Free Forecast by Jane Tara Page A

concentrate while the TV was blaring. She resisted for as long as she could, and then decided one little glance wouldn’t hurt. One little peek, as they introduced Rowie …
    She looked beautiful.
    Gwendolyn smiled … slightly. That’s my girl, she thought.
    “Ouch!” Something hit her in the side of the head. “OUCH!” And again, square in the chest. Gwendolyn realized Angel was tossing nuts at her. The little minx had caught her.
    Angel grinned and gave her a wink. “Sprung … Gwennnnnnie!” she mouthed silently.
    Gwendolyn poked her tongue out at Angel and returned to the silverware. Obviously they didn’t teach manners in Australia.
    *
     
    Rowie desperately needed to go to the bathroom … again. But it was too late. Shin gave the final countdown, finishing with a wave of his arm.
    “Three, two …”
    Suddenly the energy around Bill and Tina changed as they sprang to life, and became a team.
    “More bloodshed in the Middle East with an explosion inside a crowded restaurant today,” said Bill, serious, competent and trustworthy.
    “And the Spotty-beaked Woodpecker, close to extinction,” said Tina, intelligent, caring and warm.
    They turned to each other and, in an Oscar-worthy performance, smiled like long lost friends.
    “Upsetting news, Bill.”
    “Certainly is, Tina.”
    Bill returned his attention to the camera. “Those stories and more, including Hurricane Hilda, and a psychic weather woman, in just a moment.”
    USBC’s familiar signature theme filled the room as they crossed to the opening graphics. Tina took the opportunity to scream at Shin.
    “Why does
he
get the Middle East, while
I
get a stupid bird that only hippies give a shit about?”
    Bill grinned, pleased for an opportunity to push Tina’s buttons. “Because you think the Middle East is somewhere around Macy’s.”
    “You’re an ass,” Tina snarled.
    Shin, used to their bickering, dealt with Tina like he would a child. “You know you’re better at dealing with animal issues, Tina.”
    Tina glared at Shin, but kept her mouth shut. He was right. Hadn’t she placated the idiots at PETA with that campaign for baby harp seals? They had no idea she slept in a Fendi fur wrap and lived on Canadian salmon.
    “Back on in five.” Shin counted them back in. “Four, three, two …”
    Rowie doubled over and tried to calm herself. Just breathe, she thought. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Shin’s smiling eyes.
    “I guess it’s too late to pull out?” she joked.
    “Good luck,” he mouthed before slipping away.
    Suddenly, Bill and Tina reverted back into best friends mode.
    “Hurricane Hilda ripped through Florida yesterday killing eight people and destroying hundreds of homes. Eva Sanchez reports from the devastated area.”
    Rowie turned and watched the monitor. Eva Sanchez was polished, articulate and naturally sexy, a sympathetic observer amidst a scene of total devastation. Behind her, the newly homeless searched the rubble for anything they could salvage. There wasn’t much. The clip finished and they cut back to Tina and Bill.
    “Heartbreaking,” said Tina, stifling a yawn.
    “Makes me realize how lucky I am,” said Bill. “Of course, Drew Henderson wasn’t so lucky. But he’s got a lot of support out there. The network was inundated with get-well messages and teddy bears for Drew after footage of his fall was aired last night.” Bill turned to Tina. “So, Teen, who’ve we got to replace Drew?”
    Tina beamed. Time to be more upbeat. “Hang on to your crystal balls … it’s a psychic weather woman. Known here in Manhattan for her eerily accurate predictions, Rowie Shakespeare now intends to take the rest of the state by storm.”
    Rowie took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together. She was so nervous she felt faint. Beads of sweat broke on her forehead. A makeup woman appeared, wiped them off, and then disappeared.
    Tina timed the punchline perfectly. “I
predict
everyone will be