Excerpt: The Magical Girl's Room

She found Buddy, Royal and Dollie in the kitchen. Buddy read the paper, Royal snoozed, and Dollie was looking out the window at the ocean. Mallory noticed it was a very calm day. There wasn’t the slightest breeze ruffling the surface of the ocean. Mallory walked over to the coffee maker. Breakfast in bed was not happening so Mallory started the basics. She heard Dollie say something but did not turn around.
“Look, look mom, look dad, look!,” Dollie cried. “It’s a salami,” Dollie cried, pointing out the window with excitement.
Mallory looked out the window and saw the tsunami heading straight for the house and there was nothing she could do about it.‘ She dropped the mug of milk to the floor with crash. ‘Quoconon, where are you now when I need you?’ she thought desperately. Out loud she said, “c’mon, c’mon!”
“c’mon what?” asked Buddy not looking up from the newspaper sports section. “what?”
“I know, I know,” said Dollie. “ I have an idea. Follow me! Wait –let me get Bunny.” Dollie ran from the kitchen to get money from the TV room. Mallory stood transfixed. Buddy looked up from his paper, and jumped up dropping the paper and shoving his chair back.
“Dollie!!” Mallory screamed not taking her eyes off of the approaching wave. Buddy stepped over to Mallory and put his arm around her shoulder. Dollie came running back clutching her beloved bunny.
“This way!” Dollie yelled as she ran for the door to the deck. Mallory and Buddy had no choice but to run after her and each grab one of her hands. Dollie ran to the little boat on the beach next to the palapa, a decrepit mass of palm leaves on top of some very sturdy poles. Dollie started yanking the boat toward the palapa. When Mallory and Buddy helped her, they all pulled the little boat under the leafy roof and climbed in. The three of them barely fit into the small row boat. They turned to look at the oncoming wave. All the water had been sucked back as if it was a very low tide. Suddenly a great hairy clawing wet slippery beast jumped into the boat. It was Royal. Dollie hugged Bunny, Buddy hugged Royal, and Mallory clung to everyone. As the wave crested and broke, the air was filled with salty, crackling fresh spray. With no more noise than the swoosh of incoming water, Mallory watched in horror as the wave approached. Dollie and Buddy grinned at each other as if to say this will be some ride.