01 - Raindrops

There is an old tale that tells the story about a horrific monster that lived ages ago, though nobody knows exactly when. This monster was a giant boa constrictor, so big it could an aircraft carrier. Well, except for the fact that aircraft carriers probably didn't exist when this monster allegedly lived.

It was bank holiday and Max and Min, husband and wife, drove to the next town to get som variety in their grey life. The next town, bigger than the one they lived in, even had a cinema, and they decided to watch a movie. What film they didn't know, and that wasn't important. This night was about them being together.

With them in their limousine they had Jack, John, Peter, Jackie, Joanne and Petra, all friends from their neighbourhood. Also with them were two of their five dogs, one cat and three mute parrots.

Min and Max Imum were both middle-aged and had been living very wealthy and comfortable lives so far, and this showed in their physical presence and their limousine cringing in suffering under their bodily mass.

They were talking loudly among themselves, passing the whiskey and vodka back and forth and drinking huge amount of alcohol. This would be night to remember. The car was driving itself, humming a tune from the radio in an attempt of ignoring the incoherent babble in the back seats.

Outside the rain was thundering down, trying to wash these evil creatures that called themselves humans off the surface of the earth. The sun was not shining, and this particular place in the world wasn't a particular happy this particular place in the world. It should be noted, though, that particulars can be happy.

Max was looking out the car window to his right, thinking hard. He was the only member of the company silent. Something was on his mind, but everybody else was either too drunk or too stupid to notice. They went on gibbering about everything and nothing, ignoring him.

He looked at the world outside flashing by the fast-moving car. There was something about it, he thought, something not quite right. There was something wrong.

"There's something wrong," he said. His wife looked at him.

"There's something wrong," she repeated after him. 1 by one the rest of the company turned and looked at him.

"There's something wrong," they said in unison. Then they laughed an evil, wicked laughter. It made his heart sink. It sank so low it changed places with his kidneys. And that was most uncomfortable.

Then there was something wrong outside. Something bad happening. Something not quite right. The landscape outside lunged and twisted, crawled and turned. He looked long and hard in horror. He pointed and yelled, "Look!"

Nobody bothered to even give him a glance. He grabbed his wife's shoulders with both his hands and shook her violently. "Look!" he yelled again.

"What?" said his wife in a mocking voice. "Is there something wrong, darling?" She gawped at him, but couldn't hold her posture for long; she leaned back and laughed.

"Look!" he shouted. Everybody suddenly shut up. They heard the engine running in the background.

He had their attention, though not for long. They were looking at him, their eyes teasing him, telling him to get it over with, whatever it was he was going to tell them. Again he pointed out the window.

"I tell you, there's something wrong. Out there."

"Yes, it's raining," said his wife, "what's so wrong about that?"

Just then The Mighty Boa Constrictor, who nobody had seen for aeons, decided it was time for some snacks, and swallowed them.