[ WP ] The real reason why they were called Fat man and Little boy

John decides to take lunch outside. There is a dense sense of dread in the offices as the first atomic test went bloody brilliantly. Death has ascended to a new level of cruelty, and everyone felt a little sick for sharpening its scythe. Words are fewer when the clock starts. Tick tock, the monotonous, crescendoing of time fills his stomach with dread. Death will come soon to millions, but this new death - what shall we call it? 
 
 Outside, the dry New Mexico air is suspended. John sits on the bench beneath a shady tree, chewing on the ham sandwich his house keeper made this morning. Most of his colleagues have gone home to their wives for a home cooked meal. But, being a bachelor, he only needs the company of his shady tree. Watching an empty campus, john wonders if this is how quiet japan will be after the new deaths visit. 
 
 A pair of shadows appear at the edge of his shade. It is of a fat man and little boy. 
 
 `` Hello, dr. Stevens. Enjoying your lunch?'' The fat man speaks. 
 
 John looks up and sees Melvin, one of the maintenance men. In the time of war, the fattest man on campus happens to be a janitor. John wonders if the man was blessed nor just has his chubby fingers in a few pies, literally. 
 
 `` Hello, Melvin. Yes. Just eating my lunch. Is this your boy?'' 
 
 `` Yes sir. Melvin jr sir. Melvin, say hello.'' The fat man nudges the little boy. 
 
 The boy, about 9, has blond hair and blue eyes. His naturally pale skin roasted by the sun. Standing, he is eye to eye with john sitting. 
 
 Melvin jr licks his lips a little, and says eagerly, quietly, gingerly, `` hello.'' 
 
 `` What a fine boy you have. `` John tries to be social. The campus feels too quiet. 
 
 `` Thank you sir. Say thank you.'' The fat man smiles, sweat beaming down his face. 
 
 `` Thank you.'' The boy parrots. 
 
 Then there is silence. John does n't know what to ask. Perhaps if he had a wife, she would be able to end the conversation. 
 
 The fat man and little boy stand in the sub, waiting to be dismissed. 
 
 Finally, Melvin sr opens his mouth one last time, `` well we better get going. Those ants are n't going to kill themselves.'' 
 
 `` Of course. Nice to meet you.'' John nods appreciatively. 
 
 They leave. 
 
 John takes another bit of his sandwich, which got warmer and even less tasty. John takes a swag of his soda and wishes for a beer. 
 
 In the corner of his eyes, he sees the silhouettes of two dancing figures. A hippo and a cat. Their feet, hands, and tools all moving gracefully, gleefully, gallantly against some muted music, for an invisible audience. Water, chemicals, even fire rained down on the ant hills. Millions escape one hell only to meet another. Above the maddened ants tower two gods, a fat man and a little boy, forever destroying all that was known. 
 
 John turns to watch them, and realizes that perhaps that this is n't going to be an unfamiliar death after all.
