We'll Watch the Sunrise from the Bottom of the Sea

By David Drazul

A tiny star appears in a little girl's bedroom. An alien's first encounter with an Earthling is a dog. A couple find themselves adrift upon the Pacific Ocean in their hotel room. A trio of friends journey to Neptune to mine diamonds. These are just some of the stories included in this speculative fiction collection. Written by the author of the well-received indie novel, "Armistice Day".

One story, "Tile", contains adult situations and dialogue which are not suitable for the under 18 crowd.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Drazul
• Release date: Jun 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310402265

David Drazul

I'm a stay-at-home Dad who survived dotcom burnout and a chemical engineering career that fizzled. When I'm not chopping wood, renovating some part of the house, or making sure the kids are doing their homework, I write stories.

Book preview

WE'LL WATCH THE SUNRISE

FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA

David Drazul

We'll Watch the Sunrise from the Bottom of the Sea

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 David Drazul

Cover Design by Humblenations.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Tile originally appeared in the September 2008 issue of The Harrow.

Emily's Star originally appeared in the June 2011 issue of Spinetinglers.

This book is available in print from select online retailers.

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

These stories are works of FICTION. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to person(s) living or dead is purely coincidental.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, thank you to Tammy, Alex and Rebecca for permitting me to steal away to write these stories. I love you, guys.

Many thanks go to Linda Chiara and all those who attended her writer’s workshop and were subjected to these stories in their nascent forms.

Last but not least, thanks to James at Humblenations.com for the cover art. Fast, affordable, quality service.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Emily’s Star

Collection Notice

Tile

We'll Watch the Sunrise from the Bottom of the Sea

The Recruiter

Maybe the Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

She Cries At Midnight

Neptune's Diamonds

About The Author

EMILY'S STAR

The high-pitched whistle was driving George nuts. He looked around his daughter’s room but couldn’t find the source.

His wife, Pat, put her hands on her hips and said, George, are you listening to me?

George ignored the question and asked one of his own. Do you hear that?

Pat cocked her head. No. What?

Never mind. He shook his head. I must be hearing things.

Uh huh. You’re just trying to change the subject.

Awww, Pat. I don’t want to redo Emily’s room, George whined.

Why not?

It’s too soon. She’s barely six months old.

"But it’s not girlie enough."

It’s sorta girlie.

Pat touched the wall, "Arizona Desert Sunset is not girlie. It’s gender neutral and you know it. That’s why we picked it out before Billy was born. She pointed at him to emphasize her point. You just hate painting."

George sighed, You’re right, on both counts. But can’t it wait a little longer? Maybe wait until she’s older when she can appreciate it a bit more? Besides, it’s too cold to paint. You don’t want our little princess breathing in all those fumes do you?

I want Emily’s room to look like a little girl’s room when our families come over for Thanksgiving.

George sighed, Let me think about it, ok?

Ok, she said, her voice thick with exasperation.

With the matter temporarily settled, George’s attention returned to the sound. I can’t believe you don’t hear that.

What are you talking about?

Shhhh.

Pat kept silent and still. Do you mean that high-pitched whistle?

"Yeah. It’s almost like one of those auto-acoustic sounds that we occasionally hear, but it’s not going away. And since you can hear it…"

Where do you think it’s coming from?

George scanned the room. I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint it. He smiled at his daughter on her changing table. Emily was chewing on her Marty, a colorful, fuzzy caterpillar with a music box inside. Daddy’s going crazy, sweetie.

Emily smiled at her father through a mouthful of Marty.

Can I borrow that sweetie? George pried Marty from Emily’s grasp. She looked at him, with pleading eyes. He found the power switch and flicked it off. The whistle continued. Well, it’s not Marty, he said as he handed it back to a delighted Emily.

Whatcha doing? their four-year old son, Billy, asked from the doorway.

Do you hear that whistle? George asked him.

Yeah.

We’re trying to find what’s causing it. Want to help?

Sure!

They searched Emily’s closet and toy box but couldn’t find the source of the noise. The radiator was tested and a trip to the attic came up empty.

George stroked his chin. Hmph. On a whim, he looked at the smoke detector on the ceiling. He grabbed a chair and placed it in the middle of the room.

Billy leaned against his mother, who’d picked up Emily and now held her by the window. Emily watched her father with a big toothless grin on her face.

The smoke detector. Pat nodded with approval. Good one.

George removed it from the restraining bracket and held it to his ear. He frowned.

Huh. I thought for sure you’d figured it out.

So did I. George reattached the smoke detector. Convinced the whistle originated somewhere beneath the smoke detector, he turned his head around, trying to pinpoint its location. "I swear that it’s coming from somewhere over here. Like it’s coming right out of thin air.

Ow! An intense flash of heat singed George’s cheek and he nearly fell off the chair. Instinctively, his hand felt for a wound.

What happened? Pat asked as she sat Emily on the floor and rushed over.

I don’t know, George said as he dismounted from the chair, Something burned my cheek.

Let me see, Pat noticed a small, angry red spot, which was about to blister.

Look, Daddy! A star! Billy pointed above their heads.

They turned to look. A foot and a half beneath the smoke detector was a bright pinpoint of light. A star.

That wasn’t there before. Was it? George asked, dazed.

No, it wasn’t, Pat replied, bewildered.

Billy yanked on his father’s jeans, Can we keep it Dad? I want it in my room.

We’ll see, Billy. He blinked several times as he returned to the here and now. In the meantime, why don’t you go in your room and play with Emily.

But I want to see the star!

Now!

Pat scooped up Emily and hurried out of the room. C’mon Billy. Let’s get out of your father’s way.

Okay. He slumped his shoulders and scuffed his feet down the hall.

George forgot about the pain in his cheek and moved closer to the star that had suddenly taken up residence in his daughter’s room. He circled it, trying to make sense of the situation.

Pat joined him. Hey, the whistle’s changed. It’s deeper and louder. What do you think it is?

I don’t know, George answered. I’ve read about microscopic black holes...

Pat interrupted him, her eyes wide with alarm, You don’t think this is one, do you?

No, no. Couldn’t be. There’s no reason for it to just be sitting there. His gaze returned to Emily’s star. His arms folded in front of his chest. From what I’ve read, they don’t last very long. They evaporate. And I don’t think they’re ever stationary. If this were a microscopic black hole, it would keep moving, maybe until it hit the Earth’s core.

Are you sure?

He turned to face her. No, but a black hole is just too weird.

Oh, and this isn’t weird?

Point taken.

She brushed past him and packed a diaper bag. "I’m taking the kids over to Mom and Dad’s until we figure out what the hell this is. I don’t want the kids to get hurt. This star already burned you."

George returned his attention to the orb and sighed. His eyes flashed with purpose. I’m such an idiot. We need to document this! He ran into the living room and grabbed the video camera. When he returned, Emily’s star looked slightly bigger to him, but he couldn’t be sure. Turning the camera on it, the auto focus brought the star to bear. Something was different about it. He zoomed in. Emily’s star was bigger, but it wasn’t a star. It was a ring, the center of which was black. Like a black hole, he thought. Couldn’t be. It’s just not possible.

He stopped recording as his nose registered the faint scent of ozone. That’s not good, he muttered.

Hey uhhh, Pat.

Yes, George?

I think you should have your parents baby-sit the kids until we get this thing figured out.

I’m glad you’re seeing things my way, dear.

He leaned in close and whispered, I think that it’s getting bigger.

Pat bit her lip. She kept her voice calm, Ok. Can you give me a hand with the kids?

Sure. Hey, Billy! Mommy’s gonna take you to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, ok?

Ok! Billy shouted from his room.

Great. George turned off the video camera and set it down.

Can I bring some trucks?

No. He hurried into Billy’s room and grabbed his jacket.

Please? Just my dumptruck.

George acquiesced. Ok, just your dumptruck.

Billy opened his toy box to rummage around for it but his father stopped him. I’ll get it. Just put on your jacket and get in the car.

George grabbed Billy’s dumptruck while Pat made a bottle for Emily. He strapped his daughter into her car seat and carried her down to the garage. Billy was already there, struggling with his seat belt. Just as George got the kids safely belted in, Pat appeared by his side with Emily’s diaper bag.

Drop the kids off and hurry back, George said.

Pat put a hand on his arm, Be careful.