He sighed pulling the bill of his cap farther down over his face. It was disappointing, to go work on the day of his wife’s birthday, but then again he really had no choice. He glanced side ways out at the rain, circumstances had changed, making the fact that this was his day off, obsolete. They’d been just about to sit down to dinner when suddenly the phone rang and his boss told him that there was a rather urgent announcement he had to make in the newsroom. So heading out the door he said he’d be back, and that she should watch the news. He hesitated glancing at the swirling rain then without farther thought he stepped out into the morning air.
“Good Morning Mr. Scotts.”
“Morning.” The man replied in a monotone voice. Then without hardly glancing at the bellhop, he jogged down the street staying under the over hangs to keep out of the rain. Realizing that he was rather late to his work and shouldn’t spend any more time hanging around thinking, he pulled his overly large, olive green trench coat tighter around him and hop-stepped into the rain.
The water pelts beat down on him stringing his skin leaving large red welts, making it hard for him to see through the torrents. After the first minute of walking he was soaked to the bone. Ten minutes later, and only two blocks farther he was practically swimming in the thick waters. As he walked he passed rows of boarded up shops abandoned by owners who has decided to leave, because of the gathering rain. The water, having become deep enough to boat in, swirled around him in muddy torrents. People near him looked at him like he was crazy for braving the streets on foot, none of the onlookers were walking in the streets, instead having abandoned their cars, they rode in small boats using them to run the last errands they needed, or get to jobs here and there. He wasn’t able to zone out, because most the people weren’t able to control their small boat in the moving waters and he had to dodge if one started to come his way, finally after going through what used to be only a challenge in avoiding people, and now was a maze of obstacles. He got to the news casting station. Jumping in he started to take off his muddy, soaked coat and hat.
“Morning, John.” Sarah said glancing at him. Her normally painted face, pail and streaked from the water, her fancy nails chipped from work. Her fancy clothes hung roughly around her showing she’d had as much trouble getting there as he had.
“Good Morning… It’s a battlefield to get here…” he grumbled as he headed to the casting room not bothering to look at her as she gave a nod in agreement. John sat in his seat drying off with a brown coarse towel that one of the crew men had supplied him with.
“John!” said one person, “We’ll be on in…3…2…1!” John sat the towel down as the lights flared on all around him. The red ‘Airing’ sign sprung to life. Clasping his hands, he looked solemnly at the camera,
“As most of you know, it has been raining here in Boston. Well in all of London, for the last three months. I’ve seen people using all sorts of ways, from boats to rafts, getting around doing things they needed.” He paused for a second “We have no protocol for escaping this weather.” He swallowed and someone coughed in the background, “We advise you to try and leave your homes. Get to higher ground and if someone else you see around you, is in trouble please help them. Spain and Scotland have both agreed to let us cross their borders and stay there until the flood and rain have ended.” He stood up, “Good luck. And good bye.”
He stood there till the airing light faded and nodded to his friends, then without a word he grabbed his coat and stepped into the rain.
Manny sighed some glancing at her two kids. Doing as John had asked, she’d been watching his news report. Checking as everyone else had been, to see what it was that they should be doing about the rain, the news he had reported was not something that was in any way good. Hearing that they had no advice except to run and leave their homes was not comforting, but it was definitely better to show her support to John and do what he’d asked everyone. So with a sigh she stood up holding her hands out to her kids
“Well, kids, grab your stuff, dad will be home soon. Then we’re boating to Spain. How does that sound?”
She smiled some hearing them cheer in their innocence then with a small shrug she turned heading upstairs to pack, the two kids trailing behind her.
Kiaimageofthewasteland Community Member 
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