Red Sky in the Morning

It didn't seem at all like the best of situations, but they were
determined to get out to Gibbon's Head before the sun came up. Jack
checked his equipment, tapping lightly on the display of his electronic
barometer, shaking his head.

"What's wrong?" Donna asked.

"This thing can't be right. It says there's nothing out there."

"Nothing? As in weather nothing, or nothing nothing?"

"Nothing. No clouds, no atmospheric pressure, no. . . anything." He shrugged and tossed the thing into his rucksack.

"So why take it? Look up there, does that big black swirl to the west really seem like 'nothing'?"

"I'm taking it so you have proof that we set out in a storm by accident." He
chuckled nervously, looking toward the west. "You know, you can say you
were going on instruments and didn't see the lightning. That way you
can claim my life insurance."

"That's not funny, Jack." She grabbed the binoculars and took a closer look at the western sky. "It's moving fast. And it's low. I've never seen that color at dawn. It's
practically purple."

"Good thing we're headed east then. It's pretty over there. Nice and red."

She turned to him in surprise. "Jack, you ass, that's a red sky in the morning!"

"So?"

"Duh, red sky in the morning? Sailor take warning? We're nuts. Can't we wait another day?"

"The boat's ready now, Donna. We only have three days before we have to fly home. It's today or never."

"It's getting windy. Check that damned thing again. You probably hit a reset on it or something."

He pulled the little electronic weather station from the rucksack with a
sigh, and flicked on the power. "There happy? It says. . . "

"What?"

"Well . . . it didn't say that before." He tapped on some dials. "Uh, nothing."

"Again with the nothing! Can I remind you that I don't have any life insurance, and you'll be screwed when I drown?"

His look was near comical. "You don't?"

"Not a cent."

"I thought. . . never mind. Come on, let's get going. We can be out to the island before the storm."

"What? Are you crazy? I'm not getting in that damned boat! The sky is getting blacker by the minute!"

"Not according to this." He tossed the weather station to her.

The display flickered into life, showing a little icon of a smiling sunshine. "Fair weather?"

"See? All is well."

"That's not what it said a minute ago and you know it."

He smiled down at his hands and looked up at her from under his tousled
hair. It was that 'I'm too cute to be in trouble' look that he knew
would disarm her. It did. "It's our only opportunity to see the
island. We'll get there, dig around the caves for a little while. . ."

"What about getting back here, Jack. Did you forget that part?"

"I packed fruit bars."

"Jack!"

"And a tent, and provisions for three days if we need it." He smiled again. "See? Everything is under control."

"I hate camping."

"The sleeping bag is for two."

"Is it . . . soft?"

"Like a rabbit."

He traced his hand on her cheek and smiled that cute smile again. "It's going to be fine."

THREE MONTHS LATER

". . . in closing I would like to remind the jury that my client was
unaware of the approaching storm. It was not a case of. . . intentional
negligence at all. The decision to venture out was made on good faith
based on the faulty equipment manufactured by the defendant. Therefore
I believe full damages should be rewarded."

There is a pause in the courtroom as the judge considers the testimony. The jury is
weary, having listened to hours of arguments from the zealous lawyers defending the manufacturer and the impassioned rebuttals from the plaintiff. The judge gives his instructions and sends them to deliberate. Two of the jurors are holding tissues to their faces. Women. The council for the plaintiff counted on there being sympathetic women on the jury. Women who could be moved by the sorrow of losing a loved one in such a dramatic way. Women who could empathize with a poor decision based on love.

It only takes a hour and they are back in the court room.

"Have you reached your decision? "

"We have, Your Honor. We find in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of five million dollars."

The court is dismissed, and all file out. The lawyer takes the plaintiff
aside. "That was touch and go for a while, congratulations."

"Thanks."

"Well, this judgement on top of the life insurance should set you up for quite a while."

A slow innocent smile crossed the plaintiff's face. "She had no insurance."

"No?"

"Not a cent. Thanks again, you've been a tremendous help."