Short Stories - The Storm

My short stories have been really popular and I thought.....why not share them with you.  A story each week!

THE STORM

It was a dark and stormy night when….
Kate woke to the open window swinging against the frame. Frowning she reached up to close the window and instantly she was pulled out of her room by the fierce storm. Her scream was lost in the thunder and she rose higher into the boiling blackness.

Suspended like a marionette, Kate found her bearings. Looking down through the darkness she could make out small shapes of houses and cars which were the size of toys. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She was in the storm, traveling over the landscape as thunder and lightning warred for attention. Shielding her eyes from the electrical spears, Kate tried to find her home but was tousled from one black cloud to another like a bouncing ball. Within the clouds she caught glimpses of other figures like herself being heaved through the murky madness. After a time, Kate felt the momentum slow and she was able to float upon  a slow moving cloud.

Dread filled Kate’s body. What am I going to do? No one will know what happened to me. The thoughts reeled in her mind. Without any warning an elderly man wearing bib overalls cart-wheeled near her cloud. Taking a chance Kate seized the man’s forearm in mid cartwheel and pulled his weightless form to her.

“Thank you for the helping hand, I wasn’t sure where I was going to land” said the smiling man. He stared at Kate with big wide eyes; his grey hair was sticking out in all directions.

Contently the man bobbed with the cloud as if nothing was wrong. Catching her lack of manners, Kate introduced herself. Enthused the man stuck out his bobbing hand, “Names Leland, glad to meet you Kate. It’s nice to have a cloud mate.”

“I haven’t a clue where I’m at! I’m lost and I just want to go home, wherever that may be.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Leland tilted his head, “Now, now, there’s nothing to be afraid of here, home is just around a cloud, my dear.”

Kate held her eyes wide open to stop the tears from spilling over. “But…I don’t understand…how do I find my way through this storm?” she stammered while looking frantically through the hazy clouds.

Suddenly a spinning, tornado like wind swept Leland into the stormy night. “Remember, home is never far from the heart, give it time, the clouds will part!” he shouted as he disappeared from Kate’s sight.

Kate felt very alone as she peered into the cloudy blackness. Where to now? She asked herself. Kate noticed she was very light and bouncy so she moved towards a cloud that was formed like a ledge. Maybe I could see down from there she thought. Kate clumsily pushed herself towards the cloud ledge. She flew effortlessly towards her goal and MISSED IT by a foot.

Frantically Kate reached for anything she could trying to stop her momentum. The cloud mist slipped through her fingers as the wind swept her further into the tempestuous bluster. Barking wildly, a poodle whizzed by with a small boy stretched out by the leash. A woman sped by frantically trying to save her hair style in the windy storm.  Kate realized everyone was so engrossed in their own journey, they really didn’t see her drifting along. Why are we here? Kate wondered. How do I stop? She still couldn’t see through the dark storm and wondered if she was flying over another part of the world by now. How will I ever find home again?

Suddenly the rain stopped and a wind sounding like a jet turbine blasted her sideways, shaking her against a foamy cloud. Her ears felt muffled as the wind increased the pressure. As she tumbled forward with a jerk, she saw a bright light breaking through the foam. 

Leland bounced in front of her cheerfully waving at Kate.  “Oh boy, was that a monsoon! Now, you come back soon!” He called as she floated towards the light.

Kate felt relief when the sun shined warmly on her face. As she let out a heavy sigh, Kate jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice. “Oh, for heaven’s sake Kate, must you be such a drama queen? It’s just a trip through a car wash!”

Kate rolled her eyes and ignored her mother’s criticism and peered out the car window. She noticed there were blurry cars speeding into swirling nothingness…….
 
 Rebecca St Croix © 2013