A Very Berry News Coverage

A Very Berry News Coverage

“And now we return to our coverage of this ongoing crisis.” Sandra pulled at the collar of her blue jacket and looked into the camera. “Every day, more and more people are turned into these massive blue human balls.” She walked up and put her pall hand on a huge round sphere behind her. “Some people call them massive blueberries, others massive inflatables. All we know is something weird is going on, and I am here to cover it for you.”

Sandra waved at the man holding the camera. “Ok, Henderson. That is a wrap.” He put lowered the camera. “I am ready to head back to the studio; these giant blue balls give me the creeps.”

He walked over and shook his dark head. “Do you think they are really people? These giant blue balls? I mean, why else would they have clothing on them and all?”

Sandra shrugged. “I don’t want to know.”

Henderson put his hand on the giant blue ball. “I mean, if we figure out the mystery, it could be good for the ratings.”

“Come on. Just put the equipment in the van, and let’s get out of here, shall we?

Oww.” Sandra slapped her hand. “Damn bug.” She pulled her hand back. “Gross, it is oozing out all sorts of weird blue juices.” She wiped the junk off her hands. “What is this world coming to?”

Sandra walked around to the passenger side of the truck and stepped inside. “I just hope Garry is in a good mood when we get back to the office.”

Henderson opened the back door of the van and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Well, he should be if we can bring news on what is going on with these blueberry people.”

Sandra shook her head. “They are not people. We don’t have proof of that yet.”

Henderson shrugged his shoulders. “That is your opinion.” He shut the door and then walked over to the divers’ side of the vehicle. Henderson opened the door and slid inside. “Shall we be off?”

She nodded her head. “Ya. Let’s get back in time for the evening headache.” She sighed. “I wish that I didn’t have to go back to the studio for tonight’s broadcast.”

Henderson smiled. “You will do fine.”

“Maybe. I have yet to be on live television before. I am nervous about how things will turn out.”

“Hey, you will be fine. Take it from someone who has been on-air multiple times. There is nothing to be worried about.”

“But what if I screw up? Do something crazy or stupid?” She put her head in her lap. “I can’t even think of it.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. Mistakes happen.”

“And people don’t ever let you forget them.

You make a mistake; it will ruin your career.”

Henderson laughed. “My first day on air, I spilled coffee on Garry’s pants in front of the entire world. Do you think people still talk about that? No. They are more concerned about that funny parrot we had on the show last week than my screw-up from a few months ago.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It will be ok.”

Sandra sighed. “Good.” She looked up. “Hey, Henderson. What are you doing? Watch the road.”

He took his hand off of her shoulder and grabbed the wheel. “Dimmit all.”

The van swerved to avoid hitting a mailbox and pulled to a stop. “That was close.” He looked over. “Are you ok?”

“Yes.” She scratched at her head. “It was just a bit disorienting.”

Henderson narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure? You look a bit umm, I don’t know how to describe it. Your skin looks almost as blue as your eyes.”

Sandra shook her head. “I feel fine if a bit tired. Maybe that is it.” She rubbed her eyes. “Any better?”

He nodded his head. ‘Ya, a little bit.” He looked down the road. “Now, let’s hurry back to the studio. You don’t want to be late, do you?” He pulled back out onto the road.

She looked out the window as the trees passed by. I wouldn’t mind it all that much. But my job is my job.

A few minutes later, they were back at the channel 14 news station.

Henderson slowly drove the van around to the back end of the building and away from the angry crowds. “This is the third day they have been out here.” He shook his head. “I don’t know why they exactly want us to do.”

“They are scared like anyone else about all these weird going ons.” Sandra shrugged. “They think we have the answers, but we don’t. And well, for some people, that isn’t good enough.”

He pulled the vehicle into the garage and turned off the engine. “You seem very calm about all this.” He unbuckled himself. “I personally know a few people at the station who have been threatened because we haven’t told them what is truly going on over these human blueberry incidents.” He shook his head as he opened the door. “I just wish they would give us time to figure this out. We are just as confused as they are.”

Sandra unbuckled and opened her door. “I know.” She held her hand to her head. “Ugh.”

Henderson walked around the front of the vehicle.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded her head. “Ya, I just felt a rush of pressure to my chest for a moment. I am fine. I think.” Sandra stood up and pushed herself away from the van. “Let’s head inside. I don’t want Garry throwing a fit that we were late. He might have us talk to the people outside our set.”

Henderson laughed. “Ya right.”

“I was being serious.” She opened the back door and walked inside.

Sandra held up her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding studio lights.  Why does Garry have to keep these things on even when it is so dark and gloomy outside? Does he want to burn everyone’s eye sockets out?”

She pushed another door open and walked into the main studio; a half dozen people ran about as they moved equipment into the proper position or set paper down onto the desk at the far end of the room. In the middle of it, all was Garry. He sat at his desk as he adjusted his tie and looked at where the camera would be with a smile on his face.

Sandra sighed as she walked forward. “Do you have to look like a fool before air time, Garry?”

He raised an eyebrow, his hazel eyes peering through her. “Back so soon, Sandra.”

She looked at the clock, which hung over the massive channel 14 sign and painting of the beach behind Garry. “It is five minutes before we go on air. I think I am cutting it close as it is.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Get your mic on then and sit down. I hope you have something good.” He turned his head and waved. “You there. I want that camera on the other side of the room. I know you are new, but that isn’t an excuse to put things in the wrong place.”

Sandra walked around and sat down next to Garry. Ok, let’s get this over with.  Sandra picked up the microphone and pinned it to her jacket.

“Hurry up, people. We will be live any minute, and I want this place in tip-top form.”

Sandra put her elbows on the desk and her head in her hands. Then, in a low voice, she said, “I hate working with Garry. Ughgh.” She put her hands over her stomach.

Garry turned his head. “Sandra, hey.” He nudged her shoulder. “Look alive.”

She looked up at the camera. “My insides are doing jumping jacks. I need to step aside.”

“No way. You are under contract to be on the air today, and you will do so.” He turned his head and smiled. “Hello, everyone. My name is Garry Renolds, and this is the Channel 14 news hour. Today we will start with our top story, which has been developing over the last few days. You know all about it and want to hear all about it. The giant blue spheres that have been growing all over town. What are they? Who are they, and how can you deal with them? Well, my associate Sandra here has had first-hand experience with one of these so-called blueberries and will tell us more. Sandra?”

She nodded her head. “Right. I was umm ugh.” She shook her head as a filling sensation rocked her body. “I was out on South Wellington just a half-hour ago investigating the situation.”

Earned the cameraman waved at Sandra and pointed at her face. She ignored her and continued on with her speech.

“Me and my college Henderson checked out the latest report of these giant blue spheres that have been plaguing our town over the last week and went up to check out what was going on? We had a report from people calling into the station that one of these “blueberry” people were forming in the area, so we rushed over to get it on camera.”

“And did you?” Garry turned his head, and his eyes went wide.

“No. By the time we go there, we found another massive blue sphere, so there was no way to tell just what had happened.” She looked at Garry. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “What kind of make-up did you put on? Is it that weird stuff they use for productions that comes on from stress or something?”

“What?”

“Your skin. It is turning blue.”

“Blue!?” She looked at her hands and the creeping violet color that crept up towards her fingertips. “What is going on?”

“You tell me. What kind of prank is this?” He grabbed her by her shirt. “You think this is funny to pull for your first time on live television?”

She pushed him away. “Let go of me. I have enough issues. Look at me. My skin is all blue.” She ran her hands all over her body. “Ugh, and I feel all bubbly all of a sudden. I need to go use the restroom.”

Garry grabbed her arm. “Not until you finish your report.”

Her eyes widened as her entire pupil turned blue.

“You have got to be kidding me. There is something wrong here, and all you are concerned about is your story?”

“Yes, now sit your but down and tell everyone about it. The sooner you do, the sooner you can go and figure out what is making your break out in blue.”

Sandra sighed and turned towards the camera. “Well, umm, there wasn’t too much else to report. So me and my cameraman Henderson arrived on the scene, and we just couldn’t figure out what had. . . Ugh.” She put her hands on the desk. “It feels like my insides are swirling.”

“You couldn’t figure out what? Keep going?”

Sandra stood up. “Look, I said what I was going to now. . .” She shook her head as her clothing became tight. “I need to just find someplace to wind down.”

“Earned, turn the camera on her. I think we are going to get a front-row seat to what has been happening around town.” Garry smiled.

“Are you nuts? Just because I am blue and all doesn’t mean anything.” She put her hand on her stomach. “Whoa.” Sandra looked down. “How did it get so round?”

“Your body is swelling.”

Sandra sat back down, her chair groaning from her extra weight. “But I can’t be. This isn’t possible.” She turned towards Earned. “Turn that off. Get me off the air.” She groaned as her breasts started to expand. “Hurry.”

Garry stood up. “Don’t you dare takes off the air, or you are fired. I want everyone to know just what is happening.” He then turned over to Sandra, who was pulling at her shirt to get it off her swollen chest. “What do you think is causing this reaction? Coming in close proximity to one of the massive blueberries?”

Her nipples pushed through her shirt and unbuttoned her jacket. “I don’t know.” Sandra pulled at her pants as they started to drift down her expanding waist. “I do remember a strange bug biting me earlier today.”

“Good. Tell us more.”

She looked him straight in the eye. “My body is swelling out of control.” Her hips began to push the desk away. “I need to get out of here before I can’t fit through that doorway.”

“But the show.”

“Uugghh.” Sandra pushed herself up off of the desk, her body now a pile of mushy bricks. “I am out of here. Screw the show and your ratings.” She held her hand over her mouth. “Oh god, I think I can taste blueberries.”

Garry ran up alongside her. “So you admit this is a blueberry thing, do you not?”

She pushed him to the side, almost falling over in the process. “Think whatever you want.” Srripp. “I have bigger issues.” She reached down and held her pants up as she waddled into the next room.  Why did I have to wear such tight and form-fitting clothing today?

Srrrrippp. Her shirt began to rip as well from her swelling breasts; they were growing much faster than the rest of her body.  I need to get out of this newsroom and away from these cameras before things get out of control.  She made her way over to the door, each step a feat of strength. “If I make it out of this, I won’t have to go to a gym again.”

Sandra reached the door to exit the studio. “Ok, you can do this.” She squeezed her body into the door frame, trying to push herself out onto the other size. “Oh god. I can feel the juices inside of me rushing to my butt.” Shrrrink. Her cheeks went violet as her pants ripped in two and fell to the ground; Sandra tried to reach down and grab her jeans, but her arms were too short to reach around her round frame. “Oh no.” She closed her eyes. “This can’t be happening.”

“Woah.” Suddenly Sandra fell forward and onto her massive round chest. “Ouff.” She shook her head and put her arms on the side of her expanding torso. “Ok, now what. I can’t reach the ground to push myself up. Uuggh.” She winced as her shirt and bra stretched even further. “I have come too far just to become stuck now.”

She twisted her head to see flashes of light. “What are you doing back there?” She waved her shrinking arms. “You better not be taking pictures. I didn’t sign up for this.”

“You are doing great, Sandra.” Garry’s voice floated through the air. “Also, good job bringing us this story. I think you are in for a raise.”

She began to roll forward as her rear end pushed away from the doorway. “Garry, if I ever get out of this situation, I will shove that raise up your rear end.” Shrrik. Both her shirk and bra bounced off her body and flew across the room. She closed her eyes as her body took on a spherical shape.  I am turning into a blueberry. This is what happened to all those people, and now it’s happening to me. I am going to be a massive blueberry.

“Someone go in there and roll her out of the way. I can’t see what his happening anymore.”

“I am not going in there. I don’t want to risk that happening to me.”

“Don’t let fear cripple you,” Garry yelled. “I want that story, and I want it now.”

Sandra felt her back press up against the ceiling as the fighting continued. “She never even said what caused this. I am taking my chances back here.”

“Well, if no one will step up, I will do it myself.”

Sandra felt pressure on the rear end of her body. “Stop it.” She twisted her head but couldn’t see anything beyond her massive blue body. “I am being pressed together as it is. I don’t’ need you to squeeze me in here even more. I might pop.”

“I just need to get in here with the camera.” She felt Garry squeeze against her body and the wall.

“Stop it.” Sandra winced. ‘I don’t have too much more room to swell in here.”

“I just need to find a free spot.”

“Oww.” She felt something sharp poke her right side. “What was that?”

“Umm, my camera pieced your blue body, and now juice is spilling everywhere. Gross.”

“Pheww.” Sandra smiled as she felt the pressure in her body slowly dissipate. The roundness of her body started to lessen, her arms and legs appearance once more out of her body. “Thank you, Garry.”

She could feel him squirming alongside her frame, back towards the door. “Ya whatever. Just let me out of here.” He popped out into the next room. “Get a shot of her as she shrinks down.”

Sandra smiled as she quickly returned to normal, the juice spilling out of her waist. Her hips shrank back into her body, and her legs became unfused. “I can move my arms again.” She twisted around her torso. “This is great. I never thought I would be happy just for basic movement.”

Once she was her own self again, she smiled. “Great.” She looked at her blue arms. “Now come on. Turn back.” She waited and waited, but her skin remained blue as she stood in the sea of juice. But minutes passed, and nothing happened. “No. I can’t stay blue like this forever.”

“And that conduces the news at channel 14. We will see you tomorrow. Hope everyone has a nice night from yours truly. Gary.”

Sandra spun around. “I can’t believe it. My first day on live television, and I turn into a massive blueberry.” She ran her hands along her arms. “And I will have the mark to prove it for the rest of my life. Ugh.” She fell backward into the juice. “Can today get any worse?”

Garry ran inside. “Hey, Sandra, you are going to love this. Henderson checked online, and tonight’s broadcast went viral. You are a hit.”

She rolled her eyes. “Great. Always wanted to be a massive blue hit on the internet.”