John Shafer was walking to the Stovall residence to drop off Julie’s school work. Before school ended it started raining bad. As soon as John walked into the school office he received a text form his boss.
‘Don’t to come in for work; power might cut out. Go home and stay safe.’
Texting a thank you reply, John picks up Julie’s homework. Seeing that he has to walk home, the principal offers him an umbrella to keep him dry. Accepting the item he walks out the door and is immediately assailed from the sound of rain hitting the thin sheet of vinyl keeping him relatively dry. It takes him 30 minutes in the weather to reach the Stovall Residence. Knocking on the front door he is great by Melissa Stovall.
“Good day ma’am I’m here to drop off Julie’s school work,” John states.
“Oh dear, come in from this dreadful storm,” Melissa responds.
John enters the house to hear Martin shouting, “Is that the lawyer you call for Melissa?”
“No Martin,” Melissa responds. “Just a student from school here to drop off Julie’s homework.”
“Okay,” Martin shouts back still in his office.
“I was also asked by Principal Andrews to pick up Julie’s work starting the Friday after. The principal also asked me to drop off Julie’s homework weekly.”
“Oh that’s nice of him,” Melissa responds; watching John opens his knapsack to pull out a large stack of papers.”
John hands over Julie’s homework just as Julie’s comes down stairs. “Oh hello John,” She responds.
Melissa turns around, “Julie you know this boy?”
“Not personally,” Julie answers. “we have a class together and he doesn’t live far from here.”
Melissa is about to accept that answer when it hits her; she has seen John on the Monday night Julie broke curfew; “There is more then what you are telling me Julie,” Melissa states. “This is the boy I saw you were walking with on Monday night as you were heading home.
John decides to interrupt, “In my defense ma’am, I was minding my own business at the lake when I walked into Julie.”
“It’s true mom,” Julie responds. “John and I are not seeing each other.”
Melissa eye balls Julie before taking a sniff of John. “Werewolf?” She asks.
“Yes,” John responds, “Based off of the Timber wolf sub species.”
“You’re tall for fourteen,” Melissa comments, noting his six foot frame.
“I got that from my father,” John responds.
“Is he home?” Melissa asks.
Julie grimaces. Knowing what John told her at the beginning of the week, yet is shocked at what John says.
“No ma’am he’s dead.” Looking at Julie, “Sheriff Cooper told me what happened to him when I was four. He was Sheriff Cooper’s partner when they both were police officers in Seattle.”
Julie pipes up, “How’s your mother fairing. John?”
“By now she is in the county jail in Seattle for her various drinking and driving crimes,” he answers with no hint of remorse.
“Oh my,” Melissa shocked to hear. “So you are all alone?”
“No,” John answers. “I live with my aunt. In fact I need to get going.” John looks at Julie, “It was nice seeing you again.” He turns around to leave the Stovall residence and heads home.
Melissa closes the door afterwards and ushers Julie to the kitchen with her homework in tow. Shortly after Martin enters; “Who was at the door?”
“John Shafer,” Julie answers. “He brought over my homework.”
“Yes, such a shame about his family,” Melissa responds.
“Oh, I know all about his mother,” Martin responds. Melissa arches an eyebrow but Martin continues, “Sheriff Cooper filled me in on her the day Julie was arrested. She was drunk while committing grand theft auto.” Martin states.
“Oh my, that poor kid,” Melissa says.
Martin chortles, “Poor? Hardly; his father left him a shitload of money. That kid will be a multi-millionaire when he turns eighteen.”
Before Julie or Melissa could respond the doorbell rings. Martin head to the door to see an average sized woman.
“Hello, my name is Brett Smithson,” the woman introduces herself.
“Oh yes, Melissa called for you;” Martin inviting her in. He takes her soaking wet coat and escorts her to the kitchen. “Melissa the lawyer for Julie is here,” Martin answers taking a discreet sniff he notices the Brett Smithson is a were-badger.
Just before proper introductions could be made; there is a loud crack from thunder emanating in the skies above and the power goes out.