Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:51:26 -0800 (PST)
From: T. Chase McPhee <survivalgame@yahoo.com>
Subject: Natures Fury! 01 (please add to 'Nature Walk')

The story below is a work of fiction, set in the
format of reality. Any resemblances to real people,
alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in
nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon
persons, in towns, cities, countries, nor governmental
areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene
involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then
you should not read this story. Additionally, if you
are under 18 years of age, in most state and
countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by
law. Check with your local laws regarding such. %
Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction.
In real life, use protection.

%

Nature's Fury! 01
wriTten by T. Chase McPhee

%

Standing at the side of the truck, it seemed to Kevin
Spangler it was getting warmer, instead of cooler.
First he had taken off his jacket, then loosened a
coupla buttons of his flannel shirt, exposing his
chest fur. Many a customer, lining up for a gallon of
milk, accused him of working too hard!

Suddenly, from a distance he thought he heard thunder.
Then, across the parking lot, underneath the cars,
little streams of mud formed.

"Oh shit!" He called out, when he looked up.

Chad came out just in time, to check on Kevin. He was
standing right next to him, when he spied it too.
Headed their way, a slow moving wall of watery mud
churned towards the parking lot, at a slow, snail's
pace.

"What tha?" Kevin said, his hand over his eyebrows, as
if blocking the sun.

Chad did the same, saluting the same moving mass.

"We gotta warn people!"

Right away, they abandoned the truck of milk and ran
throughout the parking lot, partially affected. People
heeded warning and ran back inside the store.

"It's headed directly for us!" Kevin called out,
watching.

Others gasped at seeing the slow moving wall of mud
course it's way through the parking lot of Barr's &
Bridges. When it began taking Kevin's truck, still a
third loaded with milk, it became evident of the fury
of nature's way.

"It just took Kevin's truck," Chad said, his cellphone
connected to 911.

As if an animal, a big one, almost as if Godzilla
himself, they watched as the slimy mass, waist-high,
churned through the parking lot. In an instant, twenty
five cars, half as many shopping carts, became part of
the moving sediment.  Fortunately, the median of Van
Dusen Blvd., provided a corral, keeping the liquid
matter from traveling on the other side of the road,
carved out for other businesses.

"Get everybody in the back," came the call from Chad.

Pressure on the front windows had caused the plate
glass to crack. It didn't take folks much prodding to
get them to run up the aisles.

Over the store loudspeaker, Matty's voice could be
heard resounding, "'Walk'. Things are going to be
okay. You're safe in here."

At least that's what Matty was praying about. He never
prayed so hard in all his life, with seeing the cracks
in the plate glass and the fury of having cars moved
from the parking area, as if driven away en masse.

%

Like Kevin Spangler, Steve thought he heard thunder,
too. Following Philip, Aidan in his arms, elbow
crooked under the twelve year olds knees, he carried
him along, through the back yard. Suddenly, his feet
seemed to step on loose soil, soggy, making a squishy
sound. Finally reaching the old homestead, now owned
by Alonzo and Callan, he plotted across the backyard.
Out of sight, he assumed Philip had entered the back
door. He entered, knocking.

"How're you doing there, Aidan?"

"Okay."

He sounded a little reluctant to answer.

Callan asked again, "You okay?"

Steve filled them in, "He's a little afraid of the
thunder I think."

"Thunder? The sun is shining as bright as the summer!"

"Right," He answered Alonzo, readying to pour a cup of
java. "Care for some, Steve?"

Before he could answer, a loud thud was heard, coming
from the front of the house. Aidan flew into Steve's
arms as if attacked by a growling dog. Waiting in the
kitchen they heard Alonzo curse out loud.

"Whatsamatter?"

"The front door. It just got `kicked in'!"

"Kicked in?"

"Yeah, by..."

Before Callan could state the dilemma, an inch of mud
began seeping into the kitchen.

"Quick! Out the back!"

"Wait!" Steve called out, "What about Philip? Seth?
Diego?"

"They're not here. We thought they were at your
place," Callan answered him.

"Dad, I'm scared."

"You and me both, kiddo!"

Heading out the back, the ground had become mighty
smooshy, two, then three inch deep myriads of muddy
slime flowing over the yard as if ocean waves on the
beach. Not the ferosity as at Barr's & Bridges, the
trees surrounding, slowing down the clumps of mud.
Then, all around, towards the north, they heard
thunderous claps, as if lightning striking.

"Look!"

Several feet from the house, a waist-high wall of mud
snapped a tree, pushing it over like a toothpick. All
the time Steve ran with Aidan in his arms, his
thoughts were on Philip and the other two boys. If
they weren't at his place and not at Alonzo's place,
then there's only one other place little boys go to,
when feeling down.

%

It seemed no place in West Richlan had been spared by
the mucky gook. Several hours later, folks from all
areas of town had phoned into police, reporting they
had been unindated by the slow-moving mass of mud,
rocks and cold water. Some areas reported seeing
boulders of ice.

"I hope Uncle Seb is okay."

"Call him on your cellphone."

"I can't. It's not working," Justin told Christian.

"Whatever this is, must've taken the tower down."

"Or maybe so many are using their cellphones, it's not
taking the overload?"

So far, living in the more densely populated south
side of West Richlan, streams of mud had been
reported, whereas in the northern area, around Bernice
Bridges' home, the larger widths,  began cutting
swaths, wide as roadbeds through the mountainous
estates of trees and homes.

"Upstairs, kids," Alberto called out to them.

On the other hand, Bernice paniced.

"Oh my this is just terrible!"

Yelling out, she remained closely behind the boys.

"Don't worry Aunt Bernice, we'll be okay."

Diego, Seth and Philip hustled up the stairs, followed
by Alberto. Walking around the indoor balcony,  they
looked over the wooden railing, down into the major
portion of the modern home. The trio of boys, along
with Bernice and Alberto,  watched through windows, as
the mud makes it's own paths. Things breaking became a
normal sound, consistent with the rolling mud. The
kids watched as Alberto ran down the stairs, Bernice
following.  At his direction, they hurled a sofa in
front of the side door, the ones used by the kids.
Water seeped through, but for now the muddy sludge
remained out, traveling along at a slow speed. Even
though Philip sought immeditate safety for the people
around him, he wondered about his boyhood pal, his dad
and the others.


%

"Give me your hand!"

Walking into his own abode, Steve already found signs
of the encroaching mud flow. Already, as they walked
in the back door, the screen door didn't bang shut for
once.

"Over here, Steve!"

"The boys?"

"They are up here with me," Berk called out.

First he climbed up on the diningroom table, then fed
Aidan up through the skylight. The first one to greet
him was Scruffy, licking his face. Next, Steve helped
his neighbors. For himself, he refused to climb up
onto the roof til he found out what happened to Philip
and the boys, insuring their safety. Of course Alonzo
and Callan were worried of the whereabouts and safety
of Diego and Seth, but Steve was mighty convincing of
having them stay behind with the rest of the boys and
Berk.

"Don't worry about me," are the last words they heard
from Steve, before he headed out the back door.

Berk tried helping, jumping down from the skylight,
onto the diningroom table, but too late, spotted the
mass of mud entering the back door. He scooted back up
onto the roof, immediately hit by a barrage of concern
from the boys.

%

On the good side of Van Dusen Blvd., Michael Byrd
marveled at how the median kept the waist-deep flow
from touching his establishment. They had warning
before it hit, so tried blocking the fork in the road.
It hadn't stopped it's might. Even Caterpillar trucks
couldn't keep nature's fury from following the
downhill flow, carving out it's own path. Telephone
poles snapped, along with trees. Cars slid right
along, whether with the flow or sideways. Even
well-rooted trees, some being around for a millenium,
became uprooted. Only the two foot wide, four feet
high traffic median seemed not to give into it's path,
making the flow adhere to the roadway. Not so
fortunate had been Mr. Pink's, the hottest gay club,
in the whole area. Hours later, much of the pink had
been tranformed to dirty brown.

%

They had heard it, but hadn't seen it. Had reports of
it striking many areas of the town, but had not
experienced it visually, nor aurally. News travels
fast in a small town. Bad news, even quicker! The
inhabitants of West Richlan Presbyterian got on their
knees and prayed for themselves and their neighbors,
thankful the flowed followed a different path, away
from the church.

%

Steve fought the mud, first up to his knees, then
decided it better to hike up a tree. When the tree
didn't hold, it fell, being uprooted.

Inside Bernice Bridges home, they heard a mighty thud.
The whole house seemed to quake. Then, through Matty's
room, sticking right out the door, the end of the
tree, leaves and all peeked out into the opening.
Immediately they thought it best to retreat to the
downstairs. For now that sofa was doing it's job. It
was old, heavy and fought back the immediate threat of
the door busting open.

"Hey, it's dad-Steve!"

Right out from Matty's room, Steve came walking. His
coat was torn and his hand scratched. Other than that,
he had a lot to be thankful for. Running down the
stairs, he caught Philip two steps up.

To the others he commented, "Matty's bed couldn't be
in a more welcoming location!"

"Where's Aidan?"

"He's fine they are all up on the roof, out of harm's
way."

Alberto questioned, "I take it you got hit bad?"

Of course, Diego and Seth wondered about their dads,
which Steve confirmed their safety with Berk and the
boys.

Steve answered, by priority, "Your dads are fine and
to answer you," he turned to Alberto, free of Philip
whom completed the trio of friends, "yes, the house is
going to come out of this soiled."

"Your hand," Bernice sought to address.

Bernice snatched one of the white doilies from the end
table, wrapping it around Steve's hand.

"It's all I have for now."

"It'll do."

Steve was thankful for the medical attention, but more
so of the survivors around him. Thoughts then capsized
his upbeat attitude, thinking of those he could not
see.

%

Several hours later, around sundown, the major part of
the calamity had past. Along with the sun setting, the
temperatures took a sharp decline. This either slowed
the remnants of the mud flow or paved the way towards
a new storm developing. For sure, the West Richlan
police and emergency crews weren't sitting back to
wait for the next barrage of mud, should a quick
warmup occur. A corp of engineers had been summoned, a
contingency plan being worked out to contain the next
barrage of mud.

%

Saturday morning, even after a day with destiny,
Barr's & Bridges opened, duct taped windows where
cracks had been made, night before. The parking lot
didn't have it's neatly arranged outline of spaces,
but with the plowing back of mud, parking was ample.

"You came through for us Kevin. Thanks."

"Well, you know they say, `time heals'?"

"I remember," Matty  replied, waiting for more of an
explanation.

"Seems my dad decided to put aside our differences."

"Sometimes," Chad added, "in the face of calamity, it
will help situations turn out right."

Matty says, with a wise ass attitude, "Y'know Preppy,
maybe you should've been a philosophy student?"

"Yeah right. I could go around with a little journal
and write up things like the reasons why I'm taking
these cartons of food from Kevin, while you're
standing around looking.... handsome?"

Chad almost said `pretty', but it didn't fit Matty.
Sure, he took extra breaks, but it wasn't for
laziness. Right up until now, he's been juggling two
careers. Of part-time store manager and almost
fulltime real estate agent, the machinery was bound to
break down soon.

"I got an idea," Chad said with a smile.

"Go to my office and catch a catnap?"

"No. Why don't you go upfront. Use your charms on Zach
and see if you can trade places?"

"Yeah. Okay."

As soon as Matty opened the stockroom door, leading to
the sales floor, he was hit by a crowd of customers.
Short ones!

"Mr. Bridgess, do you got any more hot chocolate?"

"Where's your mom, Timmy?"

The seven year old stood there, shrugging his
shoulders.

"C'mon, let's go find your mommy."

Good with kids of all ages, Matty took Timmy by the
hand and escorted him up front. Near the front, he had
to scoop the kid up in his arms, to avoid a collision
with a shopping cart.

"There you are!"

Matty was happy, a smile on his face, as he deposited
the two legs in the place where even an overgrown kid
could sit comfy.

"Thank you so much. I would have had to lose my place
in line to go find him!"

"No problem Mrs. Maxwell."

At the service desk, Zach had decided, for good
customer service, offer a $25.00 rebate for a garbage
can of bad food, brought in by the customers, whom had
been afflicted by the wrath of the mudslide, losing
electric or even inundated by some of the masses of
moving earth.

"Nice idea," Matty mentioned, followed by, "Chad needs
you in the back!"

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Something about helping out to unload the
trucks, so I can take it easy?"

Fortunately, Zach took it as a joke. But for Matty, it
looked like his job up front, at customer service,
wasn't going to be any picnic.

"Mr. Bridges! We're here!"

"Where?"

Then, standing on tippee toes, extending his five
feet, eleven inch height, Matty could see over the
tops of the four person deep line, to see the `two
Johns'. It had been several months since Zach had
caught John Dellano fucking his boyfriend, at the
time, Nolan, in the men's jon. The high school senior
since, has met up with John Torkelson, fellow
classmate. At first it was a coincidental meeting, in
the shower after away games, football and soccer,
reporting back to school at the same time. John, they
call him `Tork', had been one of the last of the
soccer men entering the school lockerroom, taking care
of unloading equipment from the bus. John Dellano, the
football player, had the coach nursing his stiff
shoulder. By the time both hit the showers, guys had
departed the shower room. One caught one looking at
the other. Both tell of their first meeting, blaming
the other for spying on them first. Neither can really
remember the exact course of events. All they remember
is John asking Tork for a bar of soap, then the rest
is history.

"Tork, run in the back and help unload the truck,"
Matty said in a professional manner. "John, go help
Andy in the deli."

"Yes, sir," John saluted.

At first it had been out of habit, John Dellano's
father being a serviceman. At first they traveled all
about, until his dad hurt his leg. Now he works
computers, at Advantage Exercise Systems. So, John
earns some extra bucks, saving money for college and
other expenses. Marco Benevuto had finally turned
eighteen a month ago, so, like John, he could be
`taken advantage of' and work all crazy hours, saving
for college.

"I'm okay here John. Check the bakery."

Seemingly a Jack-of-all-trades, John, Tork and the
other high schoolers whom worked at Barr's and
Bridges', had a knowledge of several departments. John
has really cleaned up his act, becoming more of an
asset, since he's met Tork.

"Need help, Marco?"

"Sure. Always need help."

At eighteen and halfway through his senior year in
high school, Marco's been on an unconventional
extension of the work-study program. Chad, Matty and
Zach have accused him of being more at the store, than
in school, but they've never heard any complaints from
his guidance counselor nor other school officials. In
fact, at the store level he's done very well for
himself, almost readying himself to have the bakery
department turned over, under his full guidance. This
summer he hopes to begin his studies in business, at
WRCC.

"I need a short break. Take over."

Whenever Marco has left John in charge, he's
eye-balled him, making sure the job is done right. He
also  wonders if he'll ever find a hot blond football
stud like John, to hook up with. There are a lot of
blond guys here at Barr's and Bridges'; Chad, John,
Tork, to name a few and he wonders if there's another
one out there just for him!

"Customer service to line 8!"

Thinking twice, waiting on customer service, Matty
wishes he were back on his `muscle' job.

"Where's Kathy?" Matty asks himself.

Then, looking up, he sees the head casher on register
nine, cashing out folks. Now wearing two hats, he
takes advantage of the situation, Zach's boyfriend
happening into the store.

"Neil, here! Catch!"

Before he can get his coat off, Zach's twenty-seven
year old boyfriend, Neil van der Beck, is catching the
head cashier's keys. It wouldn't be the first time
Neil is commandeered for front end service.

"Got it!"

It seems nowadays, whenever he's not on the EMT shift,
he's playing head cashier at B'n'B's. But Neil's a
cheerful giver. He can't complain, since Zach is
willing to `lend' him the money to study vetenary
medicine at WRCC.

"They have an overring at register 8."

"Gotcha."

Already stashing his gear at register 10, the last
register before the customer service counter, Neil
dons whatever B'n'B's smock is available. Poor guy. It
has the name embroidered, `Mary' on it! Fortunately,
Kathy had a `George' smock on, so they traded.

"Busy, eh Kathy?"

"With Christmas and the `Mud Flood', we're swamped,
pardon the pun."

"No problem. Why don't we switch."

At first Kathy got it, the reverse sexes on the smock,
then Neil's hint, much rather at wanting to play
ordinary cashier, instead of `head' cashier. Kathy
figured Neil could be trusted, so let him ring on her
I.D.

Just in time for Timmy and his mommy!

%

"Thank Gawd Justin doesn't mind washing dishes,
pots'n'pans!"

Finally, the clock hitting 10am, Birdy's Cafe starts
to empty out. For a Saturday, people usually linger
til noon, then things pick up around 12:15pm, but
today is an unusual day.

"I don't know how you expect to make a profit!"
Christian jokes.

"I don't."

"I know. Nice of you to slash prices."

"Dirt cheap!"

Justin shakes his head, signifying a bad joke dished
out from Michael.

"What's with those kids?"

"Who? The Hopper kids?"

"If that's who the father with those kids is,"
Christian points out.

"Damn shame. If I wasn't taken, I hit up on the older
brother. Oh yeah. By the the way, that's not their
father. It's their thirty year old brother."

"What's their story?" Christian asks Michael, eyes
glued to the thirty year old.

"Well, you see, going back eight years ago, the
parents were killed in a plane crash. Wade, the hottie
your eyes are glued to," Michael made Christian break
his pose, "didn't want his family broken up, so folks
chipped in to pay off the mortgage on the ranch."

"Ranch? I didn't know there were any in these parts?"

"Small. You know where the old Chatsworth place is?"

"Barry and Steve's place?"

"One in the same. The Hopper place is about five miles
up the road. Anyway, the mudslide cleaned them out."

"You mean wrecked their house?"

"Barn, feed, the works."

"So what're they doing now?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask." Michael told Christian.

"Why not?"

"Because anytime a guy tries to talk to Wade, he
thinks the guy is hitting on him."

"You're no help, Michael."

Right there and then, Michael Byrd saw a different
angle to Christian Houtendjik. The twenty-three year
old Swedish blond treated Birdy's Cafe like his own.

Walking up to Wade Hopper, he extended his hand, "Hi,
Christian Houtendjik's the name. Have you and your
family had enough to eat?"

Like Michael warned, Wade said, "We've had our fill
and as soon as I get the ranch back in swing, I'll be
by to pay up."

"It's on the house."

"You paying for it?"

Michael hung back, watching, listening to every word,
even though he seemed to pay more attention to the
coffee mug he dried off. He needn't do it, since
Justin took care of the dishes, but Wade didn't know
it!

"No. I..." Christian thought quick.

He had to. He already figured Wade had him pegged.

"I'm running a tab for you. Until say, six months from
now. Yeah, that's it. You can come in here with your
family. By the way, they look like nice kids."

Christian was hoping for an invitation for learning
their names.

Wade didn't know what Christian's angle was, but
seemed satisfied he wasn't after his bod, in exchange
for good. Yet, he still remained cautious.

"I intend on paying every cent."

"Oh, I'll be charging you. In fact, I'm charging you
for standing here taking up my time!"

At the precise moment, Justin comes in from the
kitchen, says, "What's up babe?" placing his hand on
Christian's shoulder.

"You two?" Wade asks, looking around.

"Yeah," Christian states, "This here is my boyfriend
and you don't have to keep it quiet. We're out. Are
you?"

It's one thing Christian didn't want to mention. Wade
was bigger, taller then himself. But since it was out
in the open about him and Justin, why not touche!

"I... how did you know? I..."

"I know," Christian fills him in, "you don't `act'
gay. You're very straight," then Christian went for
it, both barrels, "very good looking, but I'm taken
and I'm charging you for everything you and your
family ate today."

"Nell didn't like the broccoli. She didn't eat it!"

"Okay. So," Christian picks up a pad and scratches out
a figure, "Okay, so the broccoli goes to the hogs and
you've saved yourself ninety cents!"

"Hogs. What would you know about hogs?"

"Pork comes from `em, right?"

"Right."

"Hogs need to be kept fat, right?"

"Fed well, yes," Wade comments back to Christian.

"And hogs love broccoli, right?"

At first Wade didn't know what to think, then he
realized Christian was trying to humor nine year old
Nelly. His gruff look cracked a smile.

"Yeah. I suppose."

Along with the toothless grin came a hand, extended to
Justin.

"I've gotta get back up to the place. Insurance people
are coming by today. Not that I had much insurance."

Before he got on his way, Dave Rosario stopped in for
a cup of java. Michael, holding a well-dried coffee
cup got to thinking. Dave is thirty-three and Wade
Hopper is thirty. Not too much of an age difference
there. Plus, after talking with Dave, he knew of his
carpentry, as well as a wearer of many hats. A big
plus, is his early retirement from Heartland Security.
Time to put one and one together!

%


Copyright 2006 T. Chase McPhee
This story may not be sold, nor made part of any
collection, without prior consent from the author.