Part I: "Introduction" Goes Here
The infant stared, dumbly, as the man, who was usually very nice, took the rattle from the plate of the high chair and replaced it with a grey, glossy plastic cube with beveled edges. Next to it he placed a copy of Engineering for Dummies, still wrapped in store plastic that, unbeknownst to the toddler, had been reinforced with glue.
The child looked up at its parent as if to say that at that moment, it was impossible to know what to believe anymore.
"And that's what I want you to take with you throughout your entire life," the father said, donning his fedora and walking out of the door forever.
Part II: _______
Hope opened her sleepy right eye, her left still buried in the pillow, unable to lift its lid. Mid-morning light streaming through the bedroom window told her it was finally that time, on that day (this day), the details of which were set in stone so many years ago. She put on her robe and went downstairs.
The baby was in the high chair, and father had left his fedora on the kitchen table, watching the muted television.
I wonder what he put on his head this time, she thought.
She poured herself a glass of milk from the refrigerator, cocking her head to the side to see the that the child was still strapped into the chair.
Part III: Is My Name Rattle?
Buh. Bah bah abah ah uh bah bahw bah. Buh bee bee bee bee bee. Aah buh.
Part IV: Six Months Later
The cube stared, dumbly, as the baby, who was usually very nice, took the book from the plate of the high chair and replaced it with a grey, glossy lump of mucus that it spit from three of its face-holes. The one in the bath robe pressed a button on the wall to open the sliding door, and slid down the pole to the underground cavern to collect the high polonium content excretions falling through the melted hole beneath the high chair.
Soon. Soon I'll have enough to synthesize the cure.
Part V: Probably Zombies
Urrghghghhrrrr...
