Page 15 of Drop Pass

“Sounds good.” That was pretty standard and I was used to working fast between the weather updates.

“Elena! You’re here.” A middle-aged man with thinning blonde hair rushed over to our desks.

“Utah lake froze over. We’re sending you down at five for the six and eight o’clock hours. Some members of the Fury hockey team will be down there playing.”

I closed my eyes and tried to process what he was telling me. “The lake froze so I’m going to report on it? Doesn’t it freeze every year?”

I’d done my research on the area and knew the general trends. It would be one thing if the Great Salt Lake froze through, but Utah lake was normal.

“Not this early in the year.”

I nodded as if this made sense. “And why are the hockey players going out?”

“To promote their team.” He replied in a tone that said he was seriously doubting my mental capacities.

I looked to Jas and Wesley for support. The team didn’t need a local station to spotlight them during the weather reports. I was pretty sure everyone in the state, and country, knew who the back to back winners of the Stanley Cup were.

“Plus, their running a food donation for the holidays.”

There it was. “Oh okay. Will there be someone there to collect by the lake?”

He paused then gave a nod. “I’ll make sure there is.”

I smiled and he turned to take off in the direction of the newsroom.

“Who was that?”

Jas giggled. “Tim, he’s the one of the main producers in the morning. He’s usually running around like his head’s cut off and he can’t remember where he’s left it.”

Yeah, that made sense.

“Here are the notes.” Wesley slid them to my desk and returned to his computer. “We’ll have you give the updates live from the lake then jump to the five-day forecast.”

“Sounds good.” I appreciated his ability to improvise. He didn’t seem like the type to enjoy that, but it was necessary in our field. “Are either of you coming down with me?”

Jas nodded. “I’ll come down with Mike. He’s our favorite cameraman.”

“Great.” I read through the notes from Wesley as the camera crew and producers filed in. I had six minutes from the start of the show until I went on. I read through the pages ten or so times before I sat back and decided I was ready. Worst case, I’d read the prompter. It wasn’t my favorite thing. They usually distracted me, but I might have to use them for the first few days until I got comfortable with this new flow.

“Almost time,” Jas whispered and I stood. A member of the crew rushed to my side and hooked up my mic before stepping back. I nodded when I heard them check the sound then I went to my mark in front of the green screen and pasted on my professional smile. The camera turned to me and I waited for my count in.

“Three-two-one,” The voice in my ear said.

“Good morning, Salt Lake.” I dove right into the report like I had a million times before, and even though the information was new and the weather was completely different my habits took over and I was done before I knew it.

I turned off my mic and went back to my desk. “So?”

I waited for Jas or Wesley to say something. Wesley gave a nod and Jas beamed. “You were perfect. No nerves, no stuttering. Flawless.”

“Thank you. I thought I would be more nervous than I was.”

She smiled and slid a few pages toward me. “These are the clips I need you to record before we leave. We’ll have to film the promos tomorrow.”

“Great.” I glanced over them before Jas slid another mic onto my desk and ran through the process with me.

I went back to do the updates two more times before it was time to leave. Luckily, I brought a nicer, warm coat with me this morning since we were shooting outside. Normally, I’d get at least a day’s notice to prep for times like these, but we were just going with the flow today. Maybe when we got back I’d request advance notice.

“Elena, this is Mike.” Jas introduced me to a man about her age, twenty-five or so, who smiled at me.