The round grapefruit sized mushrooms had sprung up overnight on every lawn in Mudd Creek. Every boy and girl stomped them to watch the explosion of spores.

Come in it’s dark, shouted every mother. Dinner was fine with talk of the mushrooms. Hope you didn’t drag any inside. Enough work for me already.

The children were the first to get the persistent dry cough. Then the adults. Raised blackened veins. Then came the wet bloody cough and uncontrollable hunger.

On the streets neighbor fought neighbor, biting ears and fingers loose. Murder and mayhem  ruled. Delighted mushrooms watched.

END