{"sf1_id":1984776,"sf2_id":"7ejK62wm","title":"Waiting On The Storm - Thursday Writing Prompt","author":"LuMan","words":1311,"posted_at":"2023-05-11T15:04:00.000Z","tags":["Drama","Family","Rat","Thursday Writing Prompt"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1984776-waiting-on-the-storm-thursday-writing-prompt","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/7ejK62wm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/82/b8/82b8a6ca-4b54-480e-b60a-88acff2c97ad","description":"This weeks word was: Water.\nThis short story came about because I was thinking of those crazy people waiting out hurricanes. I didn't think it would take the turn it did. I thought it was going to end up slightly humorous, lol.\nAnyway, please enjoy.\nCritiques are always welcome.\nI also write a story blog about a guy living with a werewolf. Check that out too if you think that's something you'd enjoy. https://lifewithawerewolf.blogspot.com/\nThank you, and I hope you enjoy.","content":"Waiting On The Storm\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sometimes there just wasn't any understanding between people.\u0026nbsp; Most folks didn't make any attempt to try.\u0026nbsp; Jenks knew this far better than anyone.\u0026nbsp; He popped the cap off a bottle of beer and sat in his ancient lawn chair with the torn and faded plastic straps that somehow still held his thin frame.\u0026nbsp; His naked tail wrapped around the tubed legs as he stared off into the dark distance.\u0026nbsp; \"I fear no darkness,\" he grumbled to himself. \u0026nbsp;His round ears went flat as he took a long draw from the bottle.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It seemed just impossible to him.\u0026nbsp; He lived in that beach house all of his life.\u0026nbsp; He remembered searching for sea shells along the shore and making little necklaces to sell to tourists.\u0026nbsp; As he stared towards the ancient highway that spilled out into the near white sand, he saw a younger version of himself, not quite an adult but not quite a pup, talking to that skunk lady.\u0026nbsp; Her bosom blossoming out of her dress as she leaned forward to look at the 'precious' jewelry in his paw held down so he could get a better look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Heh, got an eyeful then,\" he smirked, \"and nearly a black eye from her striped boyfriend.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His mind returned to the beach front where in the winter he learned to drive on a beach buggy when he was no older than twelve.\u0026nbsp; Towards the waters where he proposed so long ago to Suzie, that beautiful rat who smelled so nice through the years.\u0026nbsp; \"That little lady ensured that I would always remember her,\" he said, a hitch encroaching on his voice.\u0026nbsp; His bald tail twitched in pain at the memory as his old ears folded down.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It's just a little water,\" he said with a smile on his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; The darkness was coming.\u0026nbsp; According to the weatherman, \"Hurricane Henry\" would be there in six hours.\u0026nbsp; The wind had already picked up, the occasional gust blustering against the sides of the house.\u0026nbsp; The white washed flat boards and windows could take it.\u0026nbsp; Heck, Jenks didn't even bother boarding them up this time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I don't know if you're as strong as they claim,\" he said, \"Class five and all of that.\u0026nbsp; I think you're just a bunch of water and wind.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His phone rang for a while, then fell silent.\u0026nbsp; Jenks sat in his chair and ignored it while it did, sipping his beer, letting his life slowly flash before his eyes.\u0026nbsp; \"No one understands,\" he growled, a snarl forming on his muzzle, \"and no one gives a damn.\u0026nbsp; You hear that?!\u0026nbsp; I hope you are just as strong as they claim!\u0026nbsp; I hope you come and blow me and this whole damn house away, you big ugly blow hard.\u0026nbsp; Come on, I can take it!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His mind thought of the Styrofoam cooler he kept in his truck.\u0026nbsp; _Should have filled it with beer and brought it out here._ He thought, staring into the distance.\u0026nbsp; _Too late now, nothing will be open._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Dad, what the hell are you doing?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His daughter Laura was a vision of white fur against the backdrop of green grass and Suzie's tree.\u0026nbsp; A near spitting image of her mother, right down to the birthmark in her ear, standing where she stood almost a decade ago next to the tree that Suzie had planted the year the cancer got her.\u0026nbsp; It grew large, with fat leaves hanging over the old stone walk way.\u0026nbsp; They danced in the wind now with the occasional gust that spoke of the promised violence that was hurricane Henry.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I ain't letting a bunch of wind and water scare me out of my home,\" he grumbled.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"But this is more than wind, dad.\u0026nbsp; It's a class five!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You can go,\" he said.\u0026nbsp; \"I'd prefer you to go.\u0026nbsp; Go to Chase's.\u0026nbsp; Take that no account husband of yours with you, and all those pups you never brought around for me to see.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She rolled her eyes, her ears flattening against her skull.\u0026nbsp; \"I can't take Jason, he's on deployment.\u0026nbsp; The pups are in the truck dad.\u0026nbsp; Come on!\u0026nbsp; We ain't got time for this.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He smiled, his bald tail tip twitching a moment.\u0026nbsp; \"I got all the time in the world,\" he smirked.\u0026nbsp; \"Pull up a seat and join me.\u0026nbsp; Shame all those little pups growing up alone and all that, but I'd love to have you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Dad, you got to get off your stubborn ass and come on,\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"We don't have time.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He stood from his seat.\u0026nbsp; The world swayed a moment, shifting one way then the other.\u0026nbsp; Up righting himself, his tail lashed to gain balance.\u0026nbsp; \"You never do!\"\u0026nbsp; He snapped.\u0026nbsp; \"When Suzie had cancer, you didn't have time to come see us but once.\u0026nbsp; After the funeral, you didn't have time to come see me at all.\u0026nbsp; Barely had time to call.\u0026nbsp; My daughter so damn busy, that she couldn't even. Couldn't...\" he threw the bottle against the house.\u0026nbsp; It exploded, the sound getting lost in a wind gust.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm sorry,\" she said, shouting over the wind.\u0026nbsp; \"I should have come sooner, but I'm here now.\u0026nbsp; You know what it's like to have pups.\u0026nbsp; They get busy, they have school, projects, homework, ball games.\u0026nbsp; You have work and church and PTA meetings and neighborhood watch, and just about everything rolls into each other.\u0026nbsp; Before you know it, a year goes by and,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Ha,\" Jenks laughed.\u0026nbsp; \"Year.\u0026nbsp; That tree behind you was a tiny sprout when you last visited.\u0026nbsp; Your mom planted it you know.\u0026nbsp; 'Give you something to give shade and comfort when I can't' she said.'\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Look dad, I'm sorry.\u0026nbsp; But dying isn't going to prove anything.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You just don't get it.\u0026nbsp; None of you ever did.\u0026nbsp; I grew up on this beach.\u0026nbsp; I was born in this damn house.\u0026nbsp; Mostly because my own dad was too stoned to take mom to the hospital, heh.\u0026nbsp; I sold necklaces to tourists; I was married here.\u0026nbsp; Hell, I lived here all on my own my whole damn life.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Laura, walked over to him, and embraced him.\u0026nbsp; \"Please,\" she whispered to him, burying her muzzle in his ear. \u0026nbsp;\"Please don't die here.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I can't...\" he huffed, burying his muzzle into her fur.\u0026nbsp; The scent of coconut and hazel, her shampoo, mingled with her natural musk.\u0026nbsp; It comforted him, reminding him of Suzie.\u0026nbsp; Before she got so sick.\u0026nbsp; \"I can't abandon her,\" he whimpered.\u0026nbsp; \"You weren't here.\u0026nbsp; None of you were when.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"When what,\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"When I buried Suzie's ashes right there.\u0026nbsp; At her tree.\u0026nbsp; If I leave now, I'll be leaving her.\u0026nbsp; She'll have no one.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Laura shoved him back at arm's length and slapped him across the muzzle once.\u0026nbsp; Good and hard she slapped him.\u0026nbsp; The heat came first before the sting.\u0026nbsp; \"Mom is dead,\" she snarled.\u0026nbsp; \"And I'm alive.\u0026nbsp; Your grand pups are alive.\u0026nbsp; Don't you dare die here when we need you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He didn't say anything for a minute, sniffling, rubbing his muzzle where she slapped him.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm not certain,\" he whispered, \"that anyone needs an old fart like me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Dad,\" she said, \"I need you.\"\u0026nbsp; Tears filled her eyes.\u0026nbsp; \"Please, I need you.\u0026nbsp; Please don't do this.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A set of ears peaked around the corner.\u0026nbsp; \"You're coming, right grandpa?\u0026nbsp; We need you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He looked at his daughter, a smile forming on his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; \"You manipulative son of a gun.\" He smirked.\u0026nbsp; \"You're an old salesman just like your pops.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Laura smiled, wrapping her tail around him.\u0026nbsp; \"Is that a yes?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He looked at her and nodded.\u0026nbsp; Then looking at the tree, he said \"Take care of the place Suzie till I get back.\"\n\n  \n  \n\n"}