# Waiting On The Storm - Thursday Writing Prompt

Author: LuMan
Tags: Drama, Family, Rat, Thursday Writing Prompt

This weeks word was: Water.
This 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.
Anyway, please enjoy.
Critiques are always welcome.
I 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/
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy.

Waiting On The Storm

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sometimes there just wasn't any understanding between people.&nbsp; Most folks didn't make any attempt to try.&nbsp; Jenks knew this far better than anyone.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; His naked tail wrapped around the tubed legs as he stared off into the dark distance.&nbsp; "I fear no darkness," he grumbled to himself. &nbsp;His round ears went flat as he took a long draw from the bottle.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed just impossible to him.&nbsp; He lived in that beach house all of his life.&nbsp; He remembered searching for sea shells along the shore and making little necklaces to sell to tourists.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Heh, got an eyeful then," he smirked, "and nearly a black eye from her striped boyfriend."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Towards the waters where he proposed so long ago to Suzie, that beautiful rat who smelled so nice through the years.&nbsp; "That little lady ensured that I would always remember her," he said, a hitch encroaching on his voice.&nbsp; His bald tail twitched in pain at the memory as his old ears folded down.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's just a little water," he said with a smile on his muzzle.&nbsp; The darkness was coming.&nbsp; According to the weatherman, "Hurricane Henry" would be there in six hours.&nbsp; The wind had already picked up, the occasional gust blustering against the sides of the house.&nbsp; The white washed flat boards and windows could take it.&nbsp; Heck, Jenks didn't even bother boarding them up this time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't know if you're as strong as they claim," he said, "Class five and all of that.&nbsp; I think you're just a bunch of water and wind."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His phone rang for a while, then fell silent.&nbsp; Jenks sat in his chair and ignored it while it did, sipping his beer, letting his life slowly flash before his eyes.&nbsp; "No one understands," he growled, a snarl forming on his muzzle, "and no one gives a damn.&nbsp; You hear that?!&nbsp; I hope you are just as strong as they claim!&nbsp; I hope you come and blow me and this whole damn house away, you big ugly blow hard.&nbsp; Come on, I can take it!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His mind thought of the Styrofoam cooler he kept in his truck.&nbsp; _Should have filled it with beer and brought it out here._ He thought, staring into the distance.&nbsp; _Too late now, nothing will be open._

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Dad, what the hell are you doing?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His daughter Laura was a vision of white fur against the backdrop of green grass and Suzie's tree.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; It grew large, with fat leaves hanging over the old stone walk way.&nbsp; They danced in the wind now with the occasional gust that spoke of the promised violence that was hurricane Henry.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I ain't letting a bunch of wind and water scare me out of my home," he grumbled.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But this is more than wind, dad.&nbsp; It's a class five!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You can go," he said.&nbsp; "I'd prefer you to go.&nbsp; Go to Chase's.&nbsp; Take that no account husband of yours with you, and all those pups you never brought around for me to see."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She rolled her eyes, her ears flattening against her skull.&nbsp; "I can't take Jason, he's on deployment.&nbsp; The pups are in the truck dad.&nbsp; Come on!&nbsp; We ain't got time for this."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He smiled, his bald tail tip twitching a moment.&nbsp; "I got all the time in the world," he smirked.&nbsp; "Pull up a seat and join me.&nbsp; Shame all those little pups growing up alone and all that, but I'd love to have you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Dad, you got to get off your stubborn ass and come on," she said.&nbsp; "We don't have time."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stood from his seat.&nbsp; The world swayed a moment, shifting one way then the other.&nbsp; Up righting himself, his tail lashed to gain balance.&nbsp; "You never do!"&nbsp; He snapped.&nbsp; "When Suzie had cancer, you didn't have time to come see us but once.&nbsp; After the funeral, you didn't have time to come see me at all.&nbsp; Barely had time to call.&nbsp; My daughter so damn busy, that she couldn't even. Couldn't..." he threw the bottle against the house.&nbsp; It exploded, the sound getting lost in a wind gust.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm sorry," she said, shouting over the wind.&nbsp; "I should have come sooner, but I'm here now.&nbsp; You know what it's like to have pups.&nbsp; They get busy, they have school, projects, homework, ball games.&nbsp; You have work and church and PTA meetings and neighborhood watch, and just about everything rolls into each other.&nbsp; Before you know it, a year goes by and,"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ha," Jenks laughed.&nbsp; "Year.&nbsp; That tree behind you was a tiny sprout when you last visited.&nbsp; Your mom planted it you know.&nbsp; 'Give you something to give shade and comfort when I can't' she said.'"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Look dad, I'm sorry.&nbsp; But dying isn't going to prove anything."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You just don't get it.&nbsp; None of you ever did.&nbsp; I grew up on this beach.&nbsp; I was born in this damn house.&nbsp; Mostly because my own dad was too stoned to take mom to the hospital, heh.&nbsp; I sold necklaces to tourists; I was married here.&nbsp; Hell, I lived here all on my own my whole damn life."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Laura, walked over to him, and embraced him.&nbsp; "Please," she whispered to him, burying her muzzle in his ear. &nbsp;"Please don't die here."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I can't..." he huffed, burying his muzzle into her fur.&nbsp; The scent of coconut and hazel, her shampoo, mingled with her natural musk.&nbsp; It comforted him, reminding him of Suzie.&nbsp; Before she got so sick.&nbsp; "I can't abandon her," he whimpered.&nbsp; "You weren't here.&nbsp; None of you were when."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "When what," she asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "When I buried Suzie's ashes right there.&nbsp; At her tree.&nbsp; If I leave now, I'll be leaving her.&nbsp; She'll have no one."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Laura shoved him back at arm's length and slapped him across the muzzle once.&nbsp; Good and hard she slapped him.&nbsp; The heat came first before the sting.&nbsp; "Mom is dead," she snarled.&nbsp; "And I'm alive.&nbsp; Your grand pups are alive.&nbsp; Don't you dare die here when we need you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He didn't say anything for a minute, sniffling, rubbing his muzzle where she slapped him.&nbsp; "I'm not certain," he whispered, "that anyone needs an old fart like me."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Dad," she said, "I need you."&nbsp; Tears filled her eyes.&nbsp; "Please, I need you.&nbsp; Please don't do this."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A set of ears peaked around the corner.&nbsp; "You're coming, right grandpa?&nbsp; We need you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked at his daughter, a smile forming on his muzzle.&nbsp; "You manipulative son of a gun." He smirked.&nbsp; "You're an old salesman just like your pops."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Laura smiled, wrapping her tail around him.&nbsp; "Is that a yes?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked at her and nodded.&nbsp; Then looking at the tree, he said "Take care of the place Suzie till I get back."

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/7ejK62wm