Blackout Part 2

Slowly but surely, the sky darkened. The power still had not been restored in the countryside.

Critters stayed in their own houses, not daring to open their door to the frightful world outside.

Outside, there were gusty winds, frigid cold, and scary moonlight.

Critters were not in the mood to go to sleep. “Okay, everyone can stay up, so long as you all stick together. We’ll wait for the restored power together.” Heidi affirmed.

The critters at Heidi’s house all stayed within the living room, for the warmth of the fireplace.

Skip and Bell had already done the courtesy of bringing every blanket in the house down.

Whatever remained of hot tea in Heidi’s teapot was served. “Me cold,” Honey shivered.

At their neighbors’ house, the Tuxedo Cats and Ginni were also following a similar strategy. They had gone up to the third floor with all the blankets they had to bundle up tight.

Minutes seemed to tick ever more slowly, but finally the lights stuttered. They flashed a few times before returning to their normal state when turned on.

“It’s a…” Lily exclaimed. “Miracle!” her sister followed. Their parents were not the least bit surprised that they could complete each others’ sentences. But, the Tuxedo Cats were very lucky. Their house, considered the very newest and modernest in the entire Cloverleaf Countryside, was aided by the goodness of new technology. Power quickly came back thanks to the installation of new modern wires. The power plant in town felt safe about those new wires and permitted electricity to be run through them even in awful weather.

Natalie declared that everyone was to have a bite or two in this cold. She served up eggs and salvaged bread along with warmed milk.

“See! I told you these extra touches were important,” Mason pointed out with an all too ‘I told you so’ tone.

“Yes, you were right, father,” Rose complimented. “I just worry about the rest of the critters. Poor Hopscotches. Everyone knows how old and senior their house is.”

“We could invite them if they need anything,” Mason generously offered. “We borrow their car all the time.”

Rose smiled at the thought, and decided to invite their neighbors inside. Taking the short path to the patio of the Deluxe Village House, which was shaded by patio awnings, she reached a house that was all dark.

Rose knocked and was greeted by a still somehow cheerful Mrs. H. Choch.

“Hello, Rose dear. What are you doing in this type of weather?” Heidi asked.

“Well, it must be a miracle, but my house has the power back. My parents were wondering if you, your family, and the critters you house might want to come join us. It could be a very long night.”

“That’s so kind of you. Just as long as you don’t mind the extra company! I’ll bring some extra provisions for tonight.”

Suddenly, Rose thought of her idol Teri Choch and her daughters too. Their house, while newer than Heidi’s, was built as a traditional log cabin. Simple, rustic, and not equipped with modern electricity wires.

“Oh, and Mrs. H. Choch, you can phone your sister and nieces to come, too. We’ll have an all countryside population gathering at my house,” Rose cracked a joke.

Heidi took up the offer, and Teri was on her way shortly with her daughters.

The residents of the Deluxe Village House came in a calm single file line. One by one, Natalie ushered them in, while also thanking Heidi for the biscuits and donuts she had brought along.

Luke had also been invited by Lily, his tree house wouldn’t be the best place to stay in during this weather. He gladly accepted, Luke didn’t need electricity, but he saw this as a wonderful play date opportunity.

The critters gathered in the Tuxedos’ smaller house. “There’s more room upstairs,” Lily offered, so the babies and a few of the children went up the second floor to snuggle in the twin daughters’ blankets.

Before long, Teri’s bright Cherry Cruiser had pulled in, too. The car was without a top, so the family were trying their best to shield their heads from the rain with Teri’s fashionable hats.

“My hats are ruined,“ Teri mumbled to herself in the car.

Then, she went on to say much more loudly, “Oh, thank you for your offer, Natalie. I want you to know that it was VERY TERI of you to do something like this for everyone. And what a smart move by your family to go with these modern technologies. It’s a shame I didn’t consider them when my husband and I commissioned our log cabin.” Natalie beamed at such a gracious compliment from her idol.

The critters had all just about settled in. Babies and children could chat and play simple games upstairs.

If anyone was hungry, food had been laid out by the mothers. Harlin and Mason were already having a deep conversation about how the modern applications of Mason’s home worked over tea heated by Natalie’s stove and provided by Heidi’s ingredients.

But soon after, Bell noticed a flicker in the far right window of Lily’s and Rose’s Children's Bedroom.

“What’s that over there?” she asked.

Bellia came to look over her sister’s pointed paw, but saw nothing.

“Oh, it was probably a small reflection from the lights in this home,” she rationally explained.

Bell didn’t believe the explanation Bellia offered. “Look again. I saw something,” she insisted with persistence. Bellia, with all time time in the world tonight, looked again. So, the scene was awfully odd. Two twins dressed in matching dresses staring out the dark open of a window.

But the flicker happened again much more rapidly until it was clear that the lights of the Deluxe Village House had been restored.

“Oh my, we have to tell everyone!” Bellia rushed. They informed everyone in the house with so many happy sighs.

Heidi thanked Natalie and her family for her recent kindness before packing off with all the residents of the restored house. Teri also drove home with her daughters to find a powered home, too. After this frightful incident, the critters learned to appreciate even the basic gift of electrical light in their homes.