The microphones lined the podium and the speakers were using their practiced reassuring voices

The air, water, and soil were safe and the towns people may move back in as if they had any choices

Sipping from the bottled water and nothing from the tap, the “experts” were stating the coast was clear

Like anyone on the podium has experience with a ten car derailment releasing deadly toxins but now acting like no one has anything to fear

This group had made a decision for a controlled burn reducing explosion concerns and hopefully the airborne poisons would dissipate in the wind

As proof one could follow the trail of fish floating on the river surface and the dead livestock in the field to tell where the chemical smoke had thinned

“People may now return to their homes,” stated the government official. “Continue using bottled water and everything else should be okay”

Confidence among the locals is not high as we all know this will soon be yesterday’s news and will shortly be swept away

What are the consequences 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now? Will the remaining livestock be okay to be milked, butchered, or just graze? Will new babies be born with scales?

Will your home value reflect in the real estate downward spiral of depreciation and diminished sales?

But that’s okay because the g-men who couldn’t wait to catch the first flight out-of-town all assured the citizens the air quality was back to status quo

Just ignore the fact that your bedroom will now be illuminated at night because under the sheets your genitals will glow