16 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2738: the right location
Mrs. Maggie Lee was not quite sure what to do … she knew her husband's tension level had been slowly going up day by day over this thing that really was not his responsibility … but he had stepped into the gap on a thirty-year disaster in the making in Lofton County and even got around local politicians to make sure the people in the affected neighborhood were evacuated. He had even come up with a reroute plan for all the water that was about to be unleashed from an underground creek system and destroy that neighborhood … the Army Corps of Engineers had even determined the right place to do the work. But they were out of time. Hurricane Justicia was also at just the right location to fall apart in the Atlantic and push major rain bands into southern Virginia.
Col. H.F. Lee, member of the board of directors for the Lofton Trust, had not slept the night after the shocking weather report … all night he had paced and prayed, and in the morning he had met online with his fellow trustees about the county-wide ramifications of what was going to happen not in days or weeks, but hours. He had not eaten breakfast either, having just had some water before the virtual meeting.
Mrs. Lee knew he could go on like this for days, but that was not at all a healthy space for him to be in mentally … so then when at last the thick black clouds marched over the eastern horizon, she was glad and surprised to see him stop pacing, after a last look out of the window, and head for the kitchen.
“You see doom and then go eat?” she kidded him gently.
“You have to have strength to meet doom, Maggie,” he just as gently retorted, and smiled at her laughter.
So he had brunch and she had some tea to sip and sit with him, and later he said more.
“I have seen the answer to my prayers on the horizon,” he said. “That is a no, in no uncertain terms. I prayed that the remnants of Justicia be put aside, but I was reminded: mercy is more desirable, but justice is equally good and praiseworthy.”
He paused.
“You know how my grandmother and stepped-ingrandfather John Worley are always running numbers on everything. The civil suit that is going to be happening because of all this is going to be absolutely huge against the county.”
Mrs. Lee considered this.
“Lofton County really doesn't need this right now,” she said. “I was talking to some of our friends at the Church in the Midst of Life, and they are saying the county's resources are thin right now, but the way the politics have been it is little wonder. So much corruption.”
“Yes … and sooner or later, that corruption will have to be exposed and washed out,” Col. Lee said. “Today must be as good a day as any.”
“I'm going to go with Gracie on this: ain't it the truth,” Mrs. Lee said. “Three inches of rain coming in as many hours, at least.”
“At least,” Col. Lee said.. “As much as six inches in the right location.”
Mrs. Lee sighed.
“I remember a rainy day last year as I began to realize where I really was working,” she said, “and I remember that I said to Margie that if the county runs like the police department does, the county was going to be toast sooner or later. I considered quitting then, but the Spirit told me to stay and work and position myself.”
Then she smiled.
“You were being hired at that same time,” she said.
“And I found you in position,” he said, “in due time. We can only pray that the aftermath of today yields such blessings to all involved, because there is now no way out but through.”