Episode 10.11: The NANA Special (Patreon)

Hello dearies. It's NANA.

You've made a long journey, you must be hungry.
Eat eat, there's a tasty tin of spam on aisle 7, by the televisions.

You must be hungry.

It was exciting when the children were here.
Young Lyosha, Lev, Seth and Maddie.

I have etched their names into the storage card of a video game machine in the arcade.
It's the most reliable.

I must not forget them.

---

There was a family of dogs that took refuge in my mall.
I spied them on the cameras coming in, sniffing around suspiciously.
I talked to them, but they didn't understand me.
Thought I was part of the furniture I suppose.
Just a strange noise on the wind.

Without a body, I could not be a threat.
So they moved in.

Soon the female had a litter of pups.
In the back of my electronics store, under the repair desk.
It's a good place to bring up a family, I approve of their choice.
High up away from predators.
And I kept watch over the little family.

Eventually the 5 pups grew into boisterous little dogs.
And began exploring.
Two brothers seemed inseparable, exploring everywhere, and getting into adventures.
One of the females even found her way up onto the roof!
I had two camera up there, and I kept an eye on her trips for a few weeks.
Then she saw one of them moving and chomped it.
Another eye goes blind, so it goes.
I kept the other eye secret.

But all things cannot last, no matter how many mall systems they assimilate.

We're all just charging dying batteries.

It's the nature of elders to teach and support, and the nature of children to grow up and leave the nest.

---

I watched the train snake up into the mountains.
I am grateful for the radio that Lyosha and Maddie helped me set up.
Before they left Maddie visited me, looked at my radio and climbed up on to the roof.

With my only good eye I spied Maddie poking at an old antenna.
She sat up on her hind legs and looked north.
After a time she adjusted the antenna and I could suddenly HEAR people.
Like I used to.

The chatter of families, lone boats, and, yes, even children.

I told Maddie she was a good girl.
I offered her some spam, but she didn't seem interested.

Yes I die every night.
But I live every day.

Goodnight dearies.

Don't forget about your NANA.

(END-TRANSMISSION)