As the sands of time slowly faded into history, that Monday morning in Moon Lake, Washington turned to the afternoon hours, but things were no better in the brightest part of the day...
"Are you sure Chief O'Hara?" asked high school Principal Andrews over the phone. "Well, there hasn't been anything happening here that we couldn't handle internally, but it's always better to prepare for the worse and hope for the best than to discover things the hard way. I'll get right on it."
With that he hung up, ending the call, but Andrews just stared out into space, thinking things over a bit longer before going to the outer office of the school's administration department before reaching for the microphone of the public address system.
"ATTENTION! ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS AND FACULTY!" Andrews began. Then, after waiting a moment to make sure everyone would be listening, said, "Due to circumstances beyond my control, ALL after school activities for today have been canceled. Everyone, and I repeat, EVERYONE, is advised to go directly home after the last period ends. Thank you."
Then the message ended.
Eric Anderson looked around in his seat, only to see the puzzled looks of everyone else around him, including his teacher. He wanted to talk to his beloved fiance Julie Stovall, but they had already had their lone lunch break together, with the only chance to see each other now before the end of the day being any glimpse in the school halls.
I guess it won't hurt to stop and ask if we can at least reschedule the meeting to discuss those proposed clubs on our way out, but with everyone so worked up over the potential reveal of were existence, I wonder if we should still walk home or catch a ride with Ben, Nate, and Alex?
ELSEWHERE IN THE SCHOOL...
Eric's big brother Nate, as well as his friends, already knew what the Principal's announcement meant.
No after school flag football practice for the Thanksgiving Day exhibition game.
Nate could easily guess as to why the decision was made, but was still disappointed that it happened.
Yet, what else could he do as he turned his attention back to the class in progress.
MEANWHILE...
Martha Anderson had spent a lonely morning within the family residence studying for her teaching recertification exam, yet it wasn't always easy.
Although they were all originally normal human beings, the Andersons had all joined were society in the weeks following their move to Moon Lake, as evident by the fact it was a werecat idly turning the book page with one paw while trying to study.
Her husband William was her loving werefox, with a strong life/soulmate bond between them.
Nate had fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a werewolf upon discovering they actually existed, and Eric fell in love with a were-mermaid, becoming her were-merman with long terms plans for a happy life together.
Or at least, Martha hoped so, since everything now appeared up in the air with the Town Council's recent decision to develop a plan to reveal were existence to the world before the secret was exposed.
Martha knew she wasn't getting much studying done, worried about her family, but she still tried until her other paw reached out to the snack bowl on the table near her and discovered it empty.
Damn! she silently cursed.
Since becoming a were, she easily burned calories transforming back and forth, so wasn't worried about gaining weight as much as she used to be, but when Martha got up to refill the bowl and discovered nothing available in the kitchen, that's when she started pondering her immediate future.
With a quick glance at the kitchen wall clock, Martha thought to herself, I've still got plenty of time to change, get dressed, and make a quick run to the grocery store and back before the boys are due home from school, as she headed upstairs to defur and get dressed, not knowing about the cancellation or how things currently were within Moon Lake...
CONCURRENTLY...
Moon Lake Police Chief O'Hara, after finishing his discussion with High School Principal Andrews, had a similar conversation with Moon Lake College's Dean Myers, whose first name ironically was also Dean, but was assured that everything was under control there.
"Besides, there are too many afternoon and evening classes scheduled to just shut down everything so abruptly. I'll keep you posted, and will certainly call if necessary," he promised, "but otherwise there isn't much more I can do at the moment."
Now, with his immediate business out of the way, O'Hara leaned back in his chair and tried to relax for a moment.
The whole town seems to be going nuts over this, not that I can blame all of them. To reveal weres intentionally? It goes against everything I've ever learned in all me life, he thought, slipping back into his native Irish brogue. But it's my job to oversee protecting this town, even from itself. I've still got to rearrange the patrol schedules for the next couple of days, including having extra security for when the Town Council meets next to continue planning this reveal scheme of theirs. Maybe my wife's right and I should retire, but I'm not even 150 yet. That's nowhere even near middle age to a were! he thought, enjoying a peaceful moment until his intercom buzzed.
"Sir?" a female voice said.
O'Hara sat upright again and reached for the Talk Button. "Yes?"
"I've got Mayor Stovall—"
"What line is he on?" O'Hara asked, turning in the chair toward his phone.
"No sir. He's outside wanting to know if you have time to talk in person."
"Sure. Send him in," O'Hara replied, standing to double check his appearance as the outer office door opened.
"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice Chief," the Mayor said, closing the door behind him. "I've got something important I'd like to discuss with you, privately."
Now what happened? O'Hara wondered, wishing for a couple of aspirin.
TO BE CONTINUED...