Page 149 of Hell Hath No Fury
Monica let out a long sigh then shook her head in agreement. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Well, go on, then.”
* * *
It was maybe two hours later when the world went dark.
I had settled Alex down, and we were in the middle of playing a game of HORSE with Alexis and Jamie. Monica had the girls in the locker room with the phone, and I imagined they were having a great time outside of fighting over who got to play with it next. The doctor was resting in the coach’s office much to my relief.
I had attempted my best Kareem hook shot when the lights overhead shut off, and the air conditioner halted to a stop. Suddenly, we were inundated by the sound of silence and the echo of the basketball as it dribbled to a stop.
“What the hell?” I looked around, unable to see much of anything thanks to the boarded-up windows.
Monica came scurrying out of the locker rooms with the girls. “Uhhh, not cool!” Monica grumbled as she approached.
Monica handed over the phone and I snatched it up, pocketing it quickly. “I told you not to let the others see it,” I said under my breath.
She shrugged. “Sorry… It’s dead anyway.”
I cocked my head, eyeing her suspiciously. “Can’t be because I asked you to charge it.”
“I did! It was plugged in when it just went dead.”
I grabbed the phone from my pocket, tapping the screen. Nothing.
“Strange …”
“What’s going on?” Dr. McCormick’s voice carried across the gym.
“Lights went out, Dr. McCormick.”
She came closer. “Must be an outage. Surprised it hasn’t happened already. There’s a generator around back. I’ll get it going.”
* * *
Dr. McCormick staggered in a short time later carrying a large box filled with board games, candles, and a couple small lanterns. As soon as she set it down, we all began to pick through it.
“What about the lights?” I asked.
Dr. McCormick turned on one of the lanterns and it illuminated our faces. She scratched the side of her head. “Yeah, I’m not sure. It’s got plenty of fuel. It just wouldn’t start.” She bent down and grabbed the remaining lanterns, setting them on either end of our circle, and then turned the little dials on them. “Going to have to make do for a while.”
Later, Monica and I were playing Candy Land with Hannah and Star while the others played Connect Four and Chutes and Ladders as the flickers of candles surrounded us. Well, everyone except Kammie and Juliana who were roaming the gymnasium like hoodlums looking for trouble to start. Dr. McCormick sat with her back to the wall across the room, doing something on her phone. She looked a bit more rested, but she still looked rough.
“You can’t go yet!” Hannah snapped at her sister as she snatched the card from Star’s hand. “It’s my turn, butt head!”
Star began to cry. “You’re a b-butthead,” she replied, snot bubbling at her nose.
“You guys,” I gently took the card from Hannah. “Can’t we just get along? You’re sisters. Best friends.”
Hannah shook her head stiffly, crossing her arms. “She’s not my friend. She’s a big dummy!”
Monica snickered.
“Hannah! Stop talking to your sister like that,” I scolded.
She stubbornly turned her head. “I don’t wanna play anymore. She cheats!”
Star cried harder. “You cheat!”
