She made it to the big red barn on the edge of the farm. The door was flapping in the boisterous wind. She counted, “one, two, three” and ran inside the door while it was open. Finally, she was safe inside the big red barn. She tried with all her might to close the door, but it was impossible. Failing to get the door closed, she climbed up into the loft as far away from the storm as she could. She thought it was the safest place to wait it out. Her patchwork comfort was a bit damp, but still provided the security she needed at this time. She nestled into a pile of hay and the sound of the rain hitting the tin roof was a soothing suave, as it were. However, she was startled by the horrific sound that the barn door made as it was ripped from it hinges and then slamming into the house. She nearly bolted straight off the loft to get out of the barn, but decided to use the ladder – three steps at a time. Then with all she could muster, she made it to the house. She pried open the door and found herself safe inside.
Anna Lee looked through the house searching for Da and Mamai, but couldn’t find them anywhere. She called to them, but no reply was heard. Then she stopped her frantic search and remembered that if ever there was a bad storm to go to the safe spot in the house. This was something they practiced once a month. If a bad storm was coming all of them was to make their way to the safe spot. It is a square room in the middle of the house with reinforced metal for safety. Da read about it in a magazine while getting his hair cut long ago and decided it was a good thing to have. So when he built the house in the middle of their farm, he added the safe spot. Inside it has everything you need to be safe and sound for a few days. When Anna Lee was a small lass her Mamai would find her in their playing house, but Da fussed at her telling her it was just for safety, not play.
Anna Lee made it to the safe spot and open the door. There inside was Da and Mamai. They grabbed her in and almost hugged the life right out of her.
“My wee lass where have you been? We have been just fretting that the storm took you away,” said Mamai with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Da said in a gruff voice, “Now leave the lass alone, she’s a smart girl. She’s safe isn’t she.”
Anna Lee looked up at her dad and saw him send a loving wink her way. Her heart flipped with joy. To be safe, with her parents and to know their love was something she could always count on. She began to recount her escapades of running from the storm to her parents while they snacked on canned pears, crackers and cheese. Anna Lee settled back on the big bean chair in the safe spot and started thinking about how people of the farm and people of the big city prepare and survive a storm. She thought that city folks surely must have it hard during a storm, because of all the buildings with glass windows and lots of people everywhere. She knew that on the farm, they had a plan for almost everything. This made Anna Lee think that life on the farm was a better choice than any big city, because it was safe with no surprises.
However, the next morning, when the O’Donovan family departed the safe spot they exited not knowing what to expect. What to their amazement to see many of the windows busted, part of the roof missing, and a big oak tree laying in the middle of the living room. Mamai began crying instantly. She loved the house that her and Da had built. Anna Lee ran to her room to examine the damage. There was glass all over the floor and everything was wet. Her stuffed animals were strewn all over the place. Her doll house was upside down and broken. She picked up her precious books,
“Aw…look at this! All of my books are ruined.”
She fell to the floor sobbing at all of the disaster.
“Why did this happen? It’s not fair! We are good people and try to help other people in need. This is wrong,” she said as she clinched her fist and waved it in the air.
Mamai came into her room and took Anna Lee by the hand, helping her to her feet. They hugged each other while sobbing quietly. Then Mamai took Anna Lee’s face in her hands and said,
“Anna Lee we have experienced a terrible thing here because of the storm, but it is a part of life. We can’t control the weather or what it does. All we can do is pick up the pieces and start over.”
“Mamai, I’m so angry. You and Da have worked hard to make this a beautiful and safe place to live – now look what has happened. Our home is almost completely destroyed.”
Just then Da walked into the room. He put his arms around his girls. They nestled their heads into his shoulders feeling his strength and reserve.
LaDonna Fridenmaker~Writer 