Making It....Part 2

***The soup was finally ready and I sat at the table inhaling the scent of its aroma. It would not be much as I have not had much to make it with but I closed my eyes and gave the blessings that I had always given before eating. On this cold and dark night I knew there were many people that were having a lot less then this if anything at all, and I was thankful. I brought my spoon to my mouth and took the first sip of the hot broth, feeling it slowly slide down my throat. It was not long before the bowl sat empty in front of me and I leaned back in my chair. I listened as the wind outside had picked up strength as it tossed the tall trees to and fro.

***The raindrops were being slammed against the window as the storm was rapidly approaching. I could hear the violent hammering of thunder preceded by the bright flashes of lightning. I got up from the table and placed my dish in the empty sink as I walked into the living room, going directly to the closet by the main door. I knew I had better pull out the hurricane lamps that had been handed down through the family for years and that I always kept filled just in case I lost power. Many nights these lamps had provided the only light in our house, when I was growing up. I raised the glass chimney and lit the wick, slowly lowering the chimney back in place. I walked over to my favorite chair and sat down, placing the lamp on the table beside me.

***There in the quiet of my home I listened to the storm as the rain pelted the roof and windows. I wondered how others were doing and if anyone had issues caused by the storm. I had always been taught to reach out and help those that I could, giving them anything I could to lessen their plight. I looked at my watch and saw the hour was already late and I would need to be heading to bed soon as I had to get up and walk back to town in the morning for work. I reached down and undid my heavy boots and slipped my feet from them, the cool air of the house felt good on them as they had been confined in those warm boots all day.

***After a couple minutes it was off to bed and slipping under the down comforter that had been made for me. I pulled myself up from my chair, taking the lamp from the table, and walked slowly to the steps that led up the flight of stairs to my bedroom. Just as I stepped on the first step a huge flash of light and immediate sharp report of thunder rattled the house. The storm was on top of me now and lightning had hit somewhere very close. In a minute my house went dark as the power had gone out. I was thankful that I had already lit the lamp and my eyes quickly adapted to the change of light.

***Soon I was standing in my bedroom and through the window flashes of light could be seen followed closely by rolls of thunder. I took a step towards my bed, stopping when something int he window caught my eye. I turned to the window and found I was not imagining things. there was a soft glow of light coming from somewhere outside. I walked to the window and looking outside horror filled me as I right away knew what had caused the glow. There surrounded by darkness was my garage, ablaze from what I knew had probably been that lightning strike I had heard. Pain filled me as I watched the building well on its way to destruction from the blaze. I picked up the phone and found that it was dead and there was no way to reach the emergency center for the town so the fire department could be dispatched.

***I watched as the fire engulfed the garage, destroying everything in it. My heart felt empty as a lot of things past down to me by family members that had deceased had been kept in there. The roof suddenly collapsed, followed shortly by the walls of the structure as it became a burning heap of wood and metal. I walked down stairs and putting on my coat I went out in the storm and grabbed the small garden hose laying beside the house. I twas not much but it would have to do as I just wanted to keep any hot spots from getting to the house. Hours passed as the fire slowly started to die out and I aimed the water spray over it slowly extinguishing all that I could. I stood staring at the smoldering embers and small blaze that was left. I was thankful that the storm had passed as quickly as it had entered the valley and now it was time for bed. As I dropped the water hose and turned to walk back to the house I thought to myself, "What could happen to me next?"


To be continued.........