Hide and Seek

by Jack Ketchum

A tired life breeds tired decisions, sometimes none at all.

Bar life is about as democratic as we get.

Sympathy can turn so quickly. Just add fear. Stir.

I know we all are lonely. Locked off from one another in some fundamental secrecy. But some of us declare war and some of us don't.

People are idiots, basically. Young people worst of all. Because kids don't believe in death. They have to be taught in order to believe-and the teacher is always disease or gaping holes in the flesh. Wounds. Pain. That usually comes later in life, but it comes eventually. All the heroes are children.

What a terrible time to find out how good life can be, I thought. And how good to find out anyway.