Stormy Desire Ch. 02
Date: 26.02.2010Keywords: Desire, Stormy, 02, Ch.,
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Our parents had left on what they claimed was a romantic weekend getaway. Sylvia and I knew the truth; they were going to attend some marriage enrichment seminar to try and save theirs. Regardless of the reason, we were alone on that third weekend of June, at the end of the storm season. But Mother Nature had one last punch left, as we were about to discover.
Sylvia had been accepted at Princeton, which surprised me. I never realized how smart my sister was. Why she had to go so far away was beyond my scope of understanding. I was a simple mechanic, and likely always would be.
She was leaving after July 4th to stay with our Uncle who lived in New York State on the outskirts of the Big Apple. She was anxious to get acclimatized to life on the east coast and the family thought it would be a good idea if she left early.
I really hated to see her go and now understood when she predicted that we"d drift apart. But she wasn"t gone yet, and although Saturday dawned bright and beautiful, trouble was brewing on the horizon.
Since it was summer break Sylvia stayed up late and slept in. With my body clock fixed the way it was, I woke up the same time regardless of what the day was called. So that"s why I was sitting on the couch watching a rebroadcast of the morning news when she walked, sleepy-eyed, into the living room with her sexy body cloaked in the usual over-length T-shirt and sat down beside me.
" "…watching this dry line that extends from the southern to the northern part of the state. We also have moisture coming up from the south that could help produce storms, possibly severe…" "
She groaned aloud. "I thought we were done with this? I can"t get to New York soon enough, I can tell you that."
I knew she was anxious to get started with her future, but the words cut into me like a knife. When I felt my eyes beginning to water I glanced away and tried thinking of other things. When the wetness built up I stood up and walked to the window to hide the tears that spilled.
" "…this develops it will likely pass through the metro area late this afternoon. But I wouldn"t be too quick to cancel your outdoor plans, folks, as this storm may never materialize. Keep your TV tuned to…" "
"Have they left already?" she questioned, noticing our parents" absence in the house.
"Yeah, early; Dad said something about a five hour drive."
There was a pause. I pretended to reach up to push the window curtain aside and covertly wiped the tears from my cheeks. The flow of wetness had since stopped.
"Do you think they"ll get divorced?"
In the end they didn"t, yet at that time I couldn"t possibly know. But I sensed that Sylvia was growing restless and was concerned that a divorce might hinder the family"s ability to put her through college. So as I returned to the couch I selected words that I thought she wanted to hear.
"They still love each other; that"s what"s important. The rest is all bullshit. They"ll be fine."
She nervously chuckled while looking skittishly up at the ceiling and the sky beyond. "Yeah, they"ll be fine. They"ll be far away from this storm, but not me."
I shifted my body beside hers and wrapped my right arm around her shoulder. "I"ll be here for you; me, and these."
When she glanced over she saw me holding my index and middle fingers up. She smiled, playfully elbowed my side, and responded "Very funny."
I changed the subject. "I have to run down to the garage for a few hours and help Andy put a new clutch in his truck. But I"ll be back before anything happens."
"Where"s the remote? I"m tired of hearing about storms."
After relinquishing the remote control I lovingly ruffled the hair on the top of her head and got up. "Mom"s keys are on the kitchen table in case you need the car."
When I got to the garage there was no sign of Andy. I unlocked the doors and waited. He eventually showed up nearly forty minutes late, stinking of beer.
"They"re saying the front is moving in quicker than expected, so we may be in for some rough weather," Andy mentioned upon greeting me.
My thoughts immediately turned to Sylvia. "Once this storm starts I have to go, whether the truck"s done or not. Are you okay with that?"
Andy knew I was helping to save him a lot of money. His answer was hesitant, but he agreed with a nod of his head. "Just get me home if I can"t drive myself."
I answered back "Sure, I can do that." They were words I would soon regret.
* * * *
We heard the wail of the sirens before Andy"s exclamations about the darkening sky.
"Shit!" I exclaimed as I emerged from under the truck. "I have to get to Sylvia!"
"Bullshit! You promised me a ride home!"
"Come on, then!"
We rushed to my car after I hurriedly closed the garage. I followed Andy"s barked directions while my eyes ruefully watched the sky. A mix of rain and hail pelted the vehicle as we navigated across town. Even at full speed the wipers could barely keep up with the downpour, virtually blinding me. At any other time I would"ve slowed down, but knowing Sylvia was alone drove me to taking extreme chances.
The words "I"ll be here for you. Me, and these," kept echoing through my mind.
"Left up here," Andy directed.
Just before the turn my car hit a huge puddle. As we hydro-planed past the intersection the water-logged engine struggled and nearly stalled. I shifted into reverse, backed up a few yards, and completed the turn.
Once I got Andy home I floored the accelerator, jerking the car from one side of the road to the other while dodging the largest rain puddles. The sky overhead was eerily dark. The rain-hail mixture had turned into marble-sized hail and pummeled my car as I rushed to get back to my sister. Several spider web-like cracks appeared. I could only imagine how frightened she was, and hoped she had the smarts to get down into the basement.
"Fuck! Come on!" I angrily exclaimed while pounding on the top of the steering wheel.
I had been watching the eastern sky and witnessed the developing wall cloud. Tears filled my eyes and streaked down both cheeks as I refused to accept what I was seeing happen. I briefly considered turning on the radio, but there was nothing they could say that would alleviate my growing anxiety.
"Hang in there, Sylvia," my voice whispered. "Please, baby, hang in there."
As I approached the neighborhood I hardly noticed the debris hitting my windshield and clogging the wipers; pink fiberglass insulation, shards of wallboard, fragments of family photographs. Up ahead emergency vehicles choked the road with lights flashing. A line of half a dozen cars waited behind.
"Oh no, not Sylvia," I cried out in emotional pain so extreme that it nearly pressed me into unconsciousness.
I was so close; two streets away. On the right a house was gone. All that remained was the shattered shell. Victims stood around in dazed confusion as firefighters attempted to round them up. My tears flowed more heavily as fear knotted my stomach.
"Please please please, let her be okay."
A policeman flagged me down as I passed the line of stopped cars while driving in the wrong lane. I turned hard left, jerking as the driver"s side wheels jumped over the curb so I could get by. My car passed by more debris; a sea of pink insulation, wallboard, 2x4 and 4x6 wood planks with nails exposed, roof tiles, a bathroom toilet…
"You have to be okay, Sylvia. You know what to do."
I was so close; a block away. When I saw part of what used to be a roof blocking the road I punched the accelerator, gritted my teeth, and plowed through. Wood and roofing tiles filled the air as my car smashed what remained. I felt my front tires getting sluggish as nails punctured the rubber, but nothing could stop me in my crazed panic.
In my mind I knew how to get home. I did it all the time. But the scene of destruction and chaos completely disoriented me. Houses were shattered, debris was everywhere, and recognizable landmarks were unrecognizable. My head began to swim as I desperately searched the desolated landscape for the house, and Sylvia. In the midst of the extensive damage several homes remained untouched. Ours, gratefully, was one of them.
I could only imagine the horror my sister was going through. I pulled the car over and rushed to the front door. Finding it locked I reached for my keys and realized they were still in the ignition. Growing desperate my right leg lifted and smashed it open. I hurried inside, headed for the basement door, and nearly tripped as I ran down the stairs. But Sylvia wasn"t there.
My mind was momentarily stunned. I was so sure she"d be there that when she wasn"t, I couldn"t think of what to do next. I returned to the main floor and checked everywhere. The windows were broken. Glass shards and debris from surrounding homes covered the floor and clung to everything. Before I even knew what I was doing, my feet were climbing the stairs to the second floor. I rushed from room to room, checking mine last.
"Sylvia!" I frantically exclaimed.
She was curled in a tight fetal ball on my bed, completely hidden under the covers. They were vibrating from her uncontrollable shaking. I peeled the blankets back on one side, lay down, and gently pulled her body against mine.
"I"m so sorry," I whispered before kissing the top of her head. "I"m so very sorry."
Outside the sun regained control of the sky and brightly shined. Birds resumed their chirping against the backdrop of controlled chaos. Sirens wailed. I considered getting Sylvia medical help, but knew the hospitals would be jam packed and that she"d probably be more comfortable where she was, in my bed, and in my arms.
It was early, just after noon, as I held Sylvia"s shuddering body and tenderly rocked it. My hands rubbed and patted her back while I repeatedly whispered how sorry I was for not being there for her. She wordlessly drifted in and out of sleep that afternoon. The bright sun faded, dipped behind the western horizon, and left us in darkness.
"Where were you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
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Keywords: Desire, Stormy, 02, Ch.,