The Serial Cereal Seven

The milk jug makes a heavy thunk as the boy places it haphazardly back in the fridge, letting the door slam closed. Grabbing a spoon, he makes his way into the living room where the TV is on, murmuring at medium volume.

Making himself comfortable among the pillows, he digs into his cereal. He absentmindedly eats, savoring each bite of his milk-soaked sugar-coated breakfast. A few droplets of milk splash back into his bowl as he takes another spoonful of the best stuff on earth.

On the TV is a commercial for blood pressure medicine. The long list of side effects includes loss of vision, dizziness, confusion, even death. The people on the screen seem happy and unaware of how dangerous this drug could potentially be.

The boy continues enjoying his cereal. The blood pressure commercial finishes and the happy people are replaced by the morning news. Pamela and Joel, in their newscaster best, smile out at the boy and greet him cheerfully.

Good morning Smalltown! It’s looking like another beautiful day out there Pamela says. Joel agrees, the boy does too. He takes another bite of cereal, nodding. Yes Pamela and we’ve got a lot to get to today! Pam agrees wholeheartedly. This is extraordinary, and quite strange really Joel continues. Over the last three weeks, a total of seven people were seen entering this same gas station convenience store, to stare at the cereal section in the back aisle for approximately five minutes without saying a word. Accompanying Pamela and Joel, CCTV footage appears on the screen, showing nondescript people dressed in hoodies and sunglasses coming and going from a convenience store. One shot shows someone in the cereal aisle, staring at the cereal boxes, completely still.

Pamela and Joel are back on screen, looking bemused. These seven people Pam says have been locally dubbed “The Serial Cereal Seven.” Joel giggles and continues What are they doing back there, sleepwalking? The only thing making this whole thing even odder, Pam, is that each of these folks is seen carrying something in their left hands. Seven CCTV images appear on the screen, this time zoomed in to show an ambiguous rectangle held in the left hand of each of The Serial Cereal Seven.

If I’m not mistaken, Joel, those look to me to be little black books! Pam is really proud of herself. It sure does, Pam, Joel concedes, The store owner says he’s intrigued by this unfolding mystery but does wish these folks would at least buy something. Pamela and Joel are back. We’ll be sure to keep you updated should any of The Serial Cereal Seven return. The news anchors shuffle their papers and move on.

Outside, Pamela and Joel were right. It’s a beautiful day. The boy stands on his front porch and looks around. It’s quiet and warm. He takes a few steps off the porch and walks across the street.

The inside of the convenience store smells like hot dogs and cigarettes. One of the fluorescent lights is flickering. The owner behind the counter is listening to country-western music on the radio, reading a newspaper.

The boy walks to the refrigerated aisle and opens a door there, grabbing a jug of milk. He looks over to where the cereal is as the front door opens and the bell chimes. The store owner barks out a greeting, and the newcomer returns it. The two old men begin grumbling to each other about who knows what.

Expecting to see someone in the cereal aisle, the boy creeps around the corner and jumps out. Nobody is there. Disappointed, he locates his favorite cereal, Sugar Coated Cruncherz, and goes to grab a box.

At the front counter, the two old men continue to talk shop. The boy approaches and the clerk asks What do you think of this cereal aisle craze, kid? he asks, motioning to the brightly colored box wrapped in the boy's arm.

The boy shrugs and puts his milk, cereal, and a small bill on the counter. The owner bags his purchases and makes change. Putting the change back in his pocket, the boy says bye to the men and makes to leave. See ya round son says the clerk.

Outside again, the boy stands on the curb and looks up and down the road, which is empty. He takes a step to walk home and trips on something, dropping his bag. He looks down to see a little black notebook laying innocently just beside the gutter.

Worried that someone saw him fall, the boy gets up quickly and brushes himself off, but nobody is around anyway and the men inside haven’t noticed either. He’s skinned his elbow and it’s bleeding a little bit. After checking that the milk jug is unharmed from the fall, the boy stands staring at this little black book.

It’s ordinary enough. Just a little black notebook with an elastic band keeping it closed. It’s beaten up and worn, the little tassel that marks a page is frayed at the end. With a stroke of genius, the boy drops the notebook into his paper bag of breakfast goods and turns to go home.

The next day, the boy is seated among his couch pillows, staring at the ceiling, crunching through his third bowl of cereal. He keeps the colorful cereal box close.

Pamela and Joel are droning away on the TV and only Cat the cat is paying them any mind. There’s a fly on the TV screen, dangerously close to Pamela’s mouth.

And guess what Joel, we’ve got a Serial Cereal Seven update here! I can’t believe it! She says, unaware that a fly is rubbing its little hands together on top of her teeth now.

The boy’s attention darts from the motionless ceiling fan to the television.

The mystery continues, Pam, it turns out that the store owner has revealed some footage of the little black book, left in the parking lot outside of his store.

Another CCTV image appears on the screen, a zoomed-in picture of a little black book left on the sidewalk.

The CCTV footage didn’t capture when the book was dropped or picked up, but the store owner hopes for the notebook’s return, as it seems important to the mysterious Serial Cereal Seven.

Pam and Joel are taking guesses at what could be inside the notebook, but the boy is no longer listening. Carelessly setting his empty bowl on the table, thereby startling Cat the cat, the boy bounds off the couch and runs down the hall to his room, slamming the door behind him.

He throws himself onto the floor and reaches under his bed, pulling out the little black notebook. He places it gingerly in the middle of the floor and stares at it. He takes a deep breath.

Grabbing the frayed tassel, the boy opens the notebook. Written in red pen, something that looks like a to-do list. The boy can barely read it. He searches his room for his previously unused magnifying glass, which he thankfully for whatever reason didn’t throw out last summer with the rest of his bug inspection kit. Holding the magnifying glass close to his left eye, the boy scans the mysterious page. The words become bigger, one by one, and he reads:

Welcome, Curious Soul. As you read this, stray cats in your hometown are suffering. It is up to us to help them. If you cared to pick me up from where I was left, please join Us and continue our Global Mission. Follow these important steps to help:

Step 1. This step is the first step and it is important. Walk into your local convenience store. Find the cereal aisle and stay there. Silently count the different brands. Remember how many different brands there are. Don’t let anyone know you are counting. Don't buy anything. Don't talk to anyone. Don't let anyone recognize you. Disguise yourself. Carry this little black notebook in your left hand. This step is important for you to learn and remember your Special Number.

Step 2. This step is the second step and is also important. After you've mysteriously been to the convenience store, counted the cereal brands, spoken to no one, bought nothing, now you must discreetly place the black notebook somewhere safe near the exit when you leave. Make sure no one sees this. The next Curious Soul will pick it up and learn about our mysterious campaign.

Step 3. This step is the third step and is the gateway to your mission. After you are done with Steps 1 and 2, you will be ready to move on to STAGE TWO and save your first cat. All you have to do is go to your local Post Office, stand across the street in your secret disguise for 17 minutes and 54 seconds, and there you will receive instructions to continue your mission. Have your Special Number ready. You will know when to use it.

In awe, the boy closes the little black notebook. He stands up and stares out the window. He opens his closet, grabs a hoodie, sunglasses, a little backpack. After donning his disguise, he checks himself in the mirror. He looks good and really discreet. Heck yeah.

With newfound swagger, the boy leaves his room, little black notebook in his left hand. Passing through the living room, he kisses Cat the cat between her ears. Once in the kitchen, he walks up to the box of his favorite cereal, still on the counter. He makes eye contact with the box, nods to it, and says Let’s do this. The box comes alive and is suddenly wearing sunglasses and a hoodie, matching the boy. The top flap opens, and cereal flies out chanting WOO HOO, then forming into a full-size convertible inside the kitchen. The box says Get in, kid! and the cereal car door opens with a loud BEEP BEEP BEEP.

The loud beeping blares through the room as the boy’s alarm clock continues to go off. He reaches his hand outside of his blankets to slam the alarm clock into silence. His window is open a crack and he can hear a robin singing good morning.

He gets out of bed and walks to the kitchen, picking up the small black book from the counter. Inside, he reads today’s message from Mom: Good morning honey! Pasta in the fridge for lunch. See you later, love you!

He pours himself a bowl of his favorite Sugar Coated Cruncherz, then holds the box, analyzing the barcode number. He pours the last of the milk into the bowl and returns the empty jug to the fridge.

In a daze, the boy settles into the living room couch cushions and turns on the TV. He takes his first bite of delicious cereal.

An infomercial finishes and is replaced by the morning news. Pamela and Joel, in their newscaster best, smile out at the boy and greet him cheerfully.

Good morning Smalltown! It’s looking like another beautiful day out there! Pamela says.

The boy sleepily crunches his cereal.

Joel goes on And now, time to announce the winner of the contest that’s taken the country by storm: The Sugar Coated Cruncherz Contest! Pam takes over It's true Joel! You, at home, make sure you have your Sugar Coated Cruncherz box ready, right next to you.

The boy perks up and holds his cereal box anxiously.

Joel announces And the winning barcode number is…

Suspenseful music plays. The boy stares at the numbers on his box, waiting.

Joel reveals the numbers, slowly counting 5 89096 574875 0. The winning number flashes on the screen, as the boy triple checks his luck. He stares at Cat.

Pamela beams, If you bought this box, lucky you! You are the winner of the Sugar Coated Cruncherz Contest, winning $20,000!

The boy jumps up in celebration, shouting We’re rich, Cat! She purrs in response.