The Perfect Snow Day

The Perfect Snow Day

Samantha and Jesse sit at the table having coffee. It's eleven in the morning, and they stare out of the window in silence at the snow.

"How long since it snowed?" Jesse asks.

”About... seven years I think, and it wasn't this heavy. Let's go sledding“

"We don't have a sled, and there are no hills."

"Party pooper, Jesse."

”It's cold out there, Samantha."

”Snowball fight?”

“Samantha, my reflexes and throwing ability are unmatched."

Samantha asks, "Did you get the paper this morning?"

Jesse looks suspiciously at her. "You want to throw a snowball at me don't you?"

"No, I just want to read the paper."

Jesse says smiling, "You may be the lawyer, but I know when people are not telling the truth, too." Jesse gets up, puts on his coat, and runs out the front door. He glances back suspiciously to see if Samantha will follow. No Samantha! He runs into the yard looking for the paper which by now is probably covered with snow. Jesse, ever observant, looks periodically for Samantha. He can't believe she's not lurking about. Finally he finds the paper, looks up, and just before a snowball hits him in the head, he sees Stealth Samantha with an arsenal of snow balls ready to go piled on the ground. It appears she has a good arm. Oh, well, never let a good snow day go to waste. It's on! As fast as he can, Jesse makes and throws snowballs at Samantha as she mercilessly bombards him. Finally freezing with cold, they run inside the house, both declaring themselves the winner. Jesse turns on the TV and flops down.

"Want some more coffee?" Samantha asks.

"I do... Mine's cold like me." Jesse turns on the TV and tunes it to Hallmark. Samantha brings coffee and sits down beside him.

"Hallmark movies again?"

"I like them. I can figure them out." Samantha senses his frustration with their investigation. Jesse has put in his time with the others watching Neville Dugat hoping to find the evidence needed to convict him. The town mayor Monroe, Jesse and Samantha know Dugat is their man. They know he's responsible for the fire that burned a house down on the Belle Rive and almost killed Simon, Candy, Monroe, and Jesse. They just need the final proof. All his years as a detective and investigator give Jesse a wealth of knowledge he's eager to pass to the younger generation of investigators, and he is all too familiar with the tedium of overnight surveillances so he's especially happy he wasn't a part of it last night. On a day like this, he's happy to be "on call" but secretly hopes he's not needed. Thinking back on the past week, Jesse tries to focus on all that's happened. While Simon was recuperating in the hospital with his fiancee' Candy by his side, he received a flower arrangement from an "unknown admirer." Suspicious of the delivery, quickly Officer Jones moved the flower arrangement to an empty room just before it exploded. Though Simon and Candy were unharmed, a faux funeral was held for family only sparing no expense to lull Dugat into a false sense of security. Officer Jones kept tight surveillance on Dugat and reported within the last week that he often entered a bayou leading to the Belle Rive. He would disappear and swim for up to four hours before he returned. The suspicion he is a draakar is bearing out, but what could he be doing? The tranquility of their snow day is interrupted when Officer Jones calls and tells them Dugat again seems to be following a similar pattern as the other days he swam in the Belle Rive. Jones wants to alert them and let them know, but the Finding has not received a 'Go.' Jesse and Samantha want desperately to see Neville Dugat go down but are conflicted whether they want the Finding 'Alert' to become a 'Go.' Samantha and Jesse sit back and relax. About an hour later, the phone rings. Monroe says the Finding is a 'Go'. Monroe tells them he is on the way and not thirty minutes later, Samantha and Jesse are with Monroe speeding down a road that barely qualifies as a dirt road. Everyone meets at the location Officer Jones suggested. The Finding appears ready. Officer Jones gets word Neville Dugat is in the water heading toward the Belle Rive. The Finding moves out. Samantha, Jesse, and Monroe walk lagging behind with Officer Jones who receives reports of Dugat's progress. Jesse can't believe Neville is in the water. The snow is melting at a slow pace and it's 40 degrees. Jesse doesn't want to think what the wind chill factor is, but he's glad to be there to see what Dugat is up to and have the opportunity to collect evidence. At least being this cold you don't have to worry about snakes. Being a bayou boy he remembers being in areas where with every step you hear a snake, frog, or turtle go into the water. The size of the creature judged by the sound of the splash. At least all the reptiles know better than to be out on a day like this, but he finds it little consolation as he feels a chilling gust of wind on his face. The path is thick with bushes and overgrown with roots and weeds. It's hard going. Jones gets calls when Dugat is spotted, but he's good at keeping out of sight. Anytime a boat is seen from the bank the Finding lose track of him, but then shortly he is found again. The Finding observe an unusual amount of kayaks, each paddled by a Santa Claus, and all decorated as if they are from the North Pole. It has to be some sort of winter festival it appears, but when Dugat sees them, he disappears. The Finding fear they've lost him. Has he reached his destination and is no longer in the water? Officer Jones urges the Finding to maintain their secrecy, and they continue on for probably forty more minutes. Suddenly a call comes in. A man is seen not fully clothed, and it must be Dugat. The Finding keep him in sight. As fewer boats are seen on the Belle Rive, the man suddenly enters the water. Five minutes later Officer Jones receives a report about the discovery of a small hidden cottage concealed by numerous bushes and trees about sixty yards from the Belle Rive. The Finding is told to stand by and hold their positions. Samantha, Jesse, Monroe, and Officer Jones pick up their pace. Their previous fast walk turns to jogging... fast jogging. Five minutes later, the Finding calls, and a breathless Officer Jones slows down and answers, "Jones... Okay, let him get inside. We should be there. We have less than a mile... I know... I'm out of breath. Still running... Okay." Off the phone and still running, the others are more breathless, wishing he would stop and tell them about the call, but they run on. Finally gasping for air Officer Jones tells them, "A man ... was seen coming to the cottage.... we should be there... soon." Officer Jones is the youngest and in the best shape. The others can barely manage a nod. Jesse thinks, this is the wilderness. A person could hide out here and never be seen. Samantha thinks this would be a good time to try 'to change.' She has talked to Pamela Lawton on several occasions, and along with a dose of the special medicine Doesonear, Pamela performed a procedure which allowed Samantha to change once. She was apprehensive of the process involved at first and in general wondered if this was what she really wanted. Since Jesse and she had moved to Community, she has become more comfortable with the idea. Her discussions with Pamela Lawton have been very private, and she hasn't shared them with Jesse. It wasn't that long ago that Samantha wanted Jesse to walk away with her, back to their old life in New Orleans. Up ahead some of the Finding motion to them to stop. The cottage is only about 100 yards ahead, and the man has entered and is still inside. All welcome the change from running to walking and shortly reach the clearing around the cottage to join the watch. The crack of twigs under their feet and the swish and snap of limbs on bushes being hit as they ran has been replaced with the sound of crickets, wind rustling leaves, and small animals scurrying unseen to whereabouts unknown. Samantha sees the cottage partially hidden by the trees. She hears Officer Jones whisper on the phone then he comes in close and whispers to them. In the cottage is the man they've been watching and waiting for. They've tracked him here. Everyone settles back and waits. If the man leaves in an hour or five hours, it doesn't matter. They'll wait as long as it takes. Officer Jones gives orders for the majority of the Finding to withdraw to their outer perimeter, with two hiding on the bank of the Belle Rive and five more in close proximity to the house. It's now dusk, and they sit in silence. At least being winter, the insect population is down, and the snakes and other assorted reptiles, if they are around, are so cold they're catatonic. Night falls, and then an hour later, a faint light is seen. Jesse thinks it's obvious. The idea that here in the boonies with no one thought to be around, a faint light is barely visible points to the fact that someone in that cottage is using maximum security. In that case, how many people or aliens from another planet may be in the cottage with strict orders to stay concealed there. About two hours later, they hear a scream barely audible to Samantha, Jesse, Monroe, and Officer Jones. A call comes in immediately asking for instructions. Officer Jones looks to Monroe, Samantha, and Jesse. If someone is in need of help, then they must go in. Quickly everyone agrees. Officer Jones immediately gives the order while at the same time, they see a man dragging a woman from the cottage screaming. Officer Jones and Monroe, both make their change, transform into mountain lions, and run toward the cottage. Samantha and Jesse bring up the rear. Samantha suddenly says, "I can change." Shocked Jesse asks, "What?"

"Pamela Lawton gave me Doesonear. I changed once."

This is news to Jesse, but he only says, "Okay..." He can't talk about it now. Samantha and Jesse change, and Samantha quickly leaves Jesse behind. Back at the cottage, the five of the Finding fight with the man who still carries the struggling woman. He is also attempting to change, but finally gored many times by the Finding that changed into deer, he drops the woman who appears to be half woman and half unknown alien. The man completes his change and though injured, slashes the deer who was stationed at the riverbank as they run head on into each other. Monroe and Officer Jones run past the cottage just as the cottage explodes into flames while Samantha and Jesse bring up the rear. Three people run out of the fiery cottage and fall. They are beyond help. The Finding five run to Monroe and Officer Jones and quickly tell them the man that escaped is a draakar who is heading toward the Belle Rive. Jesse heads there too. He heard what direction the draakar was headed and also knows that he is injured. Jesse enters the Belle Rive and gives chase. A worried Samantha gives comfort to the woman as the entirety of the Finding arrives. Immediately the Finding are told to travel back to the area where Neville Dugat first entered the Belle Rive, peeling off along the banks as they go. The Finding race off, not quietly and stealthily as before, but like the stampeding herd of deer they truly are. Monroe, Officer Jones and two others run along each side of the Belle Rive in search of the two draakar. Moonlight reflects off the surface of the water, and the current is slow so movement in the still water should be easily seen. As they run, Monroe hopes Dugat's injuries will slow him down, otherwise he will be hard to catch. They keep running for what seems like hours, and as thoughts of being left behind begin to seem more and more real, suddenly around a bend they hear splashes mixed with unfamiliar groans and screams. The creatures in the water are not swimming, but fighting. As Monroe and the others stand frozen on the banks, he suddenly remembers the story Bob told him about how he killed a seven foot gator as a draakar when he was only twelve. Monroe yells, "Change!" to the two deer, and Officer Jones and he jump into the water, but the problem is, there are two draakar at night. Which one is Jesse? In the turmoil, Officer Jones manages to separate the two draakar with strikes thrown at both. Mountain lions, though not known for their swimming ability, are still fast and have claws lethal to any animal. In the chaos, Jesse changes, and Officer Jones and Monroe both turn on a fatigued draakar, alias Neville Dugat. Suddenly the draakar goes under then comes up slashing at Officer Jones. A spent Jesse changes back as Dugat attempts to swim away, but Jesse catches him quickly before he is able to speed up. They are at it again. Monroe motions toward the riverbank. They must get Dugat into the shallows near the bank. Officer Jones and Monroe attack again from one direction forcing him toward the bank. Dugat tries to go under again for another attack from underneath, but there's nowhere to go. Immediately he comes up confused and disoriented, barely able to move. From the Finding, Fred and Charlie jump in the water to tie up Dugat and drag him toward the bank as Officer Jones and Monroe change back. Sometimes it's good to have hands that can grasp and make a fist. Officer Jones and Monroe along with Jesse who have all now changed back, collapse on the bank as Charlie and Fred tend to their wounds. Officer Jones quickly calls for a boat. Jesse notices Charlie has pulled out a small pistol and is holding it on a semi conscience Dugat.

Puzzled he asks, "Where the Hell did he get that?"

Monroe asks, "What?"

"Charlie has a gun."

Fred tells Jesse, "I have one too."

"You have one?" Jesse turns to Monroe. "Fred has one too. Why don't I have one."

Monroe who is completely exhausted tells Jesse, "Really. That's what you want to know? Fine. I'll get you one... I'll get you one."

"I need one. How are they concealed?" Monroe takes a deep breath and is happy he has a reprieve from the explanation when they hear Officer Jones on the phone. "We're on the banks of the Belle Rive. He's fine, I'll let you talk to him." Monroe knows Jesse is pumped, and he thinks to himself, 'Thank God, it's Samantha.'

Jesse grabs the phone. "I'm great. We got him. A boat's coming to pick us up. You good?... Is she conscious?... Great. They can bring you back... I know there's medical people... Okay, be careful... Really we're all alright"... Did we get him peacefully?" Jesse gives the others a look then makes a face when the others return the look with a slight laugh. Monroe manages to raise his head, look at Jesse, and then flop his head back on the grass and mud on the bank. He doesn't care. Jesse continues, "Not exactly peacefully. I'll tell you when I see you. ... Bye, love you too. BE CAREFUL." Jesse lays back his head.

Monroe smiles and thinks, 'It's finally gotten to him.' Soon a boat picks them up to take everyone, including Neville Dugat, back to undisclosed locations to be checked out. It's night, getting colder again, and the water that earlier was melting, is now turning back into ice especially dangerous on the formerly wet but now icy boarding ramp. Jesse in a hurry to get warm on the boat, rushes up the boarding ramp and almost falls. Suddenly he is in slow motion taking one step at a time on the slippery surface. On the boat, an exhausted Jesse thinks how only three months ago both he and Samantha were in New Orleans leading a normal life. Now he is a creature from another planet called a draakar, swimming down the Belle Rive, catching and fighting the bad draakar while Samantha chooses to run with deer... as a deer. What a day! Strange, still... he feels a sense of belonging. He smiles, lays his head down and sleeps. The End