The Bakery and the Epidemic

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

The bakery had existed at the same location for over a half-century.

Even after the epidemic swept through town, turning over eighty percent of the citizenry into pure carnivores, the crew tried to keep it running.

Eventually, of course, they lost the battle — thanks to economics (almost no one wanted bread anymore), apathy (very difficult to remain enthusiastic when no one wanted what you sold), and, well, the epidemic itself (hard not to look at your only surviving co-workers as anything other than two-legged livestock)…