31 Older sister stared at mother in disbelief. You know what? I hope the world does end. In fact, I hope it ends right now, because I can’t stand another minute of this end of the world bullshit. But when we all wake up tomorrow morning and realize that the world didn’t explode like you thought, remember that I was the one who told you so, and that I’m not the one living my life in fear. Older sister stormed off. Father and mother stood in the basement near their stockpile and didn’t say another word. They let older sister walk away. That night everyone went to bed: father and mother in their room and little sister and older sister in theirs. Do you think the world is going to end? Little sister asked older sister. Older sister had no good response, though she let out a small peep. I love you, older sister said. Goodnight. The next morning the sun came up and older sister was nowhere to be seen. Little sister looked around the house for her, but her car was gone from the driveway, along with her belongings. When she brought the issue to mother and father, they both stayed quiet. Little sister, fearful of the silence between father and mother, turned on the basement radio. A familiar tune danced around the room—a tune that older sister would jab at mother and father for: It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.
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