Weed Killer
Ludlow’s Lawn and Garden sold us the seeds. “A summer necessity at a special price,” offered in honor of their grand opening in our little town. No spraying. No spreader needed. “Scatter it just like feed, onto grass or bare soil,” they said.
So we did.
Only instead of weed preventing or killing, it cultivated weeds. Abominable weeds. Thick ropy, tubular things shot out of the ground. They snaked in and out of the earth like giant blind worms. The ground trembled as they moved, as they searched for food. Rain didn’t sustain them. Human blood did.
We’ve climbed onto the roof, sitting astride its apex. Naomi hugs the children tight. We hear the root-weeds growing, climbing higher. They’re thirsty.
