Zinc Roof

In this particular neighborhood one could find a house of every color lining each side of the street like an untouched box of pastels, as the world’s tallest palm trees dance in the salty breeze. There was a tricycle or bicycle parked in every yard, and at least one June plum tree rooted on each manicured lawn with a swing attached. Then, almost at the end of the lane, a little further down, just below everyone else if you trod down the muddy path, one could find this particular house. 

Felix Christopher Rockwell lived in this particular house. He believed that he was an unremarkable boy that lived with an unremarkable family, in an unremarkable house. The fact that every time he walked on the muddy path his school shoes would get dirty and his pants would have stains made his shoulders slump like a slinky. No one can really describe the color of the house or whether it’s even painted. Sometimes the grass would overgrow, almost covering the old car parts lying in the yard. And worst of all he thought, was their zinc roof. 

They lived— little sister Fifi, baby brother Frances, Mum, Pops, Nana, Aunty Dolly, Uncle Popeye, Felix and of course his two dogs Beanie and Scratch and cat Cindy- in the unremarkable, ramshackle house with the zinc roof. 

Even so, one day something quite marvelous happened. It all started on a sizzling hot day in the middle of October. If not for the stacks of books at each corner and scattered toys, the room he shared with his siblings would be as bare as a prison cell with its peeling mint green paint. There on the bed, Felix’s bright eyes were glued to a particular book. His concentration was broken by his mother’s yell. “Come eat your dinner.” He sprung up and made his way into the kitchen where everyone was already present. 

His eyes found the plate and were quickly met with dissatisfaction.” Mum, fish again?” 

“Yes Felix, fish again,” she said. “Eat what you’re provided.” When his father was not fixing cars, he was out to sea catching fish. Felix would see one of those bulb-eyed creatures staring at him every other night on a plate. 

Aunty Dolly wiped sweat that kept forming on Nana’s forehead and nose as she fed her a scoop of mashed food. “Tonight is even hotter than last night,” Aunty Dolly said. 

“And they say it will be hotter tomorrow night,” Felix chimed in. “Who said?” Uncle Popeye asked. 

“The people on the radio. Nana always has it on and they said that hurricane might head our way between tomorrow and Wednesday.” Felix said.

“Oh.” His father said and continued with his fish. Felix scanned the unconcerned adult faces around the table. 

“Pops, what are we gonna do? They said we should prepare, like two days ago. Why aren’t we preparing?” 

His father took another bite of his meal and scratched his head before looking at the boy. “Don’t worry, we still have tomorrow.” This did not reduce the boy’s concern. 

On a regular day, the young boy would usually spend an hour or two at the library, but not today. Today, as I mentioned, was that rather astonishingly unremarkable day that something marvelous happened to him. He would admire the colorful houses and wondered what they were like inside on his way home but today he saw people batting up their windows and cutting down over hanging branches. He wondered why his family wasn’t taking the hurricane as seriously as everyone else. 

“Better hurry home Rockwell, before your little zinc house gets blown away.” Said a voice from one of the pastel homes. “Didn’t you hear about the hurricane?” 

“Everyone heard about the hurricane, Sue”, Felix replied. 

“Don’t call me that”, snapped Sue. “I go by Subo.” 

“One. No one makes up their own nickname. Two. People who make up their own nicknames are sad.” This vexed the burly boy.

“Oh Yeah?” He searched for a retort. “Well people who live in zinc houses are sad.” Yes, this one will work. 

Felix’s eyebrows scrunched and he tugged tightly at the straps of his backpack. “Whatever”, he said. “It’s not my fault your name is Sue.”

Indeed, it was no one’s fault but Sue’s own parents that he was a boy named Sue and his sister a girl named Everett. This name opened doors to many misunderstandings and subsequent quarrels. But Sue seemed predisposed to being that kind of person regardless of his name, which led him to being a constant thorn in Felix’s side. He walked away from the bitter encounter, thinking that it was unfair a bully like that got to live in a nice house, with a nice roof, and a nice yard. 

His steps hastened and soon he stood in front of his house. Before he stepped on a blade of grass, he gazed wistfully at it. “What are we gonna do?” 

Suddenly, right behind him, Felix heard swishing in the bushes. He turned around, expecting to be greeted by Cindy but instead he saw a black rat with silver stripes emerging from the bushes. It stood on its hind legs and greeted the boy like a gentleman. “I know what you can do,” the rodent said. Felix stood there for a moment, his bright eyes staring into the rat’s black beady ones. 

“A talking rat?” Felix said, breaking the silence. 

“Rat, where?” The rodent looked around for this rat. It then came to the realization that this rat is him. “I ain’t no rat. I’m a mouse.”

“I never seen a mouse as big as you before,” he said. 

The mouse came closer to Felix. “Well now you have and I can help you.” 

“How could you possibly help me?” 

“I’m a maker, an inventor you see.” The mouse announced, grinning with his whiskers from ear to ear and looking around as if waiting for approval. “I was the ideas guy, the big thinker back in my nest.” 

Felix’s eyes narrowed at the fury creature. “Oh, yeah sure”, he said. “So why did you leave?” 

“The nest was getting too crowded. It was too small for my big ideas.” The boy folded his arms. “They kicked you out, didn’t they?”

“They couldn’t understand my genius.” The mouse said. 

There was a moment of silence as the two stared at each other, wishing they could read the others’ minds. “Very well rodent”, Felix broke the silence. “I suppose having another brain to come up with ideas to save my home is better than one. But what do you want in return? There must be something you want. Mum always says people never do anything for free.” 

“But I’m not people”, the mouse said proudly. “I am looking for a new home ... in return for my help, maybe I can stay in yours until the hurricane passes. And the name is Jin.” 

“Stay in my house?” Felix said. “Not only would Mum freak out, but Cindy would surely gobble you up.” 

“Cindy?” Jin asked. 

“Yes, my cat”, Felix said. “She chases anything that moves.”

“I wouldn’t worry.” Jin said. ”Mice have been living amongst predators since the beginning of time. Right under their noses and they don’t even know.”

The boy nodded in agreement and extended his hand for a shake. Jin’s tiny paws reached out for Felix’s and they sealed the deal.

Felix began his morning routine of checking off his home inventory since the island was issued an official hurricane warning. “Uncle Popeye”, announced Fifi. “Felix is making his rounds.” The young girl watched in amusement from the living room as her uncle scrambled around in the kitchen to fill up bottles of water. 

“Go full up the rest outside while I full these”, Uncle Popeye instructed. 

“Why do I have to?” Fifi asked. “If you would just fill them back up after you use them-“ 

“Or just don’t use them at all like I asked.” Felix said as he caught his uncle in the act. “We have to keep emergency water. You were using the tap the whole time before I filled these up. So why use them now?” 

Uncle Popeye and Fifi shared a knowing gaze as if they expected what was to come. 

“What if they turn off the water or the electricity, huh?” Felix asked. “What will we do then? Do you know how many videos I’ve seen of muddy water supplies and pictures of people with their homes destroyed and-“ 

“Okay Felix, we get it.” Mum entered carrying Francis. “Popeye, don’t use those again once you refill them and let’s pray we won’t need them.”

Mum handed Francis to Fifi and began preparing breakfast. His father walked in looking well rested as if their home was not threatened by a disaster. Felix’s large eyes lit up as he saw his father. 

“Morning Pops”, the boy said. 

“Morning son”, Pops said as he rubbed the boy’s head. He continued along and greeted everyone as he took his seat at the table. Felix readily took his place right next to him and pulled out what looked like a checklist and a well detailed evacuation plan. 

“So I was thinking”, Felix began eagerly. 

“Mhm.” Pops hummed with disinterested eyes. 

“We’re gonna need about four of these and two of these.” Felix said as his fingers went down the paper. 

Mum handed him a steaming hot cup of coffee and he continued to feign interest. 

“And we need to do something about this roof.” Felix continued.

“Mhmm.” Pops said. 

“Today we can go into town after breakfast and- “ 

“Hold on son”, Pops said. “Me and your uncle have something important to do right now. Not even time for breakfast.” 

Felix’s face dropped in disappointment and he wondered what could be more important than making sure their house wasn’t carried away by the storm.

“But-but.” He said.

His father finished his coffee and rubbed the boy’s head as he rose from the table and left with his uncle. He did not know where they were going or when they would be back, but he did know he could not wait on them. He quickly finished his breakfast and sneakily saved a piece of cheese for his new furry friend. Once in his room, he closed the door behind him and placed a noisy toy in front as warning if any entered as the lock was broken. His eyes scanned the room, even though there was not much for a mouse to hide. 

“You can come out now.” Felix announced. 

His striped ears poked out from underneath the bed and then he revealed the rest of him. Felix presented the piece of cheese to Jin with a proud smile. 

“What is this?” Jin twitched his little pink nose. 

“Breakfast.” Felix said. 

“I don’t eat cheese.” Jin said. 

“What?” 

“I’m a vegetarian.” 

“What?” Said Felix. “I never seen no vegetarian rat before.”

“Mouse.” Jin corrected. “And it was just yesterday you never seen a talking mouse as big as me before, so there you go. Life is full of surprises boy.”

Felix ate the piece of cheese and presented his plans to Jin. “Let’s get down to business.” 

The odd pair went over everything together, bouncing ideas off of each other and going back and forth with what they think would work and what would not. After about half an hour of brainstorming, both thinkers were still for ten minutes and stared blankly at the paper. 

“You need to seal all the openings”, Jin broke the silence. “Too many openings for water to get in and small creatures like me.”

Felix nodded in agreement. “I see what you mean. This old house has too many cracks and crannies.” The boy rubbed his chin. “What should we do?”

“Tape!” Jin announced. 

“We will need lots of tape.” Felix said. 

“A whole heap of tape”, Jin said. “The stickiest tape you can find.”

“Uncle Popeye is sure to have some sticky tape in the shed”, Felix said.

The boy was excited and about to leave to raid his uncle’s shed in search for lots of sticky tape when the thought of his house floating away stopped him. “ What if it floods?” He said. “ The whole house would just float away or worse… sink. Francis and Fifi and Nana, they can’t swim.”

Jin read the boy’s face and realized this was a serious concern and gave it serious consideration. “Anchors”, he said. 

“Anchors?” Felix said. “Do you think that would work?” 

“Of course.” Jin said quite sure of himself. 

“Where would we get enough anchors to keep the house from floating away?” Felix said. 

“Isn’t your father a fisherman?” Jin asked. 

“Yes, but the boat is small. That won’t work, I’m getting the tape.” Felix said. He paused for a moment before leaving again and then, he was struck by an idea. “Cement. We can cement the- “ 

There was a knock at the door and Jin vanished from sight before Felix could tell him to hide. Aunty Dolly poked her round face in. “Oh, I thought Fifi was in here”, she said. 

“Ah… no I think she’s in the kitchen or something.” Felix said.

“Oh, then who were you talking to?” She asked. 

“Um…my…self.” The boy said, unsure of his answer. 

“Oh, poor thing. Don’t let this whole hurricane talk stress you out. You don’t want to end up like crazy Eddy down the lane.” 

“Right, don’t worry that won’t happen”, he said. “Aunty Dolly, do you know where I can get cement… lots of it?” 

“Oh, sorry no.” And with that, she left. Aunty Dolly being as useful as ever. 

Felix returned his attention to Jin who was already standing at attention on his hind legs cleaning his whiskers. “So what’s this about cement?” Jin said. 

“We can cement the base of the house to prevent it from floating away and tape all the openings”, Felix said. “Let’s go to the shed.” The boy bounced with excitement at the thought of finally finding a way to save his home but jumped as he felt little paws and a smooth tail travel up his body. “What are you doing?” Felix asked. 

“You said let’s go”, Jin said as he sat on Felix’s shoulder. “Now let’s go.”

The boy had no time to argue with the mouse or to assess this new experience. They made their way past everyone and into the shed. Jin hopped off and rummaged through the cadre of tools and other interesting objects, while Felix searched for cement. “I found a bag”, Felix said. “But it’s half empty.”

“That won’t do.” Jin said. “But do you even know how to mix cement?” 

Felix took a moment before he answered. “ How hard could it be? I watch Uncle Popeye do it all the time.” His shoulders slummed as he kicked the half bag of cement. “Tape!” The light returned to his large eyes as he spotted rolls of sticky tape in a corner. Felix collected as much tape as he could carry in his hands and the pair made their way into the house. Felix did the rolling and Jin did the tearing with his sharp teeth. Together they taped the crack in the living room window, the tiny peephole in the bathroom ceiling, the crevices in the cupboards, and that jagged heart shaped hole in the kitchen wall, they even taped down the toaster and lamps and other loose objects. 

Jin’s ears twitched and he sped off behind the couch as footsteps approached. Felix did not realize until he saw his mother in sight. He followed Jin’s act quickly before his mother could see him and dashed into the other room. He could still hear her screech from the other room. 

“Felix!” Mum said as she surveyed Felix and Jin’s handy work. “Felix come here!” She said as she searched for her son who managed to make his way to the backyard. “This boy and his madness”, she murmured as she tried to take some tape off of the television stuck to the wall, but it was too sticky. 

Forced to retreat to the backyard, the unlikely pair continued with their operations behind the magnificently tall and unbelievably old June Plum tree. Jin was practically covered by the untouched grass and climbed on top of a rusting radiator to survey the back of the house as Felix was. “Hey you”, Jin said. “What are you thinking about now?” 

The boy did not respond and his eyes were fixed on a seemingly insignificant opening in the rusted zinc roof. Jin scurried up his shoulder, right behind his ear and asked “What are you looking at?” 

This snapped Felix out of his trance. “Do you see that?” He asked as he pointed to the hole in the roof. “We need to do something about it before nightfall or we’ll all be in big trouble.” 

Jin wiggled his whiskers and said, “Well, cementing the base of the house did not work and we tried taping all the important things to the wall but your Mum is probably undoing all of that. She frightens me the most out of all your family members.” 

“Yes, she is quite frightening”, Felix agreed. 

“I’ve got it!” Jin said. 

Felix’s large eyes brightened with hope as he looked into Jin’s small glittering eyes. “Go on”, he said. 

“We can turn the house into a boat.” Jin said proudly waiting for Felix’s admiration of his intellect but the boy’s eyes lost their luster after this announcement. The mouse kept prodding him for his approval, which never came. 

“That’s impossible right now Jin”, he said. “When would we get time or the materials to turn the house into a boat?” 

Jin gave his words deep thought and realized the boy was right. The sky had been Felix’s favorite shade of gray all day, with small intervals of spray here and there. Felix actually loved the rain, but did not get to enjoy it much because their roof was always leaking. It was unremarkable after all, it was made of zinc; just some metal sheets thrown on top of each other and they called it a roof. 

“We need an umbrella”, Jin said. “A gigantic umbrella, to cover the entire roof.” 

Felix stood with arms akimbo and turned to Jin. “Get off.” 

“Why?” Jin folded his little arms. “What did I say wrong?” 

At this point, the boy began to pace in the overgrown yard and drew in a deep breath before releasing. As he was about to speak, a heavy rain drop plopped on his eyelash and another followed on Jin’s little head. Suddenly, the pit-pit pattering began to hammer down on the Earth and all its inhabitants. All the neighborhood kids abandoned their bats and balls on the lawns and the adults fastened their windows and doors before retreating inside. Felix and Jin had no choice but to abort their mission and run for cover inside the house where Mum was surely waiting. 

Inside was surely chaotic. Upon entering the kitchen, his mother scolded him for getting her wooden floor wet and taping everything together. Jin skillfully hid behind furniture from the humans but had a close encounter with Cindy as her large copper eyes locked on to his frightened little eyes. He barely had time to breathe or think as the feline inched closer to him. Baby Francis, Cindy’s tormentor spooked the cat as he grabbed her tail and just the flash of her fangs shocked Jin back to reality and he made a run for the living room. 

His father preached as he walked around the house looking for his left shoe that is always in the same place: Beanie’s mouth. “I won’t waste my time, wood and nails. I don’t have to batter up until the weather people say that hurricane …. whats-it-called reach. As the words left his mouth, there was a noticeable silence when the fridge stopped humming and the fan stopped spinning. Nana instinctively flicked the light switch on and off with her walking stick to confirm. “As they see a little breeze and rain, they go an cut off the current”, Nana said. 

“Right.” Mum chimed in. “People have young baby and the time is hot.”

Moments passed without them realizing it and the house was now covered by darkness. The drumming of the rain on the rooftop continued and Aunty Dolly searched for candles with her blind hands, while Nana sent Felix to fetch the kerosene lamp. There was a flickering of the light that gave the family hope, then it was gone- then it came back and stayed for a moment before it disappeared once again. 

“The electricity going on and off is nothing new”, Felix whispered to Jin who used this opportunity of darkness to climb on his shoulder. “They tend to do this anytime there is a little heavy wind or rain. It will probably be gone soon and won’t come back until tomorrow. 

“Yikes.” Jin said as he clutched his long tail. “How will you humans survive? How will I survive with that murderous cat of yours and her night vision?” 

“Scared?” Felix teased. “I thought you mice were experts at living amongst predators.” 

“Of-of course we are.” The mouse defended. “We-“ 

“Felix.” Nana called. 

“Yes Nana?” 

“Did you find the lamp?” 

“Yes Nana. Where are the matches?” 

“In the cabinet.” Aunty Dolly shouted from the darkness. As directed by his aunt, Felix went to find them, and there it was, the match box… he gave it a shake and yes it was empty. 

His clenched jaw could not be seen in the dark but one could hear the strain in his little voice. “I swore I made sure we had extra matches and candles. Who used all of them and did not get new ones?” 

There was deafening silence as not one voice was heard. Felix was about to burst when Fifi made a cry. “Uncle Popeye uses them to clean his ears.” She said. 

“You little-“ Uncle Popeye shouted from some dark corner of the room.

“And as toothpicks.” The little tattletale continued. 

“I see we are a family of informers.” Uncle Popeye expressed as he was found guilty by all. 

“And we don’t have anymore.” Felix snorted. 

Everyone released a unanimous sigh. 

“Alright, alright.” Pops said. “Felix, get the lighter.” 

“Where?” 

His father pointed at his jeans pants thrown over the chair, forgetting that it was dark. “Just feel for it.” 

Felix did as he was told and his little hands found their way to the pants with the help of his tiny friend. They were able to light the lamp and candles and they were all grateful that young Felix ensured they had a safe water supply stocked, one or two cans of food and a bag of rice. 

“I think we’re ready for this big bad hurricane.” Fifi said. 

Despite all of his failed efforts to fortify his home, the anxiety was finally wearing off when he realized he was surrounded by his family in his own home. Everyone huddled in the living room; Felix played with his baby brother as Jin poked his tiny head in and out of the boy’s shirt in an attempt to entertain the unsuspecting toddler, Aunty Dolly attended to Nana, Mum took the time to braid Fifi’s hair, Pops slept on the sofa, and Uncle Popeye rummaged through the cupboard before he laid flat on his back eating cheese doodles that he shared with Cindy. They were all so comfortable and content that they did not even notice the grand production taking place outside with the howling wind and thunking rain, thanks to their old zinc roof. 

Suddenly, there was a whooshing and a crashing and finally a thunderous clap. Felix looked up and saw the moon. The moon beamed down on them as if it were peeping through the hole. 

Felix went closer. “Mum! The roof blew off!” 

Uncle Popeye and everyone gathered underneath the moonlight.

“Dang it, how did this happen?” Pops asked. 

“We didn’t have a proper roof to begin with”, Aunty Dolly said as she inspected the area. 

Felix couldn’t agree more with her statement as he proudly nodded his head. “I wonder where it landed”, he said. “Maybe in the yard… or the neighbor’s.” 

“Oh Lord, this is so embarrassing. I’m so ashamed.” Nana said as she started to shake. This would happen when she got too excited, whether for a good or bad reason. 

“You always care too much about what other people think.” Mum sucked her teeth. 

“Come Nana, come sit down.” Aunty Dolly led her out of the room before she imploded. 

They all looked upward and another whoosh came and blew another side off. Nana almost had another stroke. Francis started to cry and Fifi hid behind Felix as Jin shivered behind the sofa. This was not even the formidable hurricane that everyone was talking about yet and they were already in that state. Felix jumped in his windbreaker and Jin found a comfortable spot in its pocket. The boy followed his father and uncle outside to assess the damage. 

“Yup, it blew off.” Uncle Popeye reported with widened eyes.

“Not completely, it just shifted.” Felix attempted to reassure everyone.

For a moment, there was silence as everyone was hypnotized by the glow of the moon. Aunty Dolly broke the trance, “Let’s get it unshifted before the real hurricane comes peeping in.” She got the hammer and nails, then everyone followed and assumed their duties. Mum placed Francis in his crib while Fifi watched him. Felix tagged along with his uncle and father of course to “learn the ways of the man of the house” as his father would put it. 

“Get me that barrel Felix, the ladder is out back.” Pops said.

Felix fetched the barrel and his father stood on it as Aunty Dolly handed him the hammer and nails. Rain water sprayed down on them while stone and gravel accompanied and Felix can see the leaves from the couch.

“It’s like the outside is trying to come in.” Jin said. 

“Mind something hit you in your head Fifi, go back in the room and watch the baby.” Mum shoved the curious girl back. They all stood and watched as their little house fell apart. 

“Pass me the hammer.” Pops said as his hand reached down without looking. 

“Do you think that’s gonna stay?” Felix asked as he passed him the hammer and zinc nails. 

“It better stay.” The man said as he climbed down and they all stood there to observe once more to see if the angry wind would lift it up again.

“I won’t lie”, Felix said as he tucked Jin in the corner of his bed. “It was scary.” 

Who would not be afraid with all the whooshing and the howling and banging and bamming that rumbled like God himself was coming for them. Nevertheless, they all slept soundly that night as if they knew they were heaven bound. 

The next morning, there was still no sunshine and the house was chilly. Felix put on his mismatched socks. “Smells like fried dumpling.”

“I love fried dumpling.” Jin said as his little pink nose pointed to the air. 

Mum was at the stove, Aunty Dolly was redoing Fifi’s braids, Francis was in his stroller, Uncle Popeye slept peacefully on the couch and Nana was shaking in her chair. Felix peeped through the window and saw his father in the yard. The boy could not wait on the dumplings and went outside.

“Morning”, he said. “The man on the radio said the hurricane changed its mind about us.” Even so, they still avoided the living room for a while. The boy grabbed the rake and Jin found comfort in his jacket pocket. After all of this, the boy realized how happy he was. He thought that was pretty remarkable.