Page 57 of Even If the Sky is Falling
It’s then that I realize I’m frowning. “Yeah. Actually, no. I guess I’m just a little freaked out. I mean, a meteor is going to hit us.”
He nods and looks away, his expression solemn. “We’re safe though in here,” he says when he looks at me a second later, his mouth curved in a slight, reassuring smile.
“I hope everyone was able to get to shelter okay.” I hug my knees to my chest. All the muscles in my body are tight with tension.
“I read a while back that the alarm system is pretty sophisticated,” he says. “It’s designed to alert everyone hours before impact. It’ll be okay.”
He sounds so certain in his soft tone. It’s the most surprising comfort.
He pulls his phone out from his pocket and swipes his finger across the screen. “Is there someone you need to call or text to let them know you’re okay?”
I start to say I’m good, I’ll just text from my own phone, but then I remember that I don’t have my phone with me. In my hurry to get ready for my meeting, I must have forgotten in it my office upstairs.
“Actually yeah,” I say. “I should probably text my parents and check on them.”
He hands me his phone and I type out a quick message to my mom’s phone number, explaining that I don’t have my phone, but that I’m safe and sheltering in my basement with a friend. Before I can even text again and ask if they’re okay, she texts me back.
Oh that’s such a relief, anak! Thank god y
Ah darn it I hit send too soon! Thank god you’re okay. Your dad and I are safe at home sheltering here with your apongs. We love you!
I text Mom “I love you too,” then hand the phone back to Caleb.
“All good?” he asks.
“Yup. They’re safe at their house sheltering with my mom’s parents.” When I smile, I notice the muscles in my neck and shoulders loosen. At least my family’s okay.
But Caleb frowns and taps the screen. “Damn it,” he mutters.
“What’s wrong?”
“Not sure.” He taps his phone screen once more before bringing it to his ear. “I must have lost service. I keep trying to call back, but nothing. Straight to voicemail. Oh wait...” He’s quiet for a few moments before putting his phone on speaker. “...cannot be reached at this time. Please try again later. Good-bye,” an automated voice recites.
“That’s so weird, you were just talking to...” Then it hits me. “Maybe all service is down because so many people are trying to call their loved ones.”
“Ah yeah, you’re probably right.” He starts typing out a text just in case but then his phone rings. “Hey, Larissa...Yeah, I’m okay, just taking cover in a client’s basement, we’ll be fine. How are you?...Oh that’s good...Yeah, actually. That would be nice.” He chuckles softly before pausing and touching the screen of his phone.
“Toby is gonna miss you tonight. Aren’t you, boy?” A woman’s voice sounds from the speaker of Caleb’s phone as he holds it up. They must be on an app that doesn’t require cell service.
He shifts slightly and I can make out the face of a yellow Lab on Caleb’s phone screen. When he barks, Caleb chuckles.
“Miss you too, buddy. I’ll be home soon though. You be good for Larissa, okay?”
I hold back the “aww” I’m dying to make at witnessing Caleb have a phone conversation with his dog.
When I realize that I’ve been gawking at his conversation, I turn away slightly to give him some privacy.
“You stay safe, honey, okay?”
“You too,” Caleb says. “Just hang tight. I’ll be by as soon as this is all over to check on you both. Love you.”
“Love you too. Be sure to—”
The woman’s voice cuts out. Any kind of service must be down now. He sets his phone on the arm of the chair.
“That was the sweetest thing ever by the way, you checking on your dog. I would have done the same if I didn’t have Mango here with me.” I glance over at Mango, who, after jumping off my lap a minute ago, is now curled in his cat bed next to the couch, licking his front paws.
Caleb’s cheeks turn pink as he flashes a flustered grin. “I just needed to make sure Toby was okay.”
