Berry 51 (story by R.C. Peris)

When the CEO of Berry released his latest phone, Berry 51, lines wrapped around the Berry stores to buy the new device. The CEO, Charles Bicker, sent complementary Berry 51s to nearly every world leader and their staff. Politicians were delighted.

The US President took a selfie with his Berry 51 and Tweeted it. Other world leaders did the same. The President then posted another Tweet. The Tweet had nothing to do with the Berry 51. The phone grew hot and then exploded. The President was killed instantly. Staffers took photos of the explosion and posted Tweets. Their phones exploded. I was there the day 90% of the White House was killed. I’m a cook in the White House. I observed each explosion a I tended to the pastry cart. As I wheeled the cart, I caught snippets of panicked conversations. Apparently, other world leaders were assassinated. The world was in chaos.

I went calmly to the kitchen and wrapped the remaining pastries. I didn’t want them to get stale. As I placed them in the refrigerator, my phone rang. I was scared to answer it so I ignored it. It rang ten more times. Finally, I answered it.

Donald Mice, this is Charles Bicker. I’m sending mercenaries to Washington DC to take control of the military and government. I would like you to become president.”

I’m a cook. I handle pastries,” I said.

You’re qualified.”

What will I do?”

Anything I say. Also, do you Tweet?”

No, sir.”

Good,” said Bicker.

I went upstairs without my cart and sat behind the desk at the Oval Office. There was brain matter congealed on the edge of the desk. I flicked some of it off. I was about to be a world leader in a world controlled by Berry, the largest corporation in the world. I and the rest of the appointed leaders would be puppets to the CEO. The worldwide chaos has changed nothing.