WEATHER APP

“The one day,” Fiona said to her husband Mike, “the one day that we all get off together in a blue moon and it’s going to tip down with rain.  What are we going to do with the kids?  They’re going to drive us crazy.”

“Jungle gym,” Mike suggested.
“Look at it though!”  Fiona gestured to the television.  The weatherman was making wide gestures at swirling vortexes of narrow isobars.  Big blue clouds of rain covered their region, the numbers on the wind arrows were at gale force.  “They’re saying not to travel unless absolutely necessary.  The boys are going to be so disappointed.”
“I hate this country,” Mike grunted.
 

The next day Fiona woke and picked up her smart phone, a big cloud with rain pouring from it greeted her on her home screen, she groaned, not bothering to pull the curtains.  Down in the living room she turned on the TV, there was a weather girl lamenting to the newscasters, apologising for not having a better forecast for the bank holiday.

The boys came racing down the stairs, Kieran was carrying a football.
“Mum!  Can we go on the green before breakfast?” he asked.
Ben was wearing his father’s long grey coat over his tracksuit; “I’m Mourinho,” he said, “I’m going to be manager.”  He pressed his mouth into a thin line, hands on hips and stared intensely at her in parody.
Fiona’s heart sank, they were so sweet, poor darlings and they were going to be cooped up all day; “I’m sorry boys, but the weather is awful, you have to stay in.”
“What?”
“No way!”
“I’ll make breakfast!” she said with a brightness she didn’t feel.
Mike trudged down the stairs.  “It’s going to rain all day,” he said, showing her the weather app on his tablet.
Time wore on, across the country parents checked their weather apps and cursed, children played indoors and became sulky and restless.  Ben and Kieran sat with their father in the living room and watched re-runs of Match of the Day.

Houses with their curtains drawn surrounded the green where starlings searched for worms.  The sun warmed the tarmac of the road and caused the grass to glitter.  Across town the playing field stretched empty under a bright blue sky.  Down on the coast gulls rode the light breeze over a sparkling blue sea and gentle waves lapped the deserted sun drenched beach.

The next day Mike drove Fiona to work.  He dropped her in the usual place and watched her run to catch up with a colleague.  He caught a snatch of their conversation through his open window as he drove past; “Wasn’t the weather terrible yesterday?”

“Absolutely dreadful.  Didn’t go outside at all.”

FOREVER

She had been looking forward to this day all week and now it was finally here.  It took her two hours and fifteen minutes to get ready and yet she was still ten minutes early for the train.  He met her at the station, she was pleased to see he’d made an effort too.  His skin was lightly scented with cologne, his strategically tousled hair softened his features.  She ran to him and they kissed passionately.

 

At the restaurant they talked about everything that had ever meant anything to them, they had so much in common.  She loved the fact that he tipped generously and he opened the door for her on the way out.  It was a foregone conclusion that she’d end up back at his place.  There was soft lighting, music and champagne waiting.  He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her tenderly.

“Oh!” she gasped, “I never want this night to end.”
He smiled and guided her to the bedroom.  Never had she been loved like this, he took the lead
and seemed to know what she wanted.  There was no time to get tired or even to drink the champagne, she was lost and immersed in him.  The night stretched on with whispered confessions of love, moment after moment of pleasure, orgasm followed by orgasm.

It was only when she went to get a glass of water that she noticed the time.  The kitchen clock must have stopped, she checked her own watch, then her smart phone.  It could not be midnight, they had left the restaurant at half past 11 and that had been ages ago.  She turned on the television in the living room, the clock on the rolling news said midnight.  The newscasters were frozen in mid sentence.  She started to go to the window, but his arms encircling her waist from behind stopped her; “You OK?” he said gently.

For some reason, she shuddered at his touch; “It’s – it’s still midnight,” she replied.
“Ah yes,” he breathed, “you wanted this night to never end.”
“But ...”
“Come back to bed, honey.  There’s still lots of things to do, lots of games to play.”

THE TROUBLESHOOTER

In the centre of a dreary windowless office, the victim lay across a desk, skin translucent, eyes closed.  I put on gloves and turned his head to the side.  The familiar marks were there.
“You have a vampire,” I informed Simon the director.
“That’s why we called,” he said, “what can you do?”
“The victim?” I asked.
“Piers, an intern.  He was working late.”
“Everyone must leave before sunset.”
“No can do,” Simon replied, “we have deadlines.”
“All right,” I said, “I’ll make the office safe.”

The returning staff did not appreciate my efforts.

“You’ve got to take down the crucifixes,” Simon said, “you’ll offend Yousef.”
“I don’t care,” Yousef said.
“I’m not having them.  They make people feel uncomfortable and excluded.”
We were interrupted by the sound of wheezing; “My allergy to onions!” choked a woman and stumbled from the office.
“The garlic’s got to go,” Simon stated.
“I’ve got Health and Safety on the phone,” Yousef said, “they want to know why there’s water sprinkled on the surfaces and floors, it’s causing a hazard.”
I rolled my eyes; “I’ll clear away the holy water as well, then?”
Simon nodded.
“You’re leaving your staff vulnerable, unless I stay and catch the monster.”
“How do you propose disposing of it?”
“Stake through the heart.”
“Health and Safety won’t allow.  You might get splinters.”
Wordlessly, I handed him my bag of wooden stakes.

I could not leave these people to the monster’s mercy, so I stayed, listening to the excuses made to be gone before sunset.  Even Simon had an appointment to go to.  Soon the office was silent except the whoosh of air conditioning.  Unprotected by my usual weapons, I was not sure what to do, reason with the vampire?  Try to persuade it to find new hunting ground?  Eventually, I heard the automatic doors and turned.

“I thought you’d gone,” I said to Simon as he strode towards me.
His bloodshot eyes met mine and his mouth curved into a wide smile, revealing razor sharp canine teeth.  He was invited; part of the office team, no crucifix, garlic flower or charm would work, but he’d still had them taken away.  As for my plan of reasoning, why would he leave?  As Director, he had an endless supply of young, innocent interns to bleed dry ...

His hypnotic glare was drawing me in, I felt myself going towards his deadly embrace ... in desperation I flung my office chair at him and ran.  If I could get out and survive tonight, I could warn everyone in the morning.  But as I raced down the wide walkway, I realised I’d missed the turning to reception and was lost in a maze of featureless corridors.  I looked back; he was coming, jacket flaring out behind him, eyes red, hands outstretched.  I saw a sign to the gym and rushed in, hoping there would be someone there.  It was empty, but something caught my eye, the door to a booth.  This place had everything!  Simon was almost upon me, licking his lips, sensing victory.  I opened the booth door and backed in, he followed, shutting us in, gripping my shoulders, leaning to my neck.  I threw the switch and closed my eyes.  There was a rush of air and we were bathed in artificial sunlight.  I heard Simon scream and could feel the heat from his burning flesh as his body disintegrated.  When the six minutes ended and the ultra violet rays went out, I opened my eyes.  There is always a way to kill a vampire; my reputation as troubleshooter was intact; Simon was dust at my feet.  I could also see the beginnings of a lovely tan in the mirror.