It was a nice night out. There were plenty of twinkling stars in the velvet sky and the gentle hum of the city buzzed through the open screen door. But I only half listened to it as I poured myself a glass of coke. It fizzled and I took a swig as I eyed the cat out of the corner of my eye. Damn thing had been coughing up hairballs left and right. It had gotten to the point where we scheduled an appointment for the vet on Thursday.

I mentally scrolled through the things I had to do that night and then crossed half the list off so half of my night was free for sleep or... no, just sleep. Sleep was good.

Finishing the coke, I put the glass on the counter. There werent a lot of dishes, but Id have to do them soon or else face the wrath of my mother. Gentlest little thing youd ever met unless you didnt do the dishes, in which case you are so screwed. Only recently had she began acting like this. I guess work must have been stressful, but shed get over it.

I started the water and put some dish soap in the mix, watching the suds and bubbles come into existence and then pop out of it. A twist of the knob and the water stopped, the dish soap waiting for some dishes to corrode and food to disinfect.

My thoughts kept wandering to the recent episodes at school. Everything was just growing terribly odd. No, I shouldnt say terribly because in fact the shift was subtle and oftentimes pleasant, but odd nonetheless. People who were so optimistic and upbeat had suddenly questioned everything and rebelled. Some just gave up. Yes, that could be attributed to teenage angst and the desire for revolution, but the multitude of optimists who very quickly grew disgusted with the world... it was mind boggling.

But that wasnt all. People had reconciled differences and even conflicts that had been raging for months, even years. No, nothing on a global or even national scale, but as I said, it was subtle. Maybe it wouldnt trickle up and reach the politics of our world, but it had reached the masses. Too many times have I heard in the past months of strange goings on so I couldnt dismiss it as coincidence. Or maybe I could, but it would have to be one hell of a coincidence.

You see, nothing major has changed, but I think thats vital to the change. It cant be recognized, labeled, or pin pointed but it could be noticed. Well, it cant, but the effects can.

Am I making sense?

And then theres the sudden change in other peoples spirits. Slackers studying. Hard working people quitting and going on a lifetime vacation to Bermuda. Cheerleaders and Football players not caring about their popularity and nerds and geeks taking an interest in it. Athletes of all sports are losing their dedication and students are studying hard to succeed while some teachers have lost hope. Administrators and teachers and doctors and cops just quitting. Its like the whole world is having a midlife crisis or a mental breakdown. Or both.

And other things have changed rapidly, but slow enough so no one noticed. People have finally learned to enjoy life. Well, more than ever, but theyre still the minority of the world, happy people are.

And Ive heard of lawyers growing consciences and up and leaving their jobs and I read a story on a doctor the other day who stopped operating and just started crying. He curled up in a fetal position, a pathetic little pile on the floor and just sobbed.

Then theres that rumor that all manufacturing of North Koreas nuclear arsenal has stopped. According to the story, hundreds of scientists have up and quit at the risk of death, and when asked why, they answered: Theres no use.

Theres no use working or explaining it?

My friend Paul was telling me that in Northern Dakota, in some wealthy suburb, some homeless people have stopped accepting donations. Quoting the bible, they said something about no possessions being needed to enter Heaven, and none wanted either.

Ive noticed people just dont try as hard as they used to.

So, Im there, drying the dishes and placing them in a green bin to dry, thinking about life and how odd it is. It was always odd, but now its giving me chills.

My mom walks in right then, and I must have spilled some water on the floor because she just keeps staring at a spot by my feet. I could tell she had had a bad day and had stressed herself to the point of a health problem, but still I didnt expect what followed. She detonated in a major way with an explosion of insults and curses.

I flinched and let her yell until she apparently ran out of breath and walked out of the kitchen. I mopped up the floor with a rag and finished the dishes. She was stressed to the point of regression, and I was like therapy. Just yell at me and the worlds problems disappear.

Everyone knew the world was ending. We all just took it differently.