Cloudburst

“…dismissed the matter by stating Manchester police had more important matters to investigate.  And now, for weather you can rely on, New Hampshire, here’s Channel Six’s meteorologist, Veronica Cavanagh.”

“Thank you, Bradley Timpson.  Unfortunately, Miss Cavanagh had an emergency come up suddenly, so tonight’s weather girl is me, Heather Frost.”

“Welcome to Channel Six News, Heather,” Bradley greeted without a pause.  “Heather Frost, what an interesting name for a weather girl.  Meteorologist!”

“Just one of those things,” she explained, wondering if perhaps she’d been a trifle too clever.  Still, when life saddles you with a name like Enid Grudgings you can be excused perhaps for being fanciful when choosing a nom de guerre.

“We’re ready for that weather report whenever you are, Heather,” Bradley hinted as the producer wildly gesticulated for her to GET GOING!

Enid/Heather pointed to the green screen behind her.  “We’ve got a stationary front moving rapidly through the State… um, if you look over here, you can see some blue triangles stretching from Littleton to Concord, not sure what that’s about, really, um….  Oh, look at the little cloud icons, no they don’t belong, let’s get rid of them and put some suns instead….”

“Mpfff!” Veronica yelled.  She rocked her chair back and forth, but the soft carpet muffled its thumps, just as her cloth gag muffled her angry cries.  Ropes wound about her, keeping her seated, as all she could do was watch this pretender mangle the weather report on her television screen.

Minutes earlier she had been preparing to go on the air in her Neon Storm halter dress, which displayed green lightning raging against a metallic blue background.  She had been teasing her dark hair, getting the look just right, when SHE had barged in.

At first, Veronica had assumed she was one of the summer interns… the station was full of those eager young things these days.  Veronica had learned the best thing was to treat them as if they weren’t there, since if you ever gave them the slightest attention they were likely to start fawning all over you.  She had stared away, wondering where her shoes had disappeared, until “Heather” had gotten her attention in a hurry by tossing a coiled rope about her upper arms and torso, pinning her against her chair!  Veronica had tried to call out, but a wad of cloth stuffed in her mouth had cut that short.  Then, ropes had bound her legs.  Finally, a bandana had been tied to complete her gag.

“So tomorrow it will be sunny all day with gentle cooling breezes, perfect weather for going out….”

“Mpfff!”  It was NOT going to be sunny tomorrow!  The reports indicated torrential rain all day!  Why was she doing this?  Was she trying to ruin Channel Six’s impeccable weather forecasting record?  She twisted her body, trying somehow to slip free so she could put a stop to this!

“So you definitely want to be outdoors enjoying it, such as by joining in the New England Healthy Living Society’s Five-K Fun Run.  The entry fee is only fifteen dollars and all proceeds go to a worthy charity; you’ll get a free t-shirt just like the one I’m wearing, plus the exercise will do you good!  It starts at eleven o’clock at the parking lot of the former Mega-W Store on Granite Street.  So, get on your running shoes and we’ll see you there!”

“Thank you for that… entertaining weather forecast,” Bradley said, looking a bit stunned.  “I’m sure we all wish the Healthy Living Society good luck with their run.  Coming up next, Sports!”

“Hi, it’s me again,” Enid announced, poking her head back into Veronica’s dressing room.  “I know you’re probably way mad at me right now…”

“Mpfff,” the meteorologist agreed with feeling.

“…but we need perfect weather for the fun run tomorrow, and I saw your earlier report where you predicted rain, and, well, we couldn’t have that!  Everyone knows you can count on Channel Six’s Weather; how you manage it I don’t know, it’s so freaky, but you always are right!  I knew I had to do something because it’s got to be nice for the big event.  I’m sure you understand!”

Veronica stared in disbelief.

“Anyhow, you don’t have to worry, because it’s not like I’m going to make a habit out of tying you up just so I can get whatever weather I like!  I did it this once for the Fun Run, so no hard feelings, okay?”

Veronica shot an angry look in reply.

“You know, I was going to untie you, but I think instead I’ll wait and call the station in a few minutes, you know, once I’m a safe distance away.  Well, bye, and if you have a chance, you should check out the Fun Run.  It’s going to be way awesome!

………………
“Ugh!”  Veronica struggled into her chic galoshes.

“…rival station Channel Six’s Meteorologist Veronica Cavanagh was unable to come on the air yesterday after a mysterious woman calling herself Heather Frost bound and gagged her, and then proceeded to deliver her own weather report, depriving viewers of Miss Cavanagh’s sunny smile.”

The co-anchor giggled as she responded to her partner’s banter.  “We’re certain Channel Six will give Heather Frost a chilly reception should she ever return!”

“Haha, very funny, yeah, enjoy your laugh at my expense.”  Veronica angrily snapped the remote, silencing the television.  Didn’t they have any real news that morning?  Wasn’t it bad enough going through the ordeal once, without having to keep hearing about it?

After the fake meteorologist had left, Veronica had waited several long minutes before Bradley Timpson had opened her dressing room door.  Naturally, she had expected to be untied right away, but no.  He had run out again!

He had returned with a camera crew, but instead of untying her then, he had proceeded to describe her situation in dramatic fashion as Veronica had silently smoldered.  Then the sound operator had announced something was wrong with his equipment and, so he’d had to go find a replacement and then Bradley had gone over his long spiel all over again!

Finally he had finished, but the worst thing, Veronica reflected as she donned her raincoat, was that Bradley still hadn’t untied her even then, but had walked away, telling the interns to sort her out.

It definitely had not been a fun experience.

“Well, at least I’m going to have the last laugh on Heather Frost, or whatever her name really is,” she thought grimly as she carefully set a waterproof bucket hat on her head.  “It’ll serve her right when her big shindig is washed out.”

The thought cheered Veronica immensely.  She reached for her umbrella, imagining “Heather” standing forlornly in the parking lot, getting thoroughly drenched.  She stepped outside…

…into brilliant sunshine.

There wasn’t a cloud anywhere, not even a puffy white one floating lonely on the horizon.

She stared into the blue sky for a moment, and then returned indoors to change out of her raingear.

………………..
Veronica almost jumped out of her chair when her dressing room door opened suddenly, but it was just another annoying intern, acting busy as she handed the meteorologist a sheaf of papers.

“Why are you bothering me with this?” she snapped.  “I already have this info on my computer.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Cavanagh, they told me to bring them to you.  I’m such a big fan of your work.”  She paused, but when Veronica didn’t respond, plowed ahead.  “How do you like New Hampshire after Hawaii?”

Veronica longed to be back at her old job in Hawaii doing the weather, but she didn’t bother replying to that question either.  She sighed with relief when the intern got the message and left.  She took a deep breath, telling herself to calm down.  There was no way she would encounter Heather Frost again today; that ditz would be busy with her Fun Run.  A pity, though, there was such wonderful weather for it.  The sunshine shouldn’t be here!  She studied the meteorological data, trying to discover where the rain had gone.

The door opened again.  “You’re on in ten minutes, Miss Cavanagh,” she was informed.

“Time for me to get moving!”  She wore a white blouse with the image of an unfriendly gray cloud, and a black, high-waist pencil skirt.  Her hair and make-up were perfect; she was ready to deliver the noon report.  “Need to let the eager viewers know it will rain tomorrow,” she said aloud.  “It’s going to pour down, worse than I thought it would today!”

“Oh, gosh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Enid Grudgings said sadly, walking in at just that moment.

“Eek!” screamed Veronica as Enid wrapped ropes around her arms once again.  “Stop it!  What are you even doing here?  Don’t you have your horrible Fun Run to attend to?”

“I thought you might wonder about that,” Enid replied, working busily. “I’m way sorry. I know I more or less promised I wouldn’t do this again, but… you know, this would be way easier if you’d keep a little more still.”

“Why… are… you… here‽” Veronica screamed, despite the cloth stuffed in her mouth.

“Well, you see, this is way embarrassing, but I got things mixed up.  The Fun Run isn’t today.  It’s tomorrow!  And we have to have nice weather for it, not rain like you just said, so I’m afraid Heather Frost has to make a repeat performance.”