The storm came quicker than expected.

She looked out the window in dismay. The dark clouds that had been gathering all afternoon had finally broken loose, heavy rain pounding the pavement.

She’d been running late that morning, and by the time she’d realized that a storm was coming, she’d been too late to turn back and get an umbrella from home. She had checked the weather online, and had thought she’d be fine, that she’d be able to make it home before the storm started, but.

Nope.

“Nope what?” he says, coming round the corner, armed with a stack of papers.

She startles from her reverie. Had she said that aloud?

Turning to look at him, she nods to the storm, then gestures to herself and her decidedly raincoat-free outfit. “Didn’t bring an umbrella.”

He sucks in air through his teeth. “Ooo, that sucks. What are you gonna do about it?”

“Don’t know,” she says, with a sigh.

“Well, it’s gotta stop eventually, right?” he says, placing his papers in a messy stack on her desk.

Looking at him with a blank expression, she swivels her computer monitor around to show him the weather report, the motion punctuated by a clap of thunder.

He leans in to see the weather report, and makes a noise of dismay.

“Yeah,” she says. “Eventually is right. Doesn’t do me any good.”

He taps his fingers on the desk, thinking. “Hmm, that’s a toughie.”

“I’ll say.” She rolls her eyes and picks up the papers, hitting them on the desk to make them into a neat stack. “Now, is that all, or did you have another reason for coming over here?”

“Oh, uh, no other reason,” he says.

“Then I’d suggest you get back to your own work,” she says curtly.

“Jeez, okay,” he says, wandering off, and she reprimands herself internally for being so curt. She hadn’t meant to send him off like that; she’s just stressed.

Even if she did have an umbrella, her shoes are not cut out for this weather. It’s pretty hopeless. She’s getting soaked, no matter what.

She’d doomed.

—-

As the work day wraps up, he comes by, holding something. “Okay, here’s an idea. How about saran wrap?”

“Lol, what?” she says, looking up from her work.

“Saran wrap,” he repeats, pulling the roll he’s taken from the office kitchen from behind his back. “It’s plastic. The water will roll right off of it.”

“Sure,” she says skeptically, “but how do you propose I use it?”

“Well, there’s a number of options,” he says, unraveling the sheet. “First I was thinking, make a DIY umbrella.”

“How.”

“Yeah, I ran into some problems there,” he says, looking sheepish, “so then I thought, just hold it over your head, all spread out like.” He demonstrates, holding a up long selection of the filmy plastic.

“And does that work?” she asks, leaning forward, curious despite herself.

“Dunno, haven’t tried it yet.”

She sits back in her chair, disappointed. “What else you got?”

“Well, you could just wrap yourself in it.”

“Like a mummy?”

“Like a mummy!” he repeats enthusiastically. “See, you get the vision!”

“No,” she says, trying not to laugh. “I will not be doing that.”

“Alright,” he says, good-naturedly. “At least your shoes, then.”

She purses her lips. “Mm, Imma let you test that one out.”

“Fair enough.” He pulls up a chair, sits down, and starts wrapping his sneakers in the plastic film.

She lets out a surprised laugh. “I didn't really think you would!”

“Why wouldn’t I?” he says, with an easy smile.

She covers her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle her own smile. “Because it’s a terrible idea.”

“Nah,” he says, standing up, testing it out. He slips almost immediately, and she can’t help it—she laughs. Loud.

“Okay, maybe you’re right.” He sits back down and starts unwrapping his shoes. “But what do you say we test out the rest of it?”

“Not the mummy thing.”

“Why not?” She looks at him, expressionless. “No, I’m kidding, not that one. Just the sheet over the head.”

“That’s not gonna work, either. It won’t hold up; you’re just gonna get soaked.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Yeah,” she says, with a huff of amusement. “Ya sure you do?”

—

They come back inside, laughing and soaked.

It had worked okay, for a moment, but the rain was too heavy, and, just as she’d predicted, it had reached a tipping point and the gathered water had all come crashing down on them.

“Maybe if the rain was lighter,” she’d said, trying to cheer him up. He’d looked so disappointed.

“Yeah, maybe,” he’d answered. “But it’s not.”

Now, inside the building’s lobby, he tries to wrap up the saran wrap they’d used, but ends up getting water all over the floor.

“You’re making a mess!” she laughs, and goes to find paper towels. When she returns, he’s thrown the used saran wrap away and is staring out the glass doors at the rain with a look of deep concentration.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks, handing him a paper towel. She drops another one on the floor and starts moving it around with her foot, soaking up the water.

He crouches down and starts sopping up the water as well. His towel quickly fills, and he reaches up for another as she drops a new one for herself as well.

“Ah, just trying to make this work.”

“I don’t think you’re cut out to be an inventor,” she teases.

“Yeah, doesn’t seem like. I just wanted…”

“What?”

“Well, not that it really matters now,” he says, gesturing to their dripping selves, and she laughs. “I just wanted to find a way you wouldn’t be soaked.”

She’s touched. But…

“Don’t you have an umbrella?

He looks at her, eyes wide. “Oh!”

—

They share his umbrella, and together, they face the storm.

The Storm Came Quicker Than Expected

Jane picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hi, Alice here.”

“Hi” Jane waited.

“I am so sorry about Uncle Ted’s death.  I miss him already.”

Jane sighed, “Yeah, it’s been a long, hard row” Jane took a deep breath holding back tears.  She had wept every day and night since Ted died. “It’s been hard on me without him being here.  It just doesn’t feel right.  I miss his onery self. He could be rough sometimes.” Jane said with sarcasm in her voice.

“What I called for, is to warn you of Carol.  I spoke to her this morning.  She is talking about her dad’s death and what he promised her.”

“He promised her?  What did he promise her?”

“I’m not certain, but it sounded like a lot of money and stuff.  I don’t know much.  She is also talking to her brother and sisters.  I think they are planning something.”

“I know Ted had spoken to Carol, but not since his last stroke.  I don’t think she could have called him in the nursing home.  The nurses didn’t say anything to me.”

“Well, I just wanted to warn you.  I have to go.  Bye, love you.” 

“Bye Alice.  Thank you for telling me.”

Jane sat down on the sofa. She lifted her eyes to their wedding photo on the wall.  “Ted, what would you promise?  Everything had been settled in the will.  There is nothing for your kids.  They never came around or talked to you, and they never wanted anything to do with me.”  She spoke out loud to no one there.   “It looks as though Carol is brewing up some kind of storm. I had best call your attorney.  I think his name is William.  Ah, yes, it is.”

The very next day, the storm came quicker than expected.  A thick certified package arrived.  After signing, Jane went to the dining room table to open it.  After reading most of the pages, she called William, Ted’s attorney.

“William, I have received a scary package today from Ted’s oldest daughter.  She hired an attorney to sue me for money and things she says my husband owes her.  Can you help me?”

“Let me check, what is his name?”

“Ted Arthur Smith.”

“I found the will.  Do you have the death certificate?”

“Yes.”

“When can you bring it and the package you received?”

“Today.”

“Ok, can you be here by 4 pm?

“Yes.”

Jane delivered the package and death certificate to Williams’ office long before 4 pm.

William came out of his office, ushering Jane in.  William carefully read the demand letters.  “This didn’t take long for them to circle like vultures.” William waved his hand over the letters.  “There might be a bit of a problem if they had filed in court, but they still can’t win.  The will is airtight.”

Jane sat quiet.  “Do you think they will ever take everything they ask for?  There isn’t as much in our bank account as they think.  The house and business, if sold, won’t cover as much as they want.  Will I loose everything I have worked for?”  Jane started to tear up.

“No, the chances a judge would rule in their favor is slim to none.  The will was drawn years ago.  Ted was of sound mind then.”

William turned to Jane. “Jane, we will ride out this storm, and we will win.”

The response from Carol’s attorney was swift.  She demanded settlement on behalf of her clients. An arbitrator was assigned to the case.

Jane and her attorney sat in the marbled hallway of the courthouse.  Her husband of thirty years had died, leaving her with an iron-clad will.  She hoped this was the final action of this storm.

Across the hall from her sat her husband’s six adult children and their spouses. Each of the family members gave Jane hard, hateful looks.  They had united in what they believed would be the destruction of Ted’s empire.

Once the courtroom door opened, the family and their spouses filed their way in.  The plaintiffs sat in the front row seats, their spouses behind them.  Carol and her attorney sat at the plaintiff’s table.

Everyone turned to look at Jane and her attorney when they entered the courtroom.  Jane followed William, the attorney, to the defendant’s table.

The arbitrator came in.  After calling the meeting to order, the arbitrator called Carol’s attorney to speak.

“We come to rightfully claim compensation from the estate of Ted Arthur Smith, in the amount of one million dollars, plus family heirlooms held by his widow.  The attorney droned on and on, relating the amounts of money and which items each son or daughter would be receiving.

When each son or daughter’s name was mentioned, they would turn and look at Jane with such triumph and hate, as if they wanted her also dead.

Jane and her attorney sat quietly while the family’s attorney spoke.  Finally, she was done and sat down. Carol had a smug look of triumph as she smiled at Jane.

The arbitrator called on William.  William simply read the will out loud.  Each of Ted’s children were named. Each was excluded from receiving anything from the estate.  Further, if anyone contested the will, they were immediately removed from being able to sue or claim compensation from the estate.

Then the arbitrator announced.  “In the case of the Smith family, et al, I rule in favor the Jane Smith, widow of Ted Arthur Smith.  Anyone contesting this will gives up all legal rights to sue or receive payment or compensation from his estate.  Everything remains in the hands of his widow.

Carol stood up and shouted. “Ted owes us!  He didn’t pay child support.  He didn’t do anything for us! By God! He will pay now!”

The arbitrator replied. “No, you will be in contempt of court. This case is finished.”   

Flash Flood

The hills were alive with the sound of thunder.

After 3 weeks of fires raging far up the box canyon where our property sits, much of the flora holding the hillsides together had been reduced to ash. The juniper trees, the scrub-oaks, the sage brush and the fresh tumbleweeds all played a role in fighting erosion, slowing water run-off, and keeping the hillsides intact.

With a giant storm on the way, and the flora devastated, flash floods were a real possibility.

Other than the foundations of the houses themselves, everything on our property is dirt. Too much water could wear away at the foundations of the houses and cut divots into our hillsides. We could be scooping dirt out of the road for weeks and filling in trenches for months.

I had often coveted the properties closer to the creek, with their water access and superior gardening potential. I would have loved to have a creek in my backyard, to pan for gold, to grow tomatoes and hydrangeas close to the water, to wander up and down the wet rocks and let my dog run scamper in the water.

But instead, our property was far up on the hillside, and everything was dry as tinder. Only drought-loving plants could grow, and water had to be used carefully. Wildfires were a constant possibility.  

It was 3 PM and the rain wasn’t supposed to hit after 6 PM. Despite the thunder, there was still time to get ready for the storm and its aftermath.  

But suddenly, at 3:30 PM, just as we got started preparing the rain barrels and digging berms to direct the water harmlessly toward our river of rocks (a particularly nice-looking drainage ditch full of rocks that we’ve been working on for years), the storm came quicker than expected.

The skies opened like a toddler turning on a faucet and water- glorious, heavy, and dangerous, spilled down. My husband and I rushed to finish digging the berms, wearing our now-sodden rain-jackets. The rain barrels, empty just moments before, seemed to overflow instantly. Water spilled over the tops in ominous sheets as we raced to hook up the hoses that would divert the water.

Soaked to the bone, rain dripping down our hair and noses, we laughed at ourselves, frantic with busy-ness, and yet joyful to be working together beneath the mountains of rain. Soon our outside work would be done, and we would be able to huddle inside by the fire and curl up in fresh clean clothes.  

The rain stopped as suddenly as it had started. A blue sliver of sky appeared and sunlight streamed over the glistening earth.

And yet the thunder was only growing louder. Louder, perhaps, than thunder should be.

We looked up the road and followed the lines of trees down by the creek- trees that at first appeared to be swaying in the wind until we realized it was something much more serious. A wave of trees far below us toppled and shook. The sound grew and grew to the volume of a freight train, and then we knew- it was a flash flood.

We moved to higher ground and watched the effects of the flash flood safely from a boulder. We could actually hear the boulders as they rolled down the creek and we knew that the houses nearest the creek were having their backyards and porches swept away. Later we would walk down to a safe distance and see the churning chocolate-brown water as it carried away weeds, branches, trees, boulders, and lawn furniture, and built new pathways for itself. The landscape of the creek was now changed forever.    

For the first time, I was grateful our home stood on the high ground. It was high desert, sure, but at least we were at little risk of flooding.

Destination

We hadn't had any rain for at least a week. This Saturday we woke up to another beautiful, sunny morning. There was not a cloud in the sky. We walked out to our deck and sat on our swing, enjoying our coffee and the fresh air. I turned to look at Rob and said, “Why don’t we get a picnic lunch together, get in the car, and just go?” Smiling broadly he asked, “Since when are you so spontaneous?” Shrugging, I said, “Since I woke up next to you on a perfectly sunny day.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, kissed my forehead, and responded, “I think that is an excellent idea.” 

 Starting out, we decided to go on a road we had never traveled on before. After a couple miles, we came to a crossroads. Rob looked left and then right trying to decide which way to go. “Why don’t we just go right?” I suggested. Instead, he chose to go left. Although I was confused as to why he chose to go in the opposite direction, I let it go. I loved watching the countryside roll by, and that helped keep me focused on the moment. 

I leaned my head back to enjoy the fresh air coming in the open windows. After a few minutes, though, Rob chose to turn the radio on and turned it up so he could hear it over the wind. I said, “Oh, do we really need that on? I was just enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.” Clearing his throat, he responded, “I thought you had drifted off so I turned some tunes on.” He reached to turn the radio off, but I could tell he wasn’t too happy about it. 

We sat in silence for about 15 miles down the road when all of a sudden I felt his hand take mine, intertwining our fingers. It eased some of the tension that had started building, and I was able to relax again. That was until we came upon another crossroads five miles further down the road. He began to go straight when, without thinking, I said, petulantly, “I think we should turn right this time.” Taking his hand from mine, he braked hard, looked incredulously at me, and demanded, “First the radio and now this? Who’s driving?” I was taken aback by this and said, “You chose the direction the last time.” Shaking his head in disbelief, he grabbed the steering wheel, turned it a little harder than necessary, and took off to the right. Crossing my arms, I looked in the side mirror as dirt and gravel sprayed up, feeling the day going in a direction I hadn’t counted on. Also, there were clouds gathering here and there, seemingly reflecting our own change in weather. 

The scenery just blurred by as we continued on. A little further down the road, there was a roadside stand with what looked like fruits and vegetables. Without saying a word, Rob pulled over and got out of the car. Wondering what he was doing, I got out and walked over to ask him. Back stiffening for a moment, he turned and said, “If it’s alright with you, I wanted to get a couple more things to add to our picnic.” Irritated by the turn of events, I said, “Fine. Do what you want.” Turning, I spotted a bin of tomatoes and thought a tomato would taste great with our sandwiches. I bought one and also got a watermelon. Without finding out what Rob bought, I made my purchase and then walked over to the car to wait. Placing my bag in the back seat of the car, Rob walked up behind me and wrapped his arm around to give me a bouquet of wildflowers. Surprised, I said, “Oh, Rob. They’re beautiful!” He smiled and then saw the bag I had placed in the back seat. “What did you get?” I pulled the bag out to show him and saw his smile disappear. I was confused until he said, “How in the world are we going to eat that big watermelon and, for that matter, the tomato? I didn’t pack a knife. Did you?” Comprehension taking hold, all I could say was, “Oh. I didn’t think of that.” Rob, rolling his eyes, huffed, “The old man running the stand gave me directions to a park a mile down the road. I’m hungry. Just get in the car and let’s go.” 

Finally getting to our unplanned destination, Rob parked the car. We had just begun to unpack the food when I felt a drop on my head. Looking up, I said, “Oh no.” So engrossed in our brooding, we hadn’t noticed how dark the sky had gotten. Rob snapped, “Now what?!” He saw me looking up, then understood. “Oh, that’s just great! Don’t just stand there! Start getting this all back in the car!” Running to the car, I heard Rob directly behind me, running to his side of the car. The storm came quicker than expected. We didn’t quite make it inside before the heavens opened up and drenched us. 

Slamming the doors closed, we stubbornly just sat there watching the storm surround us, chaotic as our thoughts and feelings. After a few minutes, Rob reached back and grabbed a backpack. Unzipping it, he pulled out a towel for each of us. Seeing the surprise on my face, he explained, “I brought them and our hoodies in case it would rain.” We dried off in silence. After he helped me get my hoodie over my head, he got his on and stared straight ahead. He turned towards me and took both my hands. Simultaneously, we said, “I’m sorry.” Laughing, I said, “Why don’t we eat a sandwich and go home for coffee?” He lightly kissed me and said, “Now that sounds like a great idea.” As quickly as the storm came, it passed, washing away all except what truly mattered.

Rescue Mission by Kim Sullivan:  Team Otter

In just under the wire...at 1,000 words 

The mess deck was full of chatter filling Kay’s head, as she sat hugging her tray and coffee mug with one hand, while trying to eat with the other.  The non-slip table mat, ineffective as the Coast Guard Cutter Munro rolled port to starboard, slapping the port holes with green water.  She looked up at her friend Mark sitting across from her, and said, “The storm came quicker than expected.”  He flashed her with a nervous smile, glancing out at the waves of water. “Yeah, it did.  How was your watch” he asked.  “Oh!”  Kay said, “Like a mix of fear and excitement riding a roller coaster.”  She replied.  “While up on the lookout, I watched white knuckled, gripping the rail as the bow of the ship submerged under the rolling sea swells, right up the gun mount.  I was frantic, holding my breath, yet it was so cool as the bow popped back out flinging waves of water up and over my head.”

The ships’ engines thrust as the props enter in and out of the terrifying waves and the ship surges forward.  The sound of breaking dishes has everyone’s head turning to see the crew members on the floor with their tray of broken dirty dishes.   “Dinners done!”  The cook hollers out from the kitchen.  “It’s getting too rough.  Get your trays to the galley and help clean up this mess.”  As we cleaned up, the captain’s voice came over the PA system.  “Attention, all hands-on deck!  This is not a drill; this is not a drill.  We just received a May Day distress call from Fishing Vessel Sea Dancer.  She was swamped by a wave and capsized.  Crew members have abandoned the ship and deployed their life raft into rough seas up in False Pass.  All hands suit up and report to your flight deck stations.” 

Kay dressed quickly and made her way up the ladder leading to the flight deck. The flight crew is already standing by to depart for the search and rescue mission.  Rain is pelting her face, hard, wet and cold.  A weight of panic sets inside her chest as she looks out at the huge swells around the ship.  “Attach this to your floatation suit.”   The first-class boatswain mate shouts over the helicopter’s engine and thumping wop wop of the rotors.  His voice bellows through the rain and crashing waves.  “Hook up the lifeline immediately once you’re in your basket.  Watch carefully for my signals.  There is no room for error.  We must be in sync to release the helicopter at just the right moment that the ship levels out between rolls.”

Kay bends forward to avoid the helicopter’s propeller and slides into her basket hanging off the side of the ship.  With shaking hands, she locks her lifeline onto the clip.  For a moment she hears nothing but the fear of her heart thumping in her chest.  She looks down into angry sea below; it throws its fists of rage against the ship’s hull.  At just nineteen, she is trained to do a job that not many adults would ever want to do.  She is scared but knows that other lives depend on her to stay focused and do her job. 

All hands are in position, and the pilot gives the thumbs up that he is ready.  The boatswain listens in his headset for the captain who gives orders to the bridge watch to steady the ship.  At exactly the right moment he gives the command, “clear to take off.”   The Boatswain yells out and signals, “clear to take off.”  Kay and her crew mates crawl out of their baskets, scurry low and release the ratchets straps that hold the helicopter down.  Holding tight to the strap ends, they make their way back into the baskets as the helicopter lifts with the ship in mid swell of a wave and disappears into the dark grey sky.  The boatswain yells, “All clear.”   Kay and crew climb out and hurry back inside to warmth and safety.

No time for rest though, the crew must prepare the gear and stay alert for when the helicopter returns.  Kay and her crewmates head down to the mess deck for coffee, unzip and slide half out of suits and wait. 

The boatswain comes in and grabs a coffee and says, “We have all been trained what to do if our ship was to ever go down.  And we have all trained for this exact moment when we must rescue others.”  He continued, “The weather and the sea can be so unpredictable, and I know you must have felt scared, and I just want to say that you did exactly what was expected of you.”   

The captain’s voice booms throughout the ship, “The helicopter has lifted the crew survivors and is on its way back.”  Hurrying to make their way back up to the flight deck, the weather is beginning to break as quickly as it came in.  Kay slides back down into her basket, watching the sea swells rolling below.  She looks over at her crew mate who points to his ears, hearing it before the helicopter can be seen.  At the ready, the helicopter hovers a distance above the flight deck and waits for the ship to level off.  The command is given and the crew swiftly makes way, hooking the straps and synching up the ratchet straps tight then making their quickly back into the baskets.

The engine is cut and the propellers come to a stop.  The crew cheers loudly and gathers around the helicopter waiting for the door to open.  Five survivors are wrapped in blankets, cold, exhausted and thankful to be alive. 

Kay looked up to the sky and let out the breath she’d been holding. Thankful and proud to have been a part of a mission with a happy ending.  Not only did she assist in a rescue but realized she wasn’t just a kid anymore.  She had an important job.