After Elara left, I began to pack. Half an hour ago, I’d already submitted the disaster forecast report for Willow Creek to my superio- rs. Now, I had to drive there and pick up Elara’s parents. They were still my in–laws, after all. I couldn’t abandon them.
I hadn’t even driven out of the complex when Director Miller called me.
“Alex,” he began, “I hear you just uploaded a report?”
“Yes, Director,” I replied. “Is there a problem?”
Director Miller’s tone turned stern. “What do you mean, is there a problem? Alex, you’ve worked at our center for so many years, how can you still be so immature? How could you fabricate a disaster report just to stop Elara from having a normal social life? What you’re doing is illegal!”
Elara was Director Miller’s protégé; they must have just spoken. Now they both believed I was lying, putting on an act!
I immediately explained. “Director, I’m serious. Willow Creek will be hit by a Category Five avalanche tonight at eleven, absolutely! You-”
Director Miller’s stance was unyielding. “Say no more. I’ve already taken your report down. Alex, your work ethic is highly question- able. Don’t bother coming in for the next two days. Stay home and reflect on your actions. If I’d known you were so unreliable, I wou- 1d never have pushed you two together in the first place!”
Aft
Av
a moment’s hesitation, I called a higher–ranking superior. Before I could even speak, the executive began to reprimand me sternly.
“You’re Alex Chen, correct? Director Miller just briefed me on your situation. And here I thought you were a dependable, capable young man. Today, you’ve truly opened my eyes! I believe you’re no longer suited for work at our center. You should seek opportunit-
ies elsewhere!”
The line went dead, and it took me a long moment to fully process what had just happened. I couldn’t believe it; just like that, I’d lost my job.
But this wasn’t the time for such thoughts. It was six PM, only five hours until the avalanche. I had much more to do before then. I
called Elara’s parents again. Her father answered.
“What? An avalanche? Alex, you’re not serious, are you? Willow Creek hasn’t had an avalanche in eight hundred years! Where’s Elara? Put Elara on the phone!”
I took a deep breath. “Elara went on a trip with her college friend. Dad, I’m truly not joking. Willow Creek will have an avalanche tonight at eleven PM. Willow Creek Town will be affected. You must listen to me. Please, tell Mayor Thompson about this, get
everyone to evacuate as soon as possible!”
He promised, “You can trust me, Alex. This is a matter of life and death; I’ll handle it!”
Two hours later, I arrived in Willow Creek Town. There were still three hours until the avalanche, but looking around, the town’s main street was still bustling with people. They had absolutely no sense of impending danger! What was going on?
Time was pressing. I called her father again as I hurried towards Mayor Thompson’s house. To my dismay, her father was right there at Mayor Thompson’s house, and the two of them were sharing a drink.
