AMBER GALILEY - THE BOMB

Amber Galiley is a freelance writer specializing in horror and suspense. Currently living in Orlando Florida, Amber loves to explore the city and write in quiet little hole in the wall coffee shops. Amber is currently enrolled in the Creative Writing for Entertainment BFA at Full Sail University in Winter Park Florida. After her first academic year, Amber was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

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​The Bomb 

​“Come on, Amelia! Put on your shoes. We’re leaving as soon as I take Severus out.”
 
     Okay, okay, I know I shouldn’t have yelled at her, but we were already late. I just didn’t have time to ask her nicely for the seven thousandth time. Why can’s she just put on her freaking shoes the first time I ask? As I put the dog on his leash I looked back at her again.
 
     “Shoes. Now!”
    
     Before I could open the door to take Severus out the doorbell rang. The dog barked and sniffed at a package on the doorstep as I looked out trying to catch a glimpse of the person that rang the bell. Whoever it was must have been fast because they were long gone. Not a single person on the street or car out of place. I lived in a quiet neighborhood, typical suburbia, and as head of the HOA, Neighborhood Watch, and the Carpool, I knew every person and vehicle in the area.
 
     “Sevey, leave it.”
 
     I haven’t ordered anything. The fundraiser items for the PTA shouldn’t be here for another week…  
 
     I kicked the package lightly, not wanting to get too close since I didn’t see any label or company information. Maybe I’d been watching too many action movies. I mean, come on, l lived in Short Hills, New Jersey, most people had never even heard of it before this incident. Letting Sevey back in I grabbed the package and set it on the table. Before I could stop her Amelia ran up and ripped the box open.
 
     “Hey mom, is this my birthday present?”
    
     “What? No! Don’t touch that! Your birthday isn’t even for another seven months.”
 
     I took the box from her and looked inside, and my heart started racing. Oh God, it’s a bomb. I don’t think I could have moved faster if I tried. In a matter of seconds Amelia, Severus, and I were outside, and I was dialing 911.
 
     “Hi, yes, I think someone dropped a box off at my house with a bomb inside….” I said as I rushed Amelia and Severus into the car. There was no way in hell I was taking my chances with a freaking bomb in my house. “Ma’am, I understand bomb threats are serious, that’s why I’m calling. It’s a red box attached to one of those cymbal monkey things. There’re colored wires coming out of the box. Please hurry!”
 
     Within minutes there were swarms of cop cars on my street, one of those “Bomb Squad” trucks too. I swore those were only in the movies, boy was I wrong. I explained the situation, again, to an officer and pulled my cell out to call my husband at work. The officers ushered me into my car while I waited for him to pick up, I was being escorted to the police station; so were my neighbors, the ones who were still home anyway.
 
     “Hey, Alex, it’s me… listen, we’re all okay but I need you to meet me at the police station ASAP. I’ll explain everything when I see you,” I said to his voicemail.
 
     We got all the way to the station and settled in before my husband called back, typical, work has always been more important.
 
     “What’s going on,” he asked as soon as I answered the call “I’m on my way!”
 
     “Well, I was taking Sevey out and trying to get Amelia out the door and someone rang the bell. Babe, there was a box on the porch and Amelia opened it…it’s a bomb. The police made us come to the station and they’re checking everything out.”
 
     “Why would you let Ames open the box, Catherin?”
 
     “I didn’t let her do anything… you know what, Alex? It doesn’t even matter. There’s a fucking monkey bomb in our house and all you care about is why I let her open it?”
 
     “Monkey bomb? Catherin, was it one of those cymbal monkeys with a red box on its back? Was it wearing blue?”
    
     “Um… ho-how did you know that?”
 
     “Damn it, Cat… it’s a Zombie Monkey Bomb. It’s a replica from Call of Duty, Catherin! Don’t you ever pay attention to anything I like?”
 
     I moved the phone from my ear and stared at it in silence for a moment before hanging up and turning to the nearest Policeman.
 
“Um, Officer, I think we have a false alarm.”