After the Storm

A day in town

The next morning I felt terrible. My voice was just about gone, and my legs felt like jelly. I stretched and rolled over to look out the window. It was kind of dark as if it were about to rain, but the sun was still out. Hearing my door open I moaned, and stretched again.

"Malone, get up, we're in California!!" said Dakota jumping on my bed.

"No, let me sleep." I tried to pull the blanket up to my chin, but Kelly wouldn't let me.

"Seriously, get up, Devin told us we might hang out today." said Dakota already going to my closet.

"Yeah, and Craig said he would come if we wanted him to." she giggled at that.

"Guys!!!" I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn't let me.

"Malone, are you sick?" asked Kelly feeling my head. I gave her a 'well duh' look and she pulled away.

"What are we going to tell Devin when he comes by?" I threw my hands and feet in the air and let them drop.

"That I'm sick! What else?" they both just laughed, and went to my closet anyway.

"Your not sick enough to argue so it looks like we're still going." I grunted and rolled over.

"Fine, but I'm picking my own clothes." I slowly climbed out of bed and got an outfit.

I picked a dull green shirt that showed my shoulders, and wore a pair of black jeans with it. I put on a vest, and flip flops and was done. I looked to Kelly and Dakota for approving looks.

"Aren't you going to brush your hair?" asked Kelly kind of annoyed.

"Why do I need to?" I asked raising an eyebrow at her. She gave me a peculiar look and got a brush.

"Because your hair is a mess." I let her brush through my hair before we all walked downstairs to eat breakfast.

"Hey dad, we're going to hang out with Devin and his friend Craig." I said grabbing an apple and walking into the living room.

"Alright, don't forget I go back to work on Tuesday." I flipped on the TV and searched through the channels for something good.

"Alright dad. Let's have a movie marathon tomorrow." I sat on my knees and looked at him. "All day."

"Alright, sounds good." he ruffled my hair, and sat down next to me. "Do you have a cold or something?"

"She lost her voice." said Dakota sitting down with a banana. My dad nodded.

Kelly was just sitting down when the doorbell rang. She jumped up and ran to the door. Dakota and I watched her jump excitedly to the door. She swung it open, and just about tackled Craig.

"Hey!" she screamed. I covered my ears and Dakota laughed.

"Hey, so are we all hanging out?" asked Devin stepping in past Kelly and Craig.

"Hello Devin." said my dad without even looking back.

"Hello Mr. Hanson." he said back.

"Yeah we can hang out but, Malone here is a little sick, but she's fine." she said looking at him over the back of her chair.

I mouthed 'my voice is gone' to him, and he laughed.

"I was thinking we should go into town today." said Craig with one arm around Kelly.

"Sounds fun." said Dakota watching TV. I just nodded.

"We'll be back later." I whispered to my dad. He nodded.