Thunderstorm

"They've got lasagne on the menu in the canteen today, your favourite" Carol said to Debbi as lunchtime approached. "That's a shame, cos I can't make it today. I've got to take this parcel to the post office to send to my cousins in Italy" Debbi explained. Her father was Italian, Carol knew. "It's a nightmare parking in town on a Friday though" Carol replied. "I know, so I'm going to walk. It'll give me some exercise" Debbi smiled. "Don't forget that you've got to get back for that presentation you're giving this afternoon to the college kids" Carol reminded her. "Not a problem. Twenty minutes there, twenty minutes back. Plenty of time to do what needs to be done in the post office."

September in England was normally the mellowest of months, often with an Indian summer. But this year it had been unseasonably wet. Carol was just finishing her lunch in the canteen when a bright flash lit up the room, followed by the loudest clap of thunder she had ever heard. She had noticed it getting progressively darker outside but had not thought much of it. Looking out now, however, she saw and heard that the heavens had opened and the downpour was torrential. It looked more like the Indian monsoon than England in early autumn.

Carol hurried back to the office. She had almost forgotten about the sabotage she had inflicted on Debbi's emergency outfit but this could now well be an ideal opportunity to use it, especially with the presentation that was scheduled for the afternoon !

Carol did not have to wait long. Sniggering from the outer office presaged Debbi's imminent arrival. "Sodding weather" she cursed as she stood at the door to her office. "I'm soaked to the skin" she added unnecessarily, since she stood there dripping and with her sodden clothing clinging to her body. "What am I going to do ?"

"Oh you poor thing. Did you manage to post your parcel ?" Carol asked calmly. "Who cares about the bloody parcel ?" Debbi exclaimed. "But yeah, I did. I was halfway back when the heavens opened. Too far to go back and get a taxi but far enough away from here to get totally drenched." "Oh you poor thing" Carol repeated. "Let's get those wet things off you or you'll catch your **** of cold" she insisted, as she moved to let down the blinds on the office window. "But I've got that presentation to the college students" Debbi wailed. "No problem" Carol asserted. "You've got that spare outfit in the cupboard remember ? After that time you got all that copier ink on your clothes ?" Debbi did now remember and was slightly mollified.

"Get undressed. We've also got that old hair dryer here too" said Carol, taking charge. "I can dry your hair while you touch up your makeup." Debbi shrugged off her soaking wet jacket and unzipped her skirt. "I can take these to the dry cleaners for you while you're at the presentation" Carol said. "Thanks Carol, you're a life saver" Debbi replied as she unbuttoned her blouse. "Those tights are going to have to go too, that's no problem cos the spare outfit has got slacks remember ?" Carol continued. Debbi now stood there in just her bra and knickers. "You were right, you are soaked right through to the skin" Carol observed. "Get those off too !"