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The Hurricane!

Hey Al, called Mac, come out here for a minute. Ok, what's up, asked Al. There is a buzzard that has been circling up there for a long time. Oh, said Al, that's Benny Buzzard. You mean, asked Mac, The Benny Buzzard, gas pedal buzzard for the great truck trip? I thought we were going to forget about that, said Al. Forgive, yes - Forget, in a while. OK, said Al, anyway Benny sent me an email and said he was coming up for a few days. He is a hurricane refugee, and I thought we should let him bunk with us until the storm passes. Why doesn't he land, asked Mac? He's waiting for my signal, said Al. Give him the signal before he gets dizzy from going around in circles.

Hi Benny, said Al, how was your trip? Well, said Benny it was rough in spots. I should have left earlier. Boy it's cold on this concrete, let's sit in a chair.

That's much better, said Benny. I don't like cold much. It's always warm to hot in southeast Texas. I'm getting hungry, said Benny, all I've had to eat lately is opossum. I'm ready for something else.

Hi Mac, said Benny, How have you been? I've been great, said Mac, did you have a difficult trip? It wasn't too bad, said Benny. Benny is hungry, said Al. What would you like, asked Mac? Well, I'm a little burned out on road kill, because that's all I could find on the way up, said Benny. What I would really like is some good raw beef. You know, said Benny, a couple of good T-Bone steaks would be great! You are out of luck, said Mac, because we don't eat much beef around here. I could probably find some chicken, said Mac. I suppose that will be alright, said Benny.

Later the same day

I think there is someone at the back door, said Al. It looks like Barely, said Mac, I'll let him in. Hi Barely, said Mac, what's up? Well, said Barely, I've been checking the weather and I think if I stay in my house I may end up in the Gulf of Mexico, so I decided to see if I could bunk with you guys for a day or two. That's fine said Mac, but you can't bring your house. You can share the guest bed with Benny. That will be great, said Barely. Is anyone else coming, asked Benny? I don't know, said Mac. Al, do you know of anyone? I have had a couple inquiries, via email, said Al, but I don't know of anyone for sure. The word has gotten out that this is a pretty good place to visit if you need a place to sleep and some good food.

A little more later

Hey guys, said mac, there is someone new at the back door. it's Ozzy said Al.

Hey Ozzy, it's good to see you, said Al. However, you aren't a refugee from the hurricane, so what brings you here. The word is out, said Ozzy, that there was a refugee group here so I thought I would come for a visit. I sure had a good time the other weekend I was here. You remember, said Ozzy, the time we drove the truck. PLEASE, said Al, don't bring that up around Mac, he is still a bit sensitive about it.

Look, said Benny, there's Vinny at the back door. Great, said Barely, we really need an alligator - especially one that claims to be a "Vegegator". Well, said Mac. he was good the other weekend he was here . Yes, said Al, but he was only here for the day. I wonder, said Barely, if he is still mad at us for getting him moved down south. I will chat with him about staying, said Mac.

Hi Vinny said Mac, hop up here and let's have a chat. Are you still mad at us for getting you moved, asked Mac? Not so much now, said Vinny, I kind of understand why you did it. It wasn't because we didn't like you, said Mac, it's just that alligators don't do well in town. They get blamed for every thing that disappears. Are you still trying to convince folks you are a Vegegator, asked Mac? No, said Vinny, that didn't work out too well and I am looking for a better story. That's good, said Mac, because we didn't buy it. You will have to sleep in the creek where you used to live, since you are the only carnivorous one in the group. That' ok, said Vinny, I kind of miss the place.

Do you promise to be good while we are here asked Barely? Yes, I promise, said Vinny and I am sleeping outside at the creek. I'll keep an eye on him, said Ozzy, I know a lot about alligators.

The Next Morning

Hey guys, said Benny, there's Casey. I sure didn't expect him, said Al, I thought he was off on a tour of some kind.

Casey it's real good to see you, but what brings you here, asked Al? I was part of a tour of exotic animals, said Casey. We were passing through this area and stopped for gas and supplies. I got out to look around and stretch my legs, and they drove off without me. I guess they thought I was in the trailer. I remembered how much fun I had here before, so I headed this way. I figure they will put out a call for me soon. I sure got some strange looks - you would think people had never seen a two humped camel.

It turns out that none of the gang had ever seen a two humped camel, other than Casey. Casey showed a picture he had with him. He said that two humped camels are "Backtrian Camels. They are mostly found in NW China and Mongolia. Most of them have been domesticated,and only about 950 are estimated to live in the wild.

It seems that Benny was not used to air-conditioning. He was cold all the time, so he kept a towel wrapped around himself all of the time.

That sure is a fine looking bunch. Of course, Vinny is sleeping outside. He would have liked the picture (if he was in it!)

Several weeks have passed since Ike went by, and I still have a house full of critters. I may go broke before they leave. All they do is eat, play games and sleep.
Well, I finally did it! I told the gang it was time to go home - where ever that is. They agreed it was probably time, as the hurricane was long gone. They wanted to play one more game before they left.

Their favorite game is Trouble by Milton Bradley. The players pop the center plastic dome and it bounces the die to get a new number. They spend more time fussing and fighting than playing. Don't know why they like it so much

Here they go again! Barely you moved my piece, yelled Ozzy! That's because I landed on it, said Barely. You miss-counted said Ozzy. Did not, said Barely. Did too, said Ozzy. Did not - did too - did not - did too. Ouch, yelled Barely, who is biting me? It's Vinny, said Al, but I don't know why, because he wasn't even in the game. Vinny, said Mac, why are you in this fight? Uh - well _ I uh, I was just helping my buddy Barely. Looks like to me you were trying to get a bite of me, said barely. Also, said Barely, we are not buddies.

Ozzy decided to have a chat with Vinny. Vinny, said Ozzy, it is time for us to go home. We've had a great time. I will go along with you for a ways to see that you don't get lost. You mean, said Vinny, to make sure I don't come back. That too, said Ozzy. See you guys next time, said Ozzy & Vinny. Have a safe trip, said the others.

Now that there is just four , maybe they will get along. I don't know about Vinny, said Barely. He makes me nervous, and he is always close to me wherever I am. I think if everyone left all of the sudden, I might be in trouble. Well, said Benny, you don't have to worry about anything but us now. I know, said Barely, and I notice Al can't count either. I can too count, said Al. Then why did you move my piece back to home. Because I landed on it, said Al.

Your move was supposed to be 4 spaces, said Barely. I only moved 4 spaces, said Al. No, said Barely, you moved 5 spaces so you knock off one of my pieces and you thought I wouldn't notice. I think you're the one that can't count, said Al. HOLD IT GUYS, said Mac. You guys aren't going to see each other for a while and you need to quit fighting over a silly game.

Meanwhile, said Benny, I'm freezing to death. I don't see why you people keep the house so cold. I could store my road kill in here and it would last forever! Next visit maybe it will be later in the year and the heat will be on. Please, no road kill , said Mac.

Well, said Al, after all this time and all the fights and fusses we are still buddies. Next time we are going to leave Vinney out. He just can't be trusted. I thought he was going to bite your tail off there for a minute Barely, said Al. Me too, said Casey. I guess we better get our stuff and hit the road. Mac, we sure had a great time and really enjoyed your hospitality, said Casey. You may get more visitors next hurricane as the word gets out about the the food, fun and good beds. In fact your place could get to be famous as a critter refugee home! Well, said Mac, you guys have a safe trip and come back to see us. Maybe I can find some new games and movies before the next hurricane. Bye Mac, said all. Except Al, of course.

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