Page 144 of Hell Hath No Fury
“Can you tell us what’s going on, Mr. Mejia?” I asked as the others gathered around me.
He shook his head, beads of sweat rolling off his forehead and dripping on the ground. “Just get comfortable, Ashe. All of you. It’s not important right now what’s going on, just that you stay out of the way and let us get things in order.”
“In order for what?”
“In order for whatever may come,” he replied cryptically, and then he was gone, meeting Dr. Ruby at the other end of the room where he worked an old TV set on a rolling stand out of the closet. He plugged it in then flipped through the basic cable channels as we all made our way toward the cots. Monica and I took up two cots closest to the window even though it was in the process of being boarded up. Just as Dr. McCormick was putting the last board up, I caught her face, her eyes… She was freaked out, scared. Her eyes were wide, disoriented, and she took deep, steadying breaths. She caught me looking at her, forced a smile, then put the board over the window, effectively cutting out all natural light from the gymnasium.
I looked back over toward the TV across the room as I positioned my pillow and blanket on the cot, my hygiene items beneath the pillow, and my book on top. Dr. Ruby and Mr. Mejia, along with Mrs. Keane now, stood in a half circle around the TV. I couldn’t see the screen, but I picked up bits and pieces of what the newscaster was saying.
… again, be advised, for those in the Tampa Bay Area … riots currently happening in Sarasota, Downtown Tampa … Temple Terrace and … as well as other cities across the state and states across … country … stemming from whistle-blower Dylan Correia and the information … top secret … marijuana used as a method of predicting … crimes. Much of the violence spreading like wildfire … because of last month’s gay pride shooting in Orlando … forty-eight dead and one hundred … andthe top-secret organization as well as the federal … knowledge of the massacre and their unwillingness to stop it. There have been many confirmations from… Stan Gross is live on the ground in… Stan, what are you seeing…
Dr. Ruby’s voice drowned out the TV. “I can’t stay here! We live outside Sarasota. My wife is home with the kids. What if this shit spreads down that way?”
Mr. Mejia and Mrs. Keane nodded.
Mr. Mejia added, “We’re in Brandon. I’m worried about the roads. Are we even gonna be able to get home if we wait this out?”
Mrs. Keane looked toward us for a moment then leaned in, whispering something I couldn’t pick up. The others looked at us then too, and I knew then that she had said something about us.
Mr. Malcolm, Mr. Garrity, and Dr. McCormick entered the gymnasium then, sunlight flooding in for the briefest of moments before the door shut it back out. I didn’t know then that it would be a few days before we’d see natural sunlight again. Had I known, I would’ve embraced it a little more. It’s like water, food, or air, as you don’t realize how much you actually need it until you go without.
When the three of them approached the others by the TV, Mr. Malcolm asked, “What are they saying?”
Mr. Mejia shook his head. “It’s not good, man.” His eyes shot toward us as he leaned in and whispered something indiscernible to the others.
Mr. Malcolm nodded, eyed us solemnly, then muttered something back.
“Listen, listen,” Dr. McCormick said at normal volume. “There is no need to panic. Remember, we went through this less than a year ago and a year before that and a year before that.” She motioned toward Dr. Ruby. “Josh, you and Harold can goahead and get home.” Harold Mejia looked very pleased to have been mentioned. Dr. Ruby too.
“Mr. Garrity, I don’t believe there is any rioting in Anna Maria. Not as far as I know. Plus, it seems far enough away.”
Mr. Garrity looked toward his worn, wing tipped shoes as he ran a hand through his strawberry blond hair. “No, there isn’t … yet. I’d really like to get home, though, Kathleen. I mean, it shouldn’t last for more than a few hours. But I haven’t boarded up or anything.”
“Neither have I!” Mrs. Keane called out, putting a wrinkled hand into the air.
“Debbie, if you leave,” she pointed toward Mr. Garrity, “and Greg leaves,” toward the others, “and Josh and Harold leave, then that’s just me and Malcolm looking after all these kids.”
Mr. Malcolm swallowed so thickly I could see it from across the basketball court. “I mean, we’re in South Tampa, Kathleen. Right in the center of it.”
“Malcolm, you’re my second in command.” Dr. McCormick let out a long sigh. “Have you spoken to your wife?”
“She hasn’t picked up,” he replied.
Dr. McCormick looked over her staff then over toward us. “And Bobby just left… Dang it!” She snapped a fist against her thigh. “Fine, as long as two of you promise to come back first thing in the morning as soon as this all blows over.”
There was silence among them.
“I mean it,” McCormick said. “Either all of you stay now or two of you volunteer to meet me here first thing in the morning.”
Mr. Malcolm waved her off, shaking his head. “No, no… I can’t leave you here alone with all this stuff going on. The wife’s up at her mother’s in Ocala anyhow. The house, well, it’s insured,” he shrugged.
McCormick peered at him. “So you did hear from her?”
He put his hands up defensively. “Just a few minutes ago, okay? I swear.”
Dr. McCormick shook her head then moved her attention to the others. “And who will be meeting us here in the morning?”
Mr. Mejia feebly put his hand into the air.
