All characters are 18 years or older.
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Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy. Its homeland was in the area of central Italy, just north of Rome, which is today called Tuscany.
Iridium: Is a metal found mainly in meteorites and is a part of the platinum group but is much harder and possesses a very high melting point.
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Flood of Emotions: Part One
It was raining. It had been raining for six days nonstop. I guess that's why I had the shovel in my hand and was filling the tough fibrous bags with sand. I tipped the sand into the bag near my soaked feet. Of course that wasn't the only thing that was soaked. My arms and my legs, oh hell, every part of me was soaked to the skin. I shivered and spilled some of the sand.
"Damn it all to mother fucking hell in a goddamn hand basket," I cursed and the man next to me chuckled.
"That was the most original mouthful of blasphemy I have heard in years dear boy. I sympathise."
His name was Nathan McDermott and he was twenty years my senior. He reminded me of the old gray haired man that owned the parts store at the corner of Main and Elsewhere. He had a sort of iconic feel to him, like the rain, the sand and hell, even the flood waters. I stopped for a long moment and stared down the street where the waters slowly rose to threaten this side of town. The water was a dirty brownish gray and swirled and coiled like an elemental cobra. There, it reared its ugly head near the drowning fire hydrant, now wasn't that ironic.
I returned to mind numbing, back breaking job of filling sand bags. I had volunteered when mom told me that my cousin Cassidy's house was threatened. Ever the dutiful son, I raced over to help out even though I didn't even live in this god forsaken river town. Who the hell builds a town in a fucking flood plain? Another series of colorful and damnable curses escaped my lips as we continued. A hundred, a hundred and one, I was keeping count so that later when I had mom or sis bent over the kitchen table I could tell them. I fucking filled over a hundred sand bags for dear cousin Cassidy.
"I need to take a piss," I said and planted the business end of my shovel in the truckload of sand.
I walked over and someone appeared out of the gloom. He was young like me, a good looking kid and he asked me if I was done for the day. I shrugged and told him I was taking a piss break. He nodded and took up my shovel while I tapped my bladder. I stepped into the diner and stood on the inner threshold shivering in the delicious warmth. I was so wet and so cold and the diner was so damn warm, like a dream.
"Rest room," I asked and the gruff short order cook hooked a thumb to the left. "Thanks."
"No, thank you," he said smiling and showing off his gold filling and a few missing teeth.
I left a trail of water behind me. I felt like a bright yellow snail as I entered the bathroom. Oh man, it was even warmer in here. My hands were pruned from the hours of shoveling and exposure to the non-stop rain. I dried them off before I unzipped. I removed my hooded rain gear as well as the plastic overalls beneath. I unzipped and yelped when my ice cold hand wrapped around my cock.
"Shit that's cold," I murmured.
I let out a sigh of relief as I took the pressure off my poor bladder. I flushed and walked to the mirror. Gods I looked a sight. My eyes were sunken in, my hair a matted mess and my skin the color of a corpse. I needed to warm up and fast. I drug the rain gear out and hung it on the chrome coat rack and ordered a large cup of coffee.
"We only have one size mister," the cook replied.
"I'll take two," I said and he laughed revealing that gaping maw of his again. "What do you suggest for a nice hot meal?"
"If'n it were me," he said. "I'd have the English breakfast. It's got a lot of sausage, eggs and bacon. That'll fortify you good."
"I'll take it."
I sipped the coffee and added a ton of sugar to it to mask the heavy mineral content of the local water supply. The food arrived quickly since I was the only customer in the place. I sat near the window and looked out over the cold gray landscape. The rain kept falling and the water rose remorseless and inevitable as death itself. I dreaded going back outside. My clothes would dry off if I stay in here long enough, and the mere thought of the touch of that life sucking downpour left me down in the dumps.
"The road is out," the cook said as he refilled my cup.
"What... what did you say?" I looked up horrified.
"The main road washed out. Do you have someplace to stay?"
"I have a cousin that lives in town, just up the street to be precise." I told him.
"What's 'er name?"
"Cassidy, Cassidy Lane," I said and he smiled.
"I'll call her and tell her to expect ya." He said and walked off before I could stop him.
Damn it man, I thought as he stomped off. I knew he meant well and all but still. There was the right way of doing things and having the cook call, just sounded rude to me. He returned from the back all smiles.
"She's on the way," he said. "Looks like you have a date for dinner. I'm gonna make another pot of coffee..." I nodded and he left humming to himself.
Cassidy appeared a few minutes later. She was wearing what appeared to be an oil cloth duster, a matching Stetson and rubber goulashes on her feet. The umbrella she clung to seemed to be losing the battle against a sudden gust of wind. When it failed feet from the front door of the diner, she made a mad dash for it. The bell above the door rang as she shouldered the door open. Cassidy spun inside as the wind sucked the door closed with a loud and resounding bang. I half expected the glass to shatter or at least crack a bit, but it didn't.
"Hello Cassidy," the cook said a full octave lower, with shoulders drooped and clearly smitten with the attractive young woman.
"Hey Duke," she replied. "Marius! Good to see you she said as she removed the hat and duster.
"Damn Cassidy, you grew up," I said seeing the outfit beneath for the first time. Was it the ass hugging capris or the white blouse sans bra?
"I was hoping you'd notice," she said flirting blatantly. "How long you been here?"
"Are we talking today, or the last three days?" I said and she went pale. "I've been pulling twelve hour shifts but today I am stopping at nine. I am just worn out."
"I have a bottle of Absinthe at the house," she replied as she sat across from me. "It is European and quite expensive. I hope you'll join me in a glass or two."
I threw up my hands in surrender. Her meal arrived and Duke went back to his position behind the cash register. As the last of the wan light faded from the gunmetal sky volunteers began to trickle in. Like me, they were tired, hungry and trapped. I was glad I had parked my car at Cassidy's instead of by the levy. As she ate and I sipped the abomination they called coffee I would swear I caught the occasional look from my cousin. It was that secretive glance that screamed, 'I know something you don't know'.
"What is it," I asked when I could stand it no longer.
"What is what?" she asked in her catholic schoolgirl tone, little miss innocent.
"Fine, keep your secrets," I said and she blushed as she giggled.
"Thank you," Cassidy said out of nowhere. "I appreciate everything you've done for our little town."
"Hey, I uh... you're welcome," I said unaccustomed to be thanked for anything.
We finished our meal in relative silence. The rain never let up so we layered up and headed out for her house. She clung to me as we headed down the street with the wind in our faces. We were both soaked to the skin despite the rain gear. We reached her home and raced inside gasping for breath. I took off my rain gear and then turned to look at Cassidy.
"Oh damn," I said before I knew it. The white blouse clung to her tits like a second skin. The water had made the material practically transparent. "Sorry..."
"It's okay," she said blushing. "A girl likes to know that she is still attractive."
"You don't have anything to worry about in that department." I said and then shut the hell up.
