What Goes Down

by BrianMullin0

"Damn jumpers," Fredwina said, sweeping the bloody specks off the 2nd Floor into the dustpan. The old cleaning lady shook it, dislodging the tiny, brittle bits from the back, where they tended to stick together.

"You'd think the stupid little sods would learn," Sally said, mopping the bloody spots out of the grass. "And the powers that be would surround this first world with water, so's we wouldna hafta clean up after 'em ever' day."

"Shhh, girl! Speak up, an' our jobs we'd lose fer sure! Oh, look – two birds an' a floater. Me grandson's been cryin' fer a new toy. Mebbe iffen I shake it real good, it'll get all the dead critters out."

"Ha!" laughed Sally. "We gots our own loonies too, don't forget."

"Yeah. Poor, stupid bastards," sighed Fredwina.

"Stupid bastards, all of 'em," agreed Sally.

An hour passed, accompanied only by the sound of the swish of Fredwina's broom and the squish of Sally's sponge mop. They sat down on two boulders, passing a bottle of Pillar Pop between them, each taking a few swigs.

"S' a Crazy world, innit?" Sally pined, scratching under her armpit.

"Yep, sure is." Fredwina grabbed the front of her blouse and shook it to cool off. The Sun was directly over the Great World Pillar, focusing more heat into the frame of light beneath it.

"Do you ever 'magine how hot it must get up there?"

Sally shook her head. "Godawful hot, I guess. 'S no wonder they jump. Prolly enjoy the nice breeze whilst they fall, blackin' out and dyin' 'fore they gits halfway."

"They must see a whole sky full o' stars," Fredwina said, her voice full of envy, and full of wonder. "Can ya 'magine that? Stars ever'where?"

"I'd be scared, Sal. No, really. Too much..."

"Space?" said Sally, elbowing Fredwina. They both chuckled. "Me, too. At first, mebbe."

The sound of a thud shook the two out of their reverie.

"Another bird," Fredwina noted, sweeping it into her dustpan, leaving behind small, hair-thin streaks of red behind. "Do ya ever wonder, Sal, what's below us? Did ya ever think 'bout jumpin' off? I did, once."

"Go on!" said Sally, "You did not! Yer a sensible gal."

"No, I did, truly. I mean, is it frame worlds all the way down? Me Reggie says some people think there's a bottom one, an' iffen ya fall off that, you jes' keep fallin' forever through space. Can ya 'magine that?" Fredwina winced.

"Yer 'usband's daft, old girl. Daft as one 'o them spheroid nutters. Have you seen their nonsense, posted all over the city? The world's round like a ball? And spins like a ball? Why, we'd be thrown off into space! Buncha hooey, that's what they spout. Ow!"

A small speck had hit her cheek, and she pinched the still-wriggling thing between her thumb and forefinger. Sally snapped it in two, and flicked it into Fredwina's dustpan, brushing her red-stained finger along her mop.

Fredwina looked up from where the thing came from. "Hmm. They can fall down. I wonder iffen we could climb up?" And she burst out in hysterical laughter.

Sally never saw Fredwina again after that day.