonald’s kill them?”
“No, I think someone else does.”
“Mommy, is the world big?”
“It’s very big.”
“Is it a world of fear?”
“Of course not, sweetie,” Marissa assured, frowning at her daughter and giving Akil a confused look. “Why would you say something like that?”
“Because that’s what the song says. Eddie even sang it with me.”
“Amber,” Akil scolded. “That’s not what it means. The world is nice. Especially America. We’re going to a special place with lots of animals and friendly people from all different countries. There’ll be lots of fun things to do and see. It’s not a world of fear, okay?”
“Can we stay there for this many days?” Jo-Jo begged, raising four fingers.
Akil checked the rearview mirror and eased the minivan into the right-hand lane. He turned his head and winked. “If you’re a good boy, we’ll stay there for twenty-one days — uh-oh, look who I see.”
Jo-Jo’s eyes grew wide. He covered his smile with both hands at the sight of a large billboard. Two symbols represented a simple but universal code that every child could decipher. One was a large, black arrow that pointed south. To the right of that arrow, three circles formed the distinctive ears and face of Florida’s most famous mouse.
Amber set her organ aside, rested her head on a pillow, and gazed out the window. She sang the words softly from memory.
“It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears. It’s a world of hope, it’s a world of fear. There’s so much that we share, that it’s time we’re aware, it’s a small world after all.”
About the Author
JOEL NARLOCK thrives on asking “what if.” He has interviewed the US Secret Service, top commercial airline pilots, and FAA and military officials about drones flying where they shouldn’t. He was given a private tour of Andrews AFB specifically to evaluate an unmanned drone penetrating its perimeter. He walked the rooftop of Camden Yards Stadium in Baltimore specifically to evaluate a drone’s ability to target the pitcher’s mound. He predicts that drone technology and usage in America will increase dramatically, hopefully to benefit mankind. Drone Games is a realistic story about using drones for evil. By raising drone awareness, perhaps others will ask “what if” and be prepared to stop those who might actually try similar tactics. And that’s a good thing. Joel is the author of Target Acquired. He took first place in Key West’s 2013 Mystery Fest Short Story Contest.