Off and on thunder does not reveal
what evil ... thing ... is lurking in the
clouds.

Get off work, walk to a local fast
food joint, walk back home.  Eat,
go

to my best friend's apartment.  Sit
down to watch the news.  Want to
catch

the weather, but it catches us by
surprise:  the power goes out and
the

tornado sirens ramp up.  HER SON
IS UPSTAIRS!  One of us goes up,
hauls

him out of bed, we run into the tiny
half bath (the only place to hide).  
The

only sounds are her prayers and a
'WHUMP' (What was that?!?).  It
seems

like forever, but the sirens finally
quit.  No damage that we can see.
Thank

God ... but what are all those fire
trucks and ambulances and police
cars

doing on my side of the complex?!?
A NEWS CREW?!???  The roof is
peeled

back like a banana.  The rain falling
upstairs floods downstairs; Niagara
Falls

is pouring out of my ceiling light
fixture.  THIS can't be good.  Out of
my

apartment for over two months until
repairs are done.  16 years ago,
today.

© 2012, Karla Dorman (1/17)