On Saturday evening as the snowstorm raged outside we were settled in watching television. When all of a sudden the power went out! We present here our very different responses to this situation. Asa and I will leave it up to you to decide who responded appropriately and who did not.
Chuck Billy: So there we were watching a really boring movie that Mom picked, when all of a sudden the lights went out and we were thrown into a life and death situation. I immediately jumped to my paws to assume command. Don’t panic! Don’t panic! Oh who am I fooling? This is totally a time to panic! While I feared for our wellbeing, Mom and Dad clearly did not grasp the seriousness of the situation. Dad went to peek out the windows to see if the entire neighborhood was in the dark, while Mom just sat there on the couch looking something up on his phone.
I immediately started pawing her into action. “Do you want to go out?” she asked. Of course I want to go out! We need to flee this house to safety! That’s when I heard it. The telltale beeping of doom coming from the computer room. I immediately launched myself onto Mom’s lap to protect her. Would you believe she just sat there and laughed oblivious to the mortal danger we were in sitting in the dark?
Speaking of oblivious, Asa didn’t even stir during this state of crisis. He continued sleeping. Well sorry Asa, we cannot risk being slowed down by your lethargy. You will have to stay behind while I guide Mom and Dad to the safety of the backyard. Why aren’t they listening to me? Why is Mom on the phone while Dad lights an oil lamp? This is serious people!
Asa: I agree with Chuck Billy that the movie Mom picked was boring. But that’s where our similarities end. When the room suddenly became quiet, I woke from my nap to notice we were all sitting in the dark. “Oh good,” I thought, “I can finally go to bed.” You see I was not in the least worried like Chuck Billy, because I knew Mom and Dad had everything under control.
After confirming the neighborhood was in darkness, Mom used an app on Dad’s phone to check in with the power company. She announced that there were 283 other families in our little town currently sitting in the dark too. Dad then headed to the basement to get the generator setup. Again, I knew I had nothing to fear. Dad has practiced this drill a hundred times. Periodically throughout the year Dad checks the generator to make sure it would be in good working order for moments like this one. In fact, Dad is psychic. Before heading to the basement, he predicted, “I bet the power will come back on by the time I get the generator running.” And you know what? Dad was right.
Just when I heard the rumble of our generator starting outside, all the lights and the TV magically tuned on again. The power was back on for everyone! As I rolled over on my back in a more comfortable position with my paws in the air, I drifted off to sleep wondering how all our neighborhood friends passed those 45 minutes in the dark.
