The Weather Man

  ***

  The rain vanished the next day, just as Eli had promised. The sky was as blue as a robin’s egg and the sun beamed brightly. All Geoff's data told him the front should have stayed put, which is what he tried explained on the evening news. Of course, the day before he had told everyone in the city to bring their umbrellas today. The crew in the studio wouldn't let him forget his blunder either. They all made a point of holding open umbrellas over the cameras before he went on the air. Reynolds the news anchor took another poke at his credibility as well, commenting with a smirk that at least the umbrellas would provide shade today.

  His producer didn't resort to such theatrics. However, he said his piece in an angry, wordless glare from the control booth. The meaning was clear. If he didn't get his act together soon, he'd be predicting the weather in Nebraska.

  As Geoff pulled into his apartment's parking lot that night, he looked up at the roof of the building and had to smirk, old Eli had been right. In the elevator, he pulled out his cell phone. He’d promised Jennifer he’d call her when he got off work. She wanted to finalize plans for the weekend. They were going to head to the mountains and some B&B she loved up there. He was looking forward to the romantic getaway and desperately needed to get away for a few days. She worked at the radio station in the next building. They met at the hotdog stand in the courtyard and hit it off immediately. He could definitely see this relationship going somewhere.

  He’d make the call, but first wanted to congratulate Eli on his successful forecast. He stopped outside the man’s apartment and rang the doorbell. When there was no answer, he knocked instead. Still nothing. He was sure Eli’s hearing was fine. Maybe the man was out grocery shopping. Then he tried the doorknob and was surprised to find it open.

  "Eli? Mr. Aimsir? You in here?"

  The room was neat and orderly, but no Weather Man was about.

  Geoff's neighbor from down the hall, Mrs. Goll, popped her head out of her door. She was a retired busybody that was into everyone’s business. He’d never seen her in anything but a housecoat and slippers. She had made sure everyone on the floor knew when Geoff had broken up with his ex-girlfriend, spilling everything she’d overheard.. "Looking for the new guy?"

  Geoff spun about. "Yes, have you seen him?"

  "Sure did, they arrested him this afternoon."

  "What! Why?"

  The woman smirked. "That idiot was up on the roof waving a stick around or something. The super couldn't get him to come down so he called the cops on him."

  "Shit," Geoff mumbled. He was afraid something like this might happen.

  “Served him right, the crazy old fool.”

  He had hoped people would just ignore the old man if they saw him up there. “Where did they take him?”

  “How the heck should I know? Down to the precinct I guess.”

  Geoff ran to the elevator. As he climbed into his car, he failed to notice the stars were no longer visible. Yet another cloud front was blocking the sky. In a few hours, the winds would pick up again, then the rain.

  Geoff had to wait over an hour before the cops allowed him to talk with Eli. He was finally led to the holding cells in the back of the precinct. The dirty human cages reeked of stale cigarettes and dried urine. Geoff hated to see the distinguished old man in such a hideous place.

  The Weather Man was sitting quietly on a bench in a corner cell. Thankfully he was alone. Geoff called to him through the iron bars. "Eli, it's me, Geoff."

  Aimsir looked up. Gone was the robust, elderly gentleman from yesterday. His skin was pale, his body visibly sagged, and his eyes looked sickly. His long green coat hung around him like a wet blanket.

  "Are you O.K.?"

  Eli nodded slowly. "Aye, I'm all right, for now."

  "You look terrible. Did they do anything to you?"

  The old man shook his head. "No, they're treating me fine. I'm just feeling a little poorly.”

  “Why did you do it Eli? Why didn’t you come down when the super asked you to?”

  “I'm sorry I caused so much trouble, but I could not stop. There's another bad storm brewing. I had to try and break it up before it got out of control."

  "Didn't you realize that doing it in broad daylight would attract attention?"

  "Have you not been paying attention lad? I had a job to do up there. Once you're linked to the clouds, it's very dangerous to break it off before you're done. When you tap into the energy of the weather, you remove some of the safeguards. If you're interrupted, those controls are left unchecked."

  "Well don't worry. As soon as they set bail I'll have you out of here."

  "Ah good. I can’t thank you enough Geoffrey.”

  “Do you have a lawyer I can call for you?”

  “No, I’m afraid not.”

  “Well, don’t worry, I’ll find you a good one. I think you’re going to need it.”

  “Listen carefully Geoffrey. I under estimated the skies. This storm that’s coming, it a strong one, I can feel it. You've got to find the staff. I dropped it when the officers took me and it rolled away. Luckily they couldn't find it."

  "Sure, I'll go up and look for it."

  "Do it right now. This is very important."

  “Right now? I’d rather wait and post bail once its set.”

  “No!” Elijah’s eyes popped with urgency. “Right now. Please, you must find it and bring it back to me. We don’t have much time before the storm arrives.”

  "OK, I will. I promise."

  Eli sighed heavily. "Good, I can't thank you enough."

  Geoff turned to leave. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Away from Geoff's sight, the Weather Man grabbed the bench to steady himself. Another second and he would have collapsed to the floor. Very carefully, he leaned back against the wall. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, then flickered.

  "Hurry Geoffrey," he whispered.

  Geoff had no intention of leaving without Eli. He’d fetch the staff once he had the man released. Due to the usual snail's pace of the city's judicial system, it was another two hours before Geoff heard anything. A regular stream of policemen with handcuffed suspects came in from the street. In the meantime, it had started to rain outside - a steady downpour. He thought of calling Jennifer so he didn’t have to deal with this alone, but then cancelled that idea. What would he tell her? ‘Oh by the way, I’ve kind of gotten attached to this old guy I just met yesterday. And now he’s in jail for waving a stick around on the roof of my apartment. So I’m kind of hanging out at the precinct so I can bail him out.’ Yea, that would go over real well.

  Finally, a bored looking officer approached him in the waiting area. He had so many items clipped on his belt he looked like Batman. "Are you the one waiting for an Elijah Aimsir?"

  "Yes," Geoff answered quickly.

  "He's been transferred to City Hospital."

  "What! Why?"

  "He was found unconscious in the holding cell and they couldn’t revive him. EMTs took him away by ambulance about an hour ago."

  "What! An hour ago! Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  “We got to you as soon as we could sir.”

  “Well what happened? What's wrong with him?"

  "Sorry, you’ll have to go to City Hospital to find out. That's all I know."

  “For Christ’s sake, he’s just a harmless old man. Couldn’t you have treated him a little better?”

  The cop turned away without answering.

  By the time he arrived at the hospital, the winds had picked up too. Rain pelted the sides of the car in sheets. Lightning and thunder rattled windows across the city. None of this should be happening Geoff told himself. The fair weather pattern Aimsir predicted should have stayed for at least another week. What the hell was going on with the skies?

  As soon as he entered the Emergency Room ward, Geoff ran to Aimsir's bedside. He almost didn't recognize the man. His coat and suit had been removed. He seemed to have aged ten years since the police stat
ion. An IV tube ran into his left arm and an oxygen line sat atop his bushy mustache. Most of the color was gone from his cheeks. His grey-black hair lay limp on the hospital pillow.

  Without even consulting a doctor, Geoff somehow knew the man was dying. "Eli, it's me, Geoff."

  Slowly, the man's lids fluttered open. "Ah Geoffrey," he said softly. That grand, old brogue was reduced to a bare rasp. "Slight miscalculation on my part. Didn't think it would happen this fast. I must be getting old."

  "What do you mean? What's happening to you? What do the doctors say?"

  Aimsir wet his lips and spoke again. "The bond between a Weather Man and the skies is very close. Although the skies can surely get along without a Weather Man, once separated, a Weather Man cannot live long without the skies."

  "You mean you're dying?"

  Aimsir tried to smile reassuringly. "Once tapped, part of the energy a Weather Man lives by comes from the skies. Without it, he gradually fades away."

  "But that's not going to happen to you, right? I mean not with modern medicine." Geoff looked about at all the medical equipment but it did nothing to raise his confidence. After all, how much did technology truly help him on his own job.

  "Don't worry, I'm sure the doctors can keep me going."

  "Good, cause . . . well, you know, you're kind of an interesting fellow and I'd like to get to know you a little better." Geoff was surprised to find tears welling in his eyes. He’d only met this guy yesterday. Why was he so affected by his illness? He fought to keep them back.

  Aimsir didn't. Tears rolled down his wrinkled face and disappeared into the pillows. "Thank you Geoffrey. I too have enjoyed your