Death-Cast is calling with the warning of a lifetime-I’m going to die today. Forget that, “warning” is too strong a word since warnings suggest something can be avoided, like a car honking at someone who’s crossing the street when it isn’t their light, giving them the chance to step back; this is more of a heads-up. The alert, a distinctive and endless gong. like a church bell one block away, is blasting from my phone on the other side of the room. I’m freaking out already, a hundred thoughts immediately drowning out everything around me. I bet this chaos is what a first-time skydiver feels as she’s plummeting out of a plane, or a pianist playing his first concert. Not that I will ever know for sure.
It’s crazy. One minute ago I was reading yesterday’s blog entry from CountDowners-where Deckers chronicle their final hours through statuses and photos via live feeds, this particular one about a college junior trying to find a home for his golden retriever-and now I’m going to die. I’m going to… no… yes. Yes.
My chest tightens. I’m dying today.
I’ve always been afraid of dying. I don’t know why. I thought this would jinx it from actually happening. Not for ever, obviously, but long enough so I could grow up. Dad has even been drilling it into my head that I should pretend I’m the main character of a story that nothing bad ever happens to, most especially death, because the hero has to be around to save the day. But the noise in my head is quieting down and there’s a Death-Cast herald on the other end of the phone waiting to tell me I’m going to die today at eighteen years old.
Wow, I’m actually…
I don’t want to pick up the phone. I’d rather run into Dad’s bedroom and curse into a pillow because he chose the wrong time to land himself in intensive care, or punch a wall because my mom marked me for an early death when she died giving birth to me. The phone rings for what’s be the thirtieth time, and I can’t avoid it any more than I can avoid what’s going down sometime today.
Comprehension Questions
1. What is Death-Cast?
A. A phone call that warns you of your death.
B. A video game that Mateo is loading up.
C. The name of the blog that Mateo was scrolling.
A. His mother.
B. His father.
C. Neither.
Your Thoughts
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.