JP - Word from the Farm

Gelf sighed and grimaced. “This is gonna take time…” That was when Kiana’s phone rang.

“It took a while for Kiana and I to get close.” Sorley said, rubbing Gelf’s shoulder.

Kiana answered her phone. “Hello?”

“Kiana, how do I fix a window?” Herbert asked. “Also, are you and the others okay? Whiskers is being a dick and he broke the window.”

“I don’t know how to fix a window, that’s what we have Sorley for. We’re okay but Evie wasn’t there.” Kiana started to feel choked up, thinking about Evie still being held captive somewhere. “Why did Whiskers break a window? Which window did he break?”

“A window in Evie’s room.” Herbert answered. “I put him in there so that maybe he’d shut up and chill for a bit. I was terribly wrong…”

“Oh shit. The Weather Channel said a storm was coming. You gotta fix that window.” Kiana said, pacing with her phone.

“Is Sorley there? Can he help me fix it by talking me through it or something?” Herbert asked. “I’m still trying to figure out how these things you call fingers work. I can still barely get the door open and it took me a full twenty minutes to get this phone to work.”

“Yeah, he’s here, finally getting over a blushing spell. Hey Sorley, phone.” Kiana handed Sorley the phone.

“Hello?” Sorley asked hesitantly.

“How do I fix a window?” Herbert asked him.

Gelf heard the entire conversation and sighed. “Whiskers is the bane of our existence.”

“He misses Evie.” Kiana said, “He was mostly a sweet cat when she was there… I’m not looking forward to telling him we didn’t rescue her today.”

Sorley sighed. “There’s plywood in the barn. Use a tape measure to get a piece a little bigger than the window- the measurements don’t have to be perfect. You’ll also need a hammer and some nails.”

“Uh…okay, so…what’s a hammer and what are nails?” Herbert asked. As an animal he never had to pay attention to this stuff.

“Maybe I should call my friend to go over there and help out…” Gelf murmured.

“How do I define a hammer and nails to a former pig?” Sorley asked Gelf, covering the phone.

“You don’t. Just tell him Gregor will be there soon…” Gelf said and called said man.

Gregor answered and sighed. “Of course,” He said with a soft chuckle. “Tell Miss Kiana and Mr. Sorley hello for me.”

“Will do, old fart. Kiana, Sorley, Gregor says hello!” She giggled.

“Hi Greg!” Kiana greeted.

“Gelf is sending Gregor.” Sorley told Herbert.

“Thanks, see ya when you guys get back.” Herbert said. “Uh…bye.” He hung up.

Gelf giggled again and hung up. “At least that’s taken care of.”

“Yeah.” Sorley said, handing the phone to Kiana. He wrapped his arms around Gelf in a hug.

Gelf would go with Sorley and Kiana to rest a bit. They needed to give her sister time before she made any decisions on what to do.

Sorley fell asleep cuddling with Gelf, holding her as if to assure himself that she was really there. Seeing the shape MegaCorp left Yule in had really shaken him, she looked so much like Gelf. He had always been so afraid of hurting Gelf, seeing her had almost been like seeing his worst fears manifested.

Kiana snored like a chainsaw nearby.

Gelf somehow slept well, despite Kiana’s chainsaw snores, snuggled up close to Sorley.

At one point Kiana’s snoring woke Sorley. He sleepily watched Gelf sleep, gently stroking her hair until he fell back asleep.