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Chapter 19
I stared blankly at the TV screen while Deb stared at me in disbelief. Kevin had let his voice trail off to nothing and now there was silence. "We could still make it home in time if we leave now," Stacie said breaking the silence and snapping Deb and I out of our dazes.
"No! That's taking too much of a chance. If the storm is destructive we could be caught in the middle of it with no shelter," I said convictedly.
"I agree with Meliss and Kev," Deb said. "We should stay here until the storm blows over."
"OK, I guess you're right," Stacie agreed. The guys had remained silent, letting the three of us work it out. Now we turned to them.
"OK guys, now what?" Deb asked taking the initiative. Brian and Kevin were the first to spring back to life. Being from Kentucky, which is very close to the mid-west, they knew about tornadoes and had most likely experienced a few themselves. Although this was a hurricane, many of the same precautions applied.
As Brian raced out of the room Kevin spoke to the rest of us. "AJ and Howie,
find as many flashlights as you can and put them in the game room. Nick and
girls, you get some food and drinks and put them in the game room too. Then
everyone change out of your suits and get back to the game room ASAP. It's
the only place in the house without windows."
******************1/2 an hour
later**********************
After gathering our assigned supplies and changing we reassembled in the
game room. Kevin had brought batteries and a radio, while Brian had retrieved
pillows and blankets. The game room lived up to its name. There was a pool
table, pinball machine, dartboard, and a big screen TV hooked up to every
video game system imaginable. In one corner there was a couch and a chair
clustered around a table.
By this time the storm had begun. The rain was slashing the sides of the
house, and the thunder and lightening were steadily getting closer. The wind
had also picked up even more and I could hear it howling.
No one really knew what to do. We all just stood around thinking. "Hey, anyone
up for a game of pool?" Nick questioned trying to bring us back to earth.
As he said this however, the lights flickered and went out.
"Now what?" questioned Stacie. "There's no lights."
Talk about stating the obvious.
"I could think of a few things," I heard AJ mutter. "Oof!" he cried as Deb,
at least I think it was her, elbowed him in the stomach. Since there were
no windows or power the room was pitch black. You couldn't even see shapes.
I began to grope my way around the room trying to find the flashlights I
knew were scattered on the pool table.
Kevin got there before I did however, and turned on a flashlight. He panned
it around the room looking at everybody. He motioned for us all to take
flashlights, then began to fiddle with the radio dials. None of the stations
would come in clearly. Finally he found a news station.
"…………(crackling sound)…………storm
began……(crackle)……won't end at least until
morning………" we heard before the radio crackled a final time
and we lost reception completely. Kevin sighed and turned off the radio.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass rang through the house. I jumped
and heard several startled gasps from the guys and suppressed screams from
Stacie and Deb.
"Wha……what…was……tha……that?" Stacie stammered.
"One of the windows probably shattered," answered AJ calmly.
"OK, so what now?" asked Nick, getting impatient. I wonder what he'd do without
electronics for a week.
"Well, you have a few choices," Kevin stated. "You can talk, eat, or sleep.
That's about it."
"I have an idea. Why don't we play a game?" suggested Howie.
"Good idea! How about 7 Minutes in Heaven?" AJ asked hopefully. I rolled
my eyes as Deb elbowed him again. I think AJ might be even worse than Nick.
At least Nick has video games and singing on his mind as well.
"Not exactly AJ. I was thinking something more like charades or 20 questions,"
Howie stated. He looked at the rest of us for approval.
"I vote for charades," I said knowing that could get interesting.
"How are we going to see each other?" questioned Brian.
"Well, we could line the flashlights up along the lip of the pool table angled
upwards. Then whoever is acting out the word will stand on the pool table,"
Howie explained.
"OK, sounds like a plan. Who else is in?" Brian asked looking around the
room. Everyone agreed to play. We divided up so that it would be couples
versus singles game.
Charades kept us amused for hours. Between Deb trying to act like an elephant
and Nick falling off the pool table (not too gracefully I might add), I expected
us all to die of laughter. By the time we finished the game and decided that
the couples had won, it was around 2am, and the storm was still raging outside.
Now we just sat around talking quietly. Brian, Deb, AJ, and I all lay down
next to one another. "Hey Meliss?" Deb whispered. "How did you know about
the storm?"
"I didn't," I replied. "I just had this feeling in the pit of my stomach
that something was going to happen."
"How did you know it would be a bad something?"
"That little voice in my head told me," I said seriously. I meant my conscience
or whatever that is, but of course she interpreted it differently.
"So, the little voices in your head are talking to you again?" Deb questioned
loudly. Brian heard this and laughed.
"You have voices too?" AJ asked sounding surprised.
Then he cracked up. Deb and I joined in the laughter.
"Hey, I haven't heard from Stacie in a while," I said. I was used to her
always bugging me about something.
Deb giggled as AJ said, "Nick was keeping her busy on the couch until a few
minutes ago. I think they both fell asleep." I sat up and looked at the couch
across from me. Sure enough, there were Stacie and Nick both fast asleep.
I also noticed that Howie had crashed on the chair and Kevin was snoring
loudly on top of the pile of pillows and blankets.
I smiled as I lay back down between AJ and Brian. "Sleep doesn't sound so
bad right now," came Deb's voice from the other side of AJ.
"Yeah," Brian and I agreed. Suddenly I was blinded by light.
"AJ! Get that out of my face!" I hissed.
"Oops! Sorry Shorty!" he whispered and began fiddling with the flashlight
again. Finally he got it balanced so that it was standing on end with the
light shining on the ceiling.
"What are you doing?" I asked curiously as AJ positioned other flashlights
in the same manner. As an answer he began making shadow puppets! "Why are
you making shadow puppets?"
"Well, you're all going to sleep, and I'm not tired. I have to keep myself
amused somehow!" I gave him an amused look. "I like puppets!" he said in
a feeble attempt to defend himself. I guess he doesn't like to lose that
bad boy image.
I watched the ceiling as he proceeded to make two ducks and act out a scene.
I giggled as the ducks began to fight and then attack each other. AJ heard
my stifled giggles and the "ducks" turned and began to tickle me. I was trying
so hard not to laugh and wake Deb and Brian that tears were running down
my face.
"Stop AJ!" I hissed. Now I was laughing, but I had completely skipped the
audible phase. I was laughing silently and so hard that I barely had time
to breathe.
"Why should I?" he asked. I couldn't answer, so instead I tried to twist
away.
"Ow!" I gasped as I hit my head on the pool table. Now AJ finally stopped.
I just lay there trying to catch my breath.
"Hey! You OK?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah," I said getting up and crawling back by Brian, who was still asleep
as well as Deb. Actually my head was throbbing. "I'm gonna go to sleep now.
I'm tired."
"You're sure you're OK?" he asked again.
"Positive," I insisted.
"OK," he said reluctantly. He kissed the top of my head and then lay down
between Deb and I. "Night Shorty."
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