Storm’s coming.
You can feel it in the air.
There’s a heaviness,
a sense of danger.
Looking out the window, you can see a blue sky
but there’s little doubt:
the storm is on its way.

The animals are spooked.
The cats are huddled in the tub
– which you know they hate.
The dogs are whimpering.
They sense it coming,
like they want to dig down deep
and hide til the bad weather’s gone
however long it takes.

You hope the kids are all right.
They’ve both got activities and overnight activities with friends.
They’re no doubt safer where they are.
Better they stay where they are
in case this remains a localized event.
“John?” The wife comes by. “Did you get the chocolates like I asked?”

You jump.
“I’m sorry, Honey! I haven’t been able to -“
“John.” She says, “You know how it is at times like this.
I get tense, and if I don’t get the support I need -“
“You’re absolutely right, Sweetheart. Let me go out right now and get you your chocolates.
Is there anything else I can get for you?”
She sucks her teeth in.
“Maybe some Midol?”
“You got it, Baby.”
She closes her eyes. “Please don’t call me Baby.”
“Of course not, Darling.”
“Or Darling.”
“Right you are!”

You hustle to get out of there before anything else happens.
You don’t want to set anything off unnecessarily.
You might have been able to disengage at this time.
Still, you don’t doubt that the storm is gonna be here tonight, eventually.