The Storm

It was dark

The wind howled and trees snapped

In the forest out back

 

My step-brother

Scared out of his wits

 

My step-father slamming doors

Locking windows

 

My mama

Pulling us to the basement

Closing the blinds

 

Later they said a tornado had touched down right behind our house

They said we were lucky to be alive

 

The neighboring complex of houses

Was not so lucky

Roofs were torn and rooms were damp

The houses down the street

Were flooded

With water from the drainage pond

 

We were fine

And so was the house

 

But we won’t be braving anymore storms

In that house again