Carmen: NO, you’re gonna be boarding them up.

Shane: For a thunderstorm.

Carmen: No Shane, for a hurricane!

Carmen walked over to Alex as Shane jogged out. Carmen leaned over and kissed the teen’s temple and whispered in her ear.

Carmen: Honey wake up.

Alex opened her eyes again.

Carmen: We need your help.

Carmen walked out of the room.

Alex walked outside to find her Madre picking up all the garden and decorations on the lawn, as well as all the bikes and everything outside and putting them in the garage. Her mom had a nail in her mouth and a tool belt. She mumbled, still holding the nail.

Shane: Hey Alex, gimme a hand?

Alex nodded and picked up the board, placing it against the window. Shane took the nail out of her mouth and started to hammer it into the board, it curved in.

Shane: Fuck!

Alex laughed.

Alex: I got an idea, I’ll be right back.

Shane shrugged as Alex walked away and tried another nail, it curved again. She cursed just as soon as Alex came back, drill and some screws in hand.

Alex: Much easier with this.

Shane: Oh no, no clue how to use that!

Alex laughed.

Alex: Well I do.

Alex made the hole, then drilled the screw in, tightening it with the screw driver she brought. She did about 15 more to be sure the board would be stable.

Shane: Where’d you learn that?

Alex: Taught myself. Learn a lot on the street. Once I made some money, I bought a small drill and saw. Nothing fancy. Then whenever I’d see some wood in the dump, I’d bring it to my little corner and eventually, I had a small shelter. It was about the size of a large dog house but hey, it kept me out of the nasty weather. Don’t worry I’ll teach you. So what we doing this for anyway?

Shane: A Hurricane’s coming. Apparently a really bad one or something.

Carmen showed up, sweating and panting.

Carmen: Everything’s put away. I can see you got the house boarded up. Who knew you were such a handy-man?