“Good Morning! This is Matt Lauer broadcasting live from studio 1A in Rockefeller Plaza. Thank you for joining us on the Today show on this cold and snowy December 21, 2012. Coming up in the next half hour: last minute Christmas gifts with expert shoppers Julie Somar and Jacquie Inkazteca, our interview with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on whether the tension with Iran and China can come to an end, and finally, for years people have been saying that today’s the day when the world is going to end… is it? All that and more after these announcements from our sponsors.”

            “Come on Jake and Dan, you’re going to be late for school if you don’t hurry up. Turn that television off.”

            “We know Mom, Dan and I are both fifteen. We can handle ourselves.”

            “I’m sure you both could, but that Los Angeles traffic isn’t going to wait for you”

            Upon saying that, Dan gets up and walks over to the small television perched on the counter in a new and shiny kitchen. Just as Dan is about to push the button to turn off the television…

BREAKING NEWS

…appears across the screen. Matt Lauer comes back on.

            “What I’m about to tell you, will change your lives forever. I need everyone to not panic. The US Missile Defense System that is in place in Europe has detected two nuclear missiles heading for American soil. The predicted targets are Los Angeles, California and Washington D.C. The Missile Defense System has attempted to take down both missiles that were fired from China and Iran, but has failed. As of now, I advise people in these areas to get out of the city and head for rural areas. You are also advised to not ta-…”

            Matt Lauer disappears mid-sentence. Meanwhile, Dan, Jake, and their mom are standing speechless around the kitchen. Absolute silence fills the kitchen. The silence is broken by three loud beeps coming from the television. The television flutters back to life, displaying the words:

United States Emergency Alert System

            “This is not a test, this is not a test. A nuclear warhead has been detected by NORAD heading for the Los Angeles area. You are under Mandatory Evacuation from the President of the United States to evacuate Los Angeles County. The National Guard has been called in and will carry out a house-to-house search. The estimated time of impact of the missile is thirty minutes. The President has now initiated Marshall Law. This is not a test, this is not a test. A nuclear warhead has been detected heading for the Los Ange-”

            Dan turned off the television. “What about Dad”, asked Jake.

To Be Continued…