Recyclables

The hum of the dishwasher was low as a crisp breeze from the window filled the kitchen." "The weather today will be spectacular, get outside if you can," advised the newscaster as the camera zoomed in on the city skyline.

Paul and Debra lived in Perkins for most of their adult lives. Their specific county was considered one of the most affluent and progressive areas for many years.

"I think the idea to continue recycling and separating plastic and glass bottles is a super idea" said Debra as she chatted via speaker phone. "If it will help the environment and save the world, I am all in!" she laughed.

Paul was still asleep even though it was well after 10 am. Tomorrow would be hectic as usual and he needed to catch up on his rest. They were both only half way to retirement age, but were constantly planning on it independently and through moderate, bi-weekly payroll deductions.

He was a well respected software developer and she was an educator.

They were pretty healthy and happy. Routine check ups and health exams plus an organic diet helped sustain them. Their hope for children hadn't been fulfilled though.

After suffering a miscarriage many years ago, Debra asked him to promise they wouldn't try again. The experience had been too much for her to handle. They both agreed.

"Honey are you still planning to go to the birthday party? I think Stan is expecting to see you there. You know it's a day party it starts at 3pm," asked Debra from the bottom of the steps.

He was awake now and sitting there still in bed. "Yes I plan to thanks for reminding me," said Paul. "Ok, going to the store be right back. I left some coffee brewing for you." Debra grabbed her purse, the car keys and left.

Paul remembered he hadn't checked the mailbox in quite some time. Still in pajamas and his robe he ventured outside. The mailbox was stuffed as usual with junk mail and paper bills that were already paid up, There was a yellow business envelope with an official looking seal on the front and back of it. He discarded everything else.

Just as he re-entered the house the waste management truck was making its rounds to pick up recyclables in their subdivision. He pondered this a little. "Unusual or maybe not, the mail is even being delivered on Sunday too," he mumbled to himself. "They have to work every day I guess."

Paul couldn't distinguish what agency the letter had come from. Oddly there was only a PO Box for the return address.

The document was sealed in an additional envelope and read "Confidential" across the top in bold red letters.

Dear Paul and Debra,

Your rights may have been violated. All of your recyclable material may have been stored and used for unorthodox clinical experiments.

Since no consent was needed to collect the "recyclables" from your residence, an underground group of scientists called TheTruGods may have improperly gathered specific "intelligent" DNA from various households for years.

According to the files we were able to extract, a domestic group called(TheTruGods) believe "cloning, genetic mapping, and isolation of specific DNA from certain "highly intelligent subjects" can lead the world into a "renaissance of desirable thinkers and a chosen, perfect population."

PLEASE DISCONTINUE THE PRACTICE OF LEAVING YOUR RECYCLABLES OUTSIDE. It is our belief they are planning some form of anarchist movement in the very near future.

Please consider yourself warned from a very reliable source.

This is the extent of what could be shared with you safely for now.

There was no signature on the document only a stamp with the initials -XRA.

"Honey I'm back, did you check the mail?" asked Debra while bringing bags into the house.

Paul looked up at her quickly and said "No."

-THE END