Mark Rand Posted November 30, 2021 Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 It's partly cloudy. School is letting out for the day. Doreen is getting ready for her daily jog around the track. Suddenly, there's a loud boom and manhole covers start flying. They come down a few seconds later, none where they started from. Somebody lets out a shriek. "Good volume," comes Mouseketeer Darlene's voice. "Sounds like a fellow contralto." "You're right," comes Maestra Sarah Kaplan's voice. "That was the A above Middle C." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted November 30, 2021 Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 Robert Trueheart looks around the area. "Is anyone hurt?", he asked the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted November 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 "Don't see anyone hurt," Maestra Kaplan, the choir teacher, replies. "What about you, Rosemary?" "Nobody hurt, but it looks like a manhole cover shattered a car's windshield," Rosemary Trueheart states. At that moment, Robert's smartphone rings. It's Doreen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted November 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 “So, what caused it?” someone asks. “Sewer gas explosion,” comes Sharon Ten Bears’ response. “Come on, Pocahontas,” comments Cordelia Chase. “Sewer gas is just carbon dioxide.” “Actually, Cordelia, sewer gas includes hydrogen sulfide, which is combustible, ammonia, methane, a major part of natural gas, esters, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides,” Sharon responds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted November 30, 2021 Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 Rob answers his cellphone. "Moshi moshi. Trueheart here. Hello Do-chan. Kiss kiss." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted November 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 Doreen responds, "I heard the blasts and am all right. I'm close to Carol's post and can see Nancy's from where I am. The only injury I can see is to a car that had a manhole cover crunch its roof. Anyone hurt where you are?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 1, 2021 Report Share Posted December 1, 2021 "It doesn't appear to be, but let me scan the area again..." What can I noticed, considering that I am looking for the injured in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2021 10 hours ago, steriaca said: "It doesn't appear to be, but let me scan the area again..." What can I noticed, considering that I am looking for the injured in the area. Where is Rob? Doreen left the building from the first floor entrance onto Tilbury Street, where the school's wheelchair-accessible entrance is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 1, 2021 Report Share Posted December 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Mark Rand said: Where is Rob? Doreen left the building from the first floor entrance onto Tilbury Street, where the school's wheelchair-accessible entrance is. I honestly don't know. It is up to you to decide that, for what serves the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2021 Okay. Rob is on the steps leading to Mary's post, Pittock and Shady. Rosemary is a few steps above him, as are Maestra Kaplan, Sharon, and Cordelia. He doesn't notice any injuries to people, but he does see the car with the smashed windshield his mother mentioned. Cordelia freaks out over a dead rat that looks electrocuted. "It was probably chewing on the insulation of an underground electrical cable which the manholes provide utility workers easy access to," Sharon comments. "The exposed wire caused enough sparks to ignite the gas, which then exploded." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 1, 2021 Report Share Posted December 1, 2021 42 minutes ago, Mark Rand said: Okay. Rob is on the steps leading to Mary's post, Pittock and Shady. Rosemary is a few steps above him, as are Maestra Kaplan, Sharon, and Cordelia. He doesn't notice any injuries to people, but he does see the car with the smashed windshield his mother mentioned. Cordelia freaks out over a dead rat that looks electrocuted. "It was probably chewing on the insulation of an underground electrical cable which the manholes provide utility workers easy access to," Sharon comments. "The exposed wire caused enough sparks to ignite the gas, which then exploded." "Anyone know if there were any Utility Workers down there?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2021 2 hours ago, steriaca said: "Anyone know if there were any Utility Workers down there?" "Not around here," Rosemary says. "If there were, we'd see barriers around the manhole, a utility truck parked nearby, and a ventilation hose and power cables from it going into the hole. Of course, there could be some on the side streets. Both Shurbrook and Pittock have bends and part of Nicholson is closer to Phillips, where Shady and Tilbury meet. That's also where Congregation Poale Zedeck is located. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 "The city's sewer system is, according to a newspaper article, a combination system," Sharon adds. "Water from the storm drains and waste from houses, schools, including the Community Day School at Beechwood Boulevard and Forward Avenue, and businesses all flow through the same pipes." "Waste decomposing generates methane and other gasses," Rosemary comments. "Plus, we're down hill from the synagogue and the day school." "Yeah," Sharon adds. "Plus, there's the apartment building on Shady between Forward and Shurbrook." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 2, 2021 Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 2 hours ago, Mark Rand said: "The city's sewer system is, according to a newspaper article, a combination system," Sharon adds. "Water from the storm drains and waste from houses, schools, including the Community Day School at Beechwood Boulevard and Forward Avenue, and businesses all flow through the same pipes." "Waste decomposing generates methane and other gasses," Rosemary comments. "Plus, we're down hill from the synagogue and the day school." "Yeah," Sharon adds. "Plus, there's the apartment building on Shady between Forward and Shurbrook." "Any reports about these buildings? It could be that the explosion could of been deliberate. If I remember correctly there is a costume criminal which trains rats. I believe his crime name is Ratcatcher." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 "Not that I've heard of," Rosemary comments as she moves close to her son. "Isn't Ratcatcher still in Gotham City?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2021 Rosemary's smartphone rings. She steps aside to take the call. After finishing it, she comes back and says, "That was Doreen. She's decided not not to run today and will be joining us shortly." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 On 12/2/2021 at 10:53 AM, Mark Rand said: "Not that I've heard of," Rosemary comments as she moves close to her son. "Isn't Ratcatcher still in Gotham City?" "Probably, but supervillains are known to go where the 'work' is mom. Anyways, where could I slink away to so I can change if needed?" On 12/2/2021 at 5:07 PM, Mark Rand said: Rosemary's smartphone rings. She steps aside to take the call. After finishing it, she comes back and says, "That was Doreen. She's decided not not to run today and will be joining us shortly." "Do-chan is coming? Cool. That makes up most of the mice here." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 11 minutes ago, steriaca said: "Probably, but supervillains are known to go where the 'work' is mom. "You might be right," Rosemary says. Of course, Coyote could've given some people his abilities. 15 minutes ago, steriaca said: "Anyways, where could I slink away to so I can change if needed?" "Nowhere close," Rosemary replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 3, 2021 Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 1 minute ago, Mark Rand said: "Nowhere close," Rosemary replies. "So...I guess...how does Superman does it?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2021 18 minutes ago, steriaca said: "Do-chan is coming? Cool. That makes up most of the mice here." "I think Annette and Nancy are going for their daily swim," Rosemary says. "Bobby and Tim are working on things for Drama Club, and Lonnie's working on something for the school's monthly literary magazine." 3 minutes ago, steriaca said: "So...I guess...how does Superman does it?" "Super speed?" Rosemary asks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2021 "So, where are Cubby and Karen?" Cordelia asks. "They attend Colfax Elementary, which is also a middle school," Sharon replies. "Karen's mother, the school nurse, will be taking her to Children's for her daily PT session." "Which?" Cordelia asks. "Physical therapy," Rosemary replies. "Oh." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2021 Owners took photos of the damaged vehicles and called insurance companies. Police cars arrived along with crews from the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and area radio and TV station news departments and the local newspapers. It took a while, but the manhole covers were finally back in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 7, 2021 Report Share Posted December 7, 2021 "Well, I guess that is it then." Rob starts to go back to class. He needed to pick up his books and other stuff then meet back up with his mother. If she has to stay over for work reasons he could walk back home, but a ride and some bonding time with her would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted December 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2021 "I have about 10 minutes of paperwork to do before I can go home," Rosemary tells Rob. Harmony Kendall, Katherine Wexford, and Donna Gray then join them. "Stage Crew meeting in Mr. Abraham's classroom, Sharon," Donna says. "We have a play to prep for. Harmony and Kate will be joining us." "I put my foot in my mouth...again," Harmony says. "Kate's coming with me to keep me from making a fool of myself. "Got to get my copy of the script," Doreen says as she arrives. Then, she heads for the classroom the Drama Club meets in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted December 8, 2021 Report Share Posted December 8, 2021 5 hours ago, Mark Rand said: "I have about 10 minutes of paperwork to do before I can go home," Rosemary tells Rob. Harmony Kendall, Katherine Wexford, and Donna Gray then join them. "Stage Crew meeting in Mr. Abraham's classroom, Sharon," Donna says. "We have a play to prep for. Harmony and Kate will be joining us." "I put my foot in my mouth...again," Harmony says. "Kate's coming with me to keep me from making a fool of myself. "Got to get my copy of the script," Doreen says as she arrives. Then, she heads for the classroom the Drama Club meets in. Rob follows Doreen, as he is a member of the Drama Club also. "So, any clue you got about the new play Do-chan?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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