Lightning streaked across the black sky illuminating the old Eucalyptus. Wind swept through the tree thrashing the branches as though they were twigs, forcing them to the ground, beating the earth until the tempest past. The shaken limbs regained their height, trembling after the impact. Frank tiled his head back finishing the last bit of scotch, welcoming the warm liquid as it caressed his throat. He refilled his glass before returning to his chair.
“Wish they would get home,”Frank whispered.
Frank expected his wife and children any time, Christmas was only days away and his wife had told him she needed to pick up a few things. She left dinner in the oven, so he headed for the kitchen. He wasn’t used to eating alone and if it hadn’t been for the rain and thunder, he didn’t think he would have been able to stand all the quiet, although he was always complaining about how much noise the kids made.
“I guess I’m never satisfied,” He chuckled.
Leaving the dishes on the table it occurred to him he should probably rinse them and put them in the dishwasher.
“I’ll get to it later.”
He went back to the den where a stack of paperwork waited on the table.
“I should probably get that finished. What the hell, I’ve got tomorrow.”
Frank freshened his drink, grabbed the newspaper then relaxed his tall frame into his favorite chair. There was an article about a drunk driver killing some pedestrians and Frank was glad he didn’t drink and drive, well, not lately. Sometimes, it couldn’t be helped. Like that time he had to pick up his twelve year old daughter, Amy, from school on the spur of the moment. He told his wife, Jenny, he hadn’t been drinking and not to worry.
“I wonder if Amy ever told her mother I made her drive home. Must not have or there would have been hell to pay. That little Amy sure is a trooper.”
Frank awoke with a start; the storm had passed leaving an eerie silence. He forgot where he was for a moment. He waited till his head stopped spinning then picked up his glass of scotch.
“What would I do without you to get me through the day?”
Frank was well aware of how his wife felt about his scotch consumption. He didn’t drink, not that much, when they first got married, but what with the kids and the business it seemed he was relying on it more and more every day. He had promised Jenny six months ago he would stop, but hadn’t kept his word.
“I guess she’s gotten used to it.” Frank knew he had everything under control, including his drinking. He didn’t drink in front of the kids and his liquor cabinet was always locked. Jenny hadn’t complained for quite awhile.
“I sure married a great woman.”
Frank wandered through the empty rooms. “Jenny keeps a nice house.” He past Amy’s room and noticed the big teddy bear he had given her wasn’t in its usual place on the bed. He opened her dresser drawers… empty. He ran to his son’s room… empty. Panic swept over him as he ran to his bedroom. Everything looked normal. Walking quickly to his wife’s dresser he yanked the drawers open throwing them to the floor…empty. The noise in his head clapped like thunder. Frank sat on the bed until he could breathe, staring into the dark liquid he held in his two shaking hands. Forcing himself to his feet he walked slowly to the kitchen. Dropping two ice cubes into his glass he groaned,
“I guess I don’t have everything under control.”
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