Death In The Marshland

​ Shelly put the papers in her file without looking at them. Crystal had told her that they weren't real but to leave them there. Shelly thought that was strange but went ahead and did what she had said to do. That night she couldn't sleep and got up and looked at her chart. None of it was good and had even recommended that they didn't keep her on after her probation period. That shook Shelly up but she was just going to have to deal with Shane's decision. She realized then she was going to miss little Donavan. She wished that Jim and her had a child. Then she thought it was so strange that there was no picture of Shane, Crystal and Donavan as a family. She thought well that's your business and not mine but usually families especially parents of childeren are always taking pictures of them. She thought maybe they have and they have those pictures at their pernament home or mail them back home but with nobody back home who would recieve them. She pondered and decided because there's nobody else they probably hadn't thought of it so maybe it isn't so strange after all. She might bring up the subject with them at a later date.

​ The weather was changing quickly out in the Everglades with Hurricane Andrea fast approaching. The office was told to buckle down so Shelly got the pocedure booklet out and realied that was why the office had shutters and the front window had a steel spring automatic window closure made to protect the window from all kinds of weather so she decided to go ahead and close up the shutters but it would take only a minute or two to close the front windowand door even if the lights go out that closure would work on the emergency lightening system. She finished securing the shutters when Crystal came in to ride out the storm. Donavan heard her and came running calling out momma. She picked him up and gave him a big hug and kiss. Shelly went just doors down to the fast food joint and got cheese burgers, fries for everyone. and chicken nuggets for Donavan. Crystal said that Shane was staying in the everglades to evacuate people to the community center. She told Shelly a story while Donavan was playing in his room about her and Donavan. It was breathtaking and put Shane on a pedestal in her mind and explain why there isn't any family photos. She knew now that they were only putting Donavan first. Donavan was a very lucky little boy to have the parents that he had. Donavan wanted more chicken nuggets after his nap so Shelly put them in the microwave and sat him at his little table with a little bowl of macand cheese to go with the chicken nuggets,as the wind was picking up speed. About three in the afternoon wind was gusting at one hundred and fifteen miles an hour and tree limbs was being thrown all over so the two women decided to roll down the steel window and door cover. Shelly changed batteries in the weather radio. The National Hurracane Center was listing the storm as level three heading to a five before it would be over. Crystal was worried about Shane and stayed close to the radio. When Shane contacted them the crackling sound was so intensed you couldn't make out what he was saying so they contacted the sheriff' patrol and was told that one of their units had just came back in and had informed them that the park ranger had just gotten the last of the cabin;s occupants to the community center and they all were bunked doen there. Crystal was very relieved to hear that message.