Spoiled centerpiece at table's edge red apples turned a dull brown grapes withered and wrinkled like the hand that lay motionless sprinkled with drywall dust tv screams in neutral static the only surviving kitten suckles it's lifeless mother's ****** in vain the burning corn fields crackle and snap the skies turn a smokey haze before the Sun disappears on schedule somewhere along the road Grandpop and Joe are in the truck with melted ice cream they were bringing back from town