Posted in error

“It’s starting, wake up, dad!” she yelled yanking me off the bed.

“Alright, inside voice please!” I groaned clumsily getting up to follow her. Ma was in hot pursuit of Sam trying to get her to put on her jacket. But she’d already bolted through the balcony doors, and now stood craning her neck over the wall to see the massive floats. It had become a tradition to spend Thanksgiving with my parents since Leela passed. Their central park west apartment always made watching the parade a joyous spectacle.

As I hobbled over to Sam a loud commotion erupted in the crowd. Floats crashed against the sides of buildings as hordes of people awkwardly scaled them into neighboring balconies. We watched in bewilderment, as chaos enveloped the entire street. It felt like a sudden unbridled rage had overcome everyone.

“Dad, they’re zombies” Sam screamed, pointing to a turkey float collapsed by our balcony. People were shrouding it like termites on wood. I dragged Sam and Ma inside, before shutting the doors and drawing the curtains.
“Where’s dad,” I said turning to face my mother who was frozen in terror, as the thuds against the balcony doors increased, it would yield at any moment.

“Bedroom…balcony” she muttered.

 I pushed Sam and Ma into the bathroom and ran over to the bedroom just as zombies crashed into the living room.

“DRIINNN”

I jolted awake to the shrill alarm noise as my premonition dawned on me.

“It’s starting, wake up, dad!”