[ WP ] You open a can of soda and it begins speaking to you .

I reach into the cooler to grab a can of Coke. It's sweating in the July heat, the cold perspiration dripping down my arm. I gently press it against the back of my neck to cool off while I flip the burgers. `` How do you want them?'' I yell to my wife, her parents, and our kids even though I already know. We've had 4th of July barbecues since we got married 6 years ago. I flip the burgers and pop the tab on my can. A loud PACK sound and then a long low hiss as the fizz escapes. `` Krisssssten.'' I swear I could hear my wife's name in the fizz. I dig a pinky finger into my ear and root around to remove any excess wax, but of course there was n't any. I never go a day without cleaning ear canals. They get infected easily, you know. 
 
 I bring the can up to my mouth to take a sip and I hear the bubbles of carbonation popping again. `` Bobby,'' I can hear over and over in the pops. I swivel my head around just in time to see my son chase a rolling hula hoop into the street. 
 
 `` Bobby!'' Kristen yells as she darts after him. Before I could move, a car flung around the corner. She covered his tiny body with hers, but her frail frame did n't do much good. 
 
 `` Kris! Bobby!'' I scream and run towards the bodies in the street. In my haste, I drop the can of Coke and it crashes down hard. It rolls in a circle, spilling the rest of the brown soda down my driveway until it meets the red blood.
