~Tornado~

I sat outside looking at the beautiful crystal clear water. It always soothes my mind and takes me away from my hectic world. I feel at peace, unhindered and free. Well, this day was far from peaceful. Mother Nature was ready to start some trouble in my neighborhood. The sun was gone in an instant, and black clouds filled the sky.

 The wind started to pick up making a twirling action in the water.  I quickly grabbed my tunes and returned to my cabin for shelter. When I got back to my cabin there was a gaunt old man standing at my front door.

 “I suppose you need shelter from the storm.” The man said nothing. “Please come in to my home.” I pleaded. The man just nodded yes, and came inside.

 I went to the kitchen to make him some hot chocolate. He was so grateful after sipping the entire cup in a matter of seconds.  When I  turned around I heard a door slam. The old man was no where to be found. Two minutes passed and I saw my metal lawn chairs twirling above the lake, then land in my neighbor’s yard.

 There were tree limbs everywhere. My new car had a large tree limb that had penetrated through the roof. I looked around and every cabin had been damaged in some way. The neighbor's garage was in my front yard. The roof and walls were still intact but the floor was missing.  My cabin was the only cabin still in one piece. How was that possible? 

 The lake community had been hit hard by a raging Tornado. We had no warnings and couldn’t prepare for such a disaster. The local sheriff came and took pictures of my cabin. I never lost my electricity and everything was intact. The two hundred year old trees were still hovering over our very old structure.

 That day will always be a mystery. No one else saw that tall elderly gentlemen but me... The only proof I had was the empty cup of hot chocolate that he left behind. ~Peace~

                     Chessly Lynn Nesci