"From the National Weather Service. Hurricane warning is in effect for the Greater Baltimore/Washington DC area for the next 24 hours…….." The radio announced as Corny drove to the station. He was surprised at how empty the streets were. Unlike other people in the world, his workday started at 3 so rush hour was never a problem, but the traffic was unbelievably light for a Friday, on his side of the highway anyway. Packed on the other. The sky was a beautiful blue with clouds in the distance over the ocean as he whizzed along. That's the way it is with these storms, it's always beautiful before they hit. He found it amusing. However, today he was much more annoyed than amused. What moron would call people to work during a hurricane warning? No other moron than Velma Von Tussle.

Corny had started receiving phone calls from parents early in the morning. It started simply enough with a call from Noreen and Doreen's mother. He had been invited to dinner at the girls' house the week before and the family was lovely. Their father was a gregarious jokster with a rapier wit. The rapier constantly pointed in the direction of Velma which made Corny feel quite at ease. He called her things Corny could only dare to think and although he was surprised at the openness of the man's vitriol, he laughed constantly. Their mother was a sweet housewife who fussed and met his every need before he even needed them. She made him miss his own mother who passed just two years before. Kind and softspoken, she sang like an angel while she led a sing a long from the piano. The girls' siblings were just as talented and their littlest sister danced and performed for him, selling herself to be on the show. He promised to give her a second look when she turned 14 and that she was very good. The child blushed and ran out of the room with a huge smile. Her mother whispered that she had a crush on him and he just made the child's week. He couldn't help but smile. He had a marvelous time.

The call came earlier than he was used to and he stumbled out of the bedroom to snatch the phone. "Hello?"

"Mr. Collins, this is Mary Campbell. Noreen and Doreen's mother?" she said quietly.

"Did I wake you?"

"Uh, no. I try to be an early bird," Corny lied, "What can I do for you?"

"Well, a call has come in from the girl's school stating that they are closed today." She began, "but we haven't gotten a call from the station. My husband told me to call there and see what was going on. There is a big storm coming, you know."

"Yes, yes of course." he responded.

"Well, I called the station to see if we missed the call for the girls not to come in today. However, a message came back from Mrs. Von Tussle stating that the girls were to report at the regular time for the show.' She said with her voice shaking.

"WHAT?" Corny cried, "That must be wrong. She can't expect these kids to come down. They were talking evacuation yesterday, it must be wrong."

"She said that if the kids didn't show up to dance, they would be off the show. My girls want to go, but….."

"Look, Mrs. Campbell," he interrupted, "I'm sure the message got garbled somewhere down the line. Your girls are not off the show if you leave the city. No one is. In fact, I'm sure the show won't run. Let me call down there and talk to Velma. I'll give you a call back but if you don't hear from me and you want to leave, go. I'll make sure that every dancer is back when the show airs again."

"Oh thank you! I'll tell the girls." Her voice sounded with relief, "Oh and thank you for the lovely flowers Mr. Collins. You didn't have to do that. We love having you here."

"It was nothing at all. I just wanted to say thank you for a great time." He smiled, "Now just get whatever you need together and I'll place that call, alright?"

"Yes, we'll be waiting."

"No Mrs. Campbell, don't wait. Go if you need to go and keep those kids safe. They are more important. Take care and stay safe."

"I will, thank you again." She said as she hung up the phone.

No really, she must be mistaken. There's no way Velma could be this stupid. She may be a witch but she didn't control the wind. Mrs. Campbell had to have heard wrong or some idiot made a snap decision. No way would anyone expect those kids to stick around for a dance show. He was about to pick up to dial when the phone rang again.

"Hi Corny, it's Link."

"Hey Man, what's shaken?" Corny asked almost knowing what it was about.

"Listen, my dad told me to call you. We want to leave before the storm but we haven't heard anything from the station. Have you heard when we should be back?"

"I have no idea. I just got a call from one of the moms who said that she heard the kids should report….." he started.

"No way Man," Link broke in, "No way will my parents let me stay, not when they are going to my Aunt's in Virginia. The radio is saying to get out. I won't be allowed…."

"Link just go." Corny interjected as he flipped the radio on, "I'll give you a call when all of this is over. I'll take care of it. Get out of town while you can and I'll make sure you know when to report after."

"Thanks Corny. I owe you." Link hung up as Corny shook his head. Something wasn't right.. He needed to get to Velma fast. The phone rang again. Parent after parent called him. He spent the next hour reassuring mothers and dancers that this was all a mistake. He would cover them when they get back but the radio called out the evacuation orders as he spoke and they should get going. He knew he should go too. Go to his brother's or his sister's inland, but he knew that he promised to straighten out the confusion. He had to place the call before he left.

He finally got a break and dialed the station. "WXYT channel 12. May I help you?"

"Hi Marlene, it's Corny Collins, can I speak with Velma?" he said as he pulled off his robe, 'It's important."

"Yes sir, Mr. Collins, right away"

Corny cradled the phone as he waited and tried to make coffee. Finally her syrupy voice came on the line, "Velma Von Tussle, Station Manager."

"Velma, this is Corny. What's going on down there? My phone is ringing off the hook from the kid's parents telling me that you want them down there."

"That's right." Was all she replied.

"In a hurricane? Are you looking at the live feed from the network, Velma? They're evacuating. You want these kids to come into the eye of the storm? For what? To broadcast to an empty city? Come on!" he cried

"The newscasters will be on the job, my dancers will be on the job," she stated without a hint of sarcasm, "If they want to remain on the show, they will be here."

He stood shocked. He took the phone away from his ear and stared at it. He had to be hallucinating. He brought it back up to his ear. "Velma, you're kidding right? Newscasters are adults who choose to stick around, not a bunch of kids being blackmailed into putting their lives in danger. It's a Cat four. If it bounces back to the coast, the tidal surge could take out part of downtown. Maybe even you. Are you insane?"

"No, I'm a professional. If the news department is willing to stay, then everyone should be. We want to keep the ratings in the timeslots. Many people are staying and we want to go on with programming as normal. What time can I expect you?"

"ME?" he cried, "Round about the day after tomorrow when this all clears. And if I were you Velma I would get out too. Let the feed run from the network and go. All of you. You aren't safe down……"

"Corny, you're panicking for no reason and if we have to Amber and I will cover….."

His stomach flipped, "Oh no, you don't have her down there, do you?"

"Of course!" Velma affirmed, "Where else would she be?"

He thought for a minute. Okay, Velma Von Tussle wanted to hang out in the eye of a hurricane, so be it. Hell, she might ride out on a broom and have a house drop on her, but the kid didn't deserve to be along for the trip. She might be a spoiled brat but she's only seventeen. Bad things can happen and Amber didn't deserve to be in the middle of it because of her mother's stupidity.

"Velma, I'm coming down there." He said as he slipped into his trousers from the neatly folded pile of laundry in the kitchen.

"I'm glad you changed your mind Corny!" she said triumphantly, "My way is always the right way."

Ugh, yeah. Her superiority complex is putting all of them in danger. He would get there, get them out and drive to his sister's. Lord God this woman was a maniac. Being maniacal can get you killed when you apply it at the wrong time. This might just be the wrong time.

He poured his first cup of coffee for the day and grabbed a baseball cap as he headed out the door. Hell or high water, and that could be pretty high water, he had to convince her to leave or at least, let Amber go with him. Their safety depended on it.