The Twister and The Cat

Sandra stretched out on her living room couch after returning home from her morning shift at the grocery store. She closed her eyes, listening to the air conditioner whirring outside and the ice in her glass of lemonade crackling. Her Siamese cat, Rex, lay purring on her abdomen. She had the trailer house to herself for the day while her husband and his parents were out. She was glad they went to the city for medical appointments. She rarely had the small home to herself anymore and relished in the quiet. She drifted off to sleep, listening to the television playing a daytime drama quietly.

She was awakened by Rex jumping off of her onto the floor. She immediately noticed how dark it had gotten outside. She glanced at her watch, noting that it was nearly three o’clock in the afternoon. “We must be getting one hell of a storm Rex.” Sandra sat up on the couch and shook her shoulder length auburn curls with her fingers. She went outside and gazed at the sky, wondering what would bring on such an early twilight. The dark gray cumulonimbus clouds rolled overhead. The smell of the impending rain storm filled her nose as the wind swept around her. She folded her arms tightly as she felt how much the temperature had dropped since she got home. Her neighbor, Mrs Murphy, shouted from her porch. “Don’t you know there’s a tornado watch on? They just called it on channel 5!” Sandra waved to acknowledge her and hurried inside. As she turned the volume up on the television, she saw the map including her county on the screen. It was illuminated orange, along with a few surrounding counties to the east. There were a couple of counties to the west in red, warning areas, that she hoped were so far away to not be concerned about. She sat on the couch, scratched Rex’s ears, and continued to listen to the weather man’s forecast.

Her phone vibrated on the coffee table and she saw a text from her husband. “You doing ok? Just saw the news.” She replied that she and Rex were doing alright. After seeing his brief response, she stood and evaluated her space. She recalled neighbors telling her how to prepare for weather in the trailer park as she selected a large backpack from the closet. She set Rex’s carrier on the floor and put some catnip inside it. He smelled at it for a moment but curled back up on the couch, possibly suspecting a vet appointment. She went to her bedroom and placed items precious to her in the bag. Her wedding album, jewelry and a rosary from her grandmother, her bible that she received one Christmas, and a few items of clothing. She pulled her phone charger out of the wall and put it in the front pocket of the bag. In the kitchen, she filled some bottles with water and put dry cat food in a plastic storage bag. After grabbing some granola bars, fruit, and packages of peanuts, she finished packing up the bag. She placed it on the couch along with her purse. After ensuring that she had enough battery life on her phone, she clipped her car keys to her belt loop. She sat back on the couch and fixed her attention on the television screen, hoping this storm would pass.

A loud thunder clap and bright flashes of lightning jolted her. Rex leapt from his spot and dashed to the bedroom, probably to hide in the closet. Sandra looked outside, seeing that the sky had become much darker. As she closed the blinds, the shrill weather alert sounded on the television. Her county was now illuminated red, the weather man was anxiously announcing the warning. She dashed to the bedroom, finding Rex crouched in the closet. “Come on Rex!” She reached for the cat and scooped him out of hiding. He yowled and scratched at her as she stuffed him in the carrier. She grabbed her purse and slung the backpack over her shoulder. More thunder and lightning erupted as she loaded herself and Rex into the car. Neighbors were already crowding the streets in cars and on foot, making their way to the storm shelters. “There’s no time!” Sandra made a U-turn on an empty lot and sped toward the opposite entrance to the park.

She turned onto the county road towards town, speeding against the growing wind. It was now dark as night. Lightning struck around her and the rain pounded her little sedan. She was relieved to see the glow of light coming from a department store as she approached the shopping plaza. The parking lot was crowded with people seeking shelter, forcing her to park farther away. “We’re going to have to make a run for it, Rex!” She grabbed the carrier and her bags and dashed to the entrance, soaking Rex and herself in the process. He was yowling loudly as she entered the store and began to make her way to the back. “Hey, wait! You can’t bring that cat in here!” The young associate stopped her halfway into the store. “Are you kidding me?! Have you not seen what is going on outside?!” She shifted the carrier in her hand as Rex began pacing inside. “He’s crated for God’s sake! Please let us in!” The associate persisted against her plea. Thunder crashed again overhead and the store lights flickered. Sandra turned and ran for the exit, tears streaming down her cheeks. As she ran to her car again she noticed how eerily quiet the sky had become. The wind had become still, yet it continued to rain. Darkness surrounded her, but the sky now glowed a sickening bright green.

She sped down the street again, briefly considering going back to the trailer park shelters. She recalled that a coworker and her husband lived nearby. Pea sized hail now rained down around her as she searched the darkness for their house. She pulled into the driveway and quickly grabbed Rex and her bags again. The wind had picked up considerably. The hail was the size of golf balls, crackling on the pavement and dinging her car as it crashed to the ground. She pounded on the door, shouting “Amanda! Tom!” She began to panic as it seemed like no one was home. The low black clouds roared overhead. Rex was yowling even louder and throwing his body against the carrier, shaking it in her hands. She grabbed a nearby concrete garden statue and thrust it through a pane of glass on the door. As she carefully reached in to unlock the door, she heard the loud tornado sirens sounding. She sprinted to the basement after pushing the door shut behind her, finding shelter under the stairs. She covered herself and Rex with a blanket and curled up in a ball, covering her head and neck. She cried out as the sound of raging winds, like a fright train, enveloped the house.

Moments seemed like forever, but the wind finally settled outside. She collected her bags and the carrier. As she climbed the stairs, delayed notifications rattled the phone in her purse. Messages from her husband, in-laws, and parents crowded the screen. She answered them all and took a picture of the damaged window and sent it to Amanda. She was relieved that her friend was not concerned with the damage and assured her that the rest of the home was not harmed. She assessed her car and brushed small branches and leaves from the windshield. As she loaded the car, she peered into the carrier. Rex was curled up in the corner, he looked back at her and quietly mewed. She gently placed him in the front seat and started the engine. “We’re going home now, buddy!” She backed out of the driveway onto the street. On the road home, she dodged debris in her path. Groups of people were milling around outside as she pulled into the trailer park. She stopped and chatted with Mrs Murphy as she saw her getting into her car. She learned that the tornado had touched down a mile away in a cornfield. Driving to her trailer, she noted minimal damage to the area. Mostly scattered lawn furniture and siding peeled away from the homes. Her own trailer seemed untouched. Just some debris scattered and the clothesline had fallen down. She parked and carried Rex inside. She tossed her bags on the couch and opened the carrier. Rex immediately jumped out and ran to the closet in her bedroom. Texts from her husband and in-laws confirmed that they were on the way home. Relieved, she sank onto the couch, wept quietly, and resolved to take shelter during the watch from now on.