bing*
I looked down at my phone, a message from ArmyDaughter01, my online chat buddy. We had met online three months ago, and we had talked every day since. We had agreed not to reveal our actual names, but over the few months we had known each other I had gleaned some information from her.
1) She was an architect569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg5QEila4X
2) She had a boyfriend named Ethan.569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskoKSXsCkz
3) She went to church in Marietta, Georgia.569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUmhlZ0gUc
4) She had two best friends that were apparently nuts. She only referred to them at R and V.
What she knew about me, I did not know. I hoped not a lot.
"Daddy?"
My daughter Meredith padded into the room. Here's the thing with Mera; I'm not her birth father. We're not related by blood or anything. She appeared on my front porch four years ago, and I kept her. She's the sweetest little kid ever, and having to stay home and take care of her has really boosted my writing career but put a pause on my soldier career.
"Yes Sweetheart?" I responded, picking Mera up and cuddling her on my lap, "What is it?"
She buried her little face in my sweatshirt, "I'm scared of the storm," she mumbled, "I'ts too loud."
I looked outside, where a large storm ravaged the neighborhood. Palm trees whipped back and forth, ruining the perfect San Francisco landscape. In the distance, a tornado siren started to wail, and Mera burrowed into my shirt even more. I picked her up and sat her on my hip. I took her downstairs to the basement room and sat her down on the floor with my phone.
"Stay here," I said, "Daddy has to get some things."
Here in SanFran, big storms happened often. Usually, just to be safe, I spent the night in the basement. Upstairs, I grabbed some big blankets and pillows to build a makeshift bed. I packed up my laptop and took some food and water bottles. Then I ran back downstairs. Our basement was one large carpeted room, with a small bathroom and a kitchenette. The only things in the basement were boxes of old stuff from all of my other houses.569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFSIsb3JiV
Mera was still sitting on the floor with my cellphone in her small hands. I laid all of the blankets by the wall and laid Mera down to sleep. She fell asleep pretty quickly, despite the noise outside, and when she did, I tore upstairs and grabbed everything I could. Clothes, Food, Pillows, Books, everything we would need if our house was destroyed. I569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN9UWNcIig
I felt like something was going to happen, something that we would need cheese sticks for.
Downstairs once again, I put everything away, food in the fridge, and blankets and clothes in piles by the bed, and sat down next to Meredith. I wrapped my arm around Mera as I pulled out my laptop and logged on to chat. AD was online.
CaptainDad07: Hey569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH7tfdtGQf
ArmyDaugher01:Hello, haven't talked to you in a while. How's San Fran? How's the girl?569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY5iU51vjJ
CaptainDad07: Tornado. Mera's asleep (Luckily)569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC87EMGe8C
ArmyDaughter01: Uh-Oh... Poor baby, how bad is it?569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2d58sgNLh
CaptainDad07: Touch Down 10 mi. away. Praying for not-too-much damage. 569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nslUznc1B
ArmyDaugher01: Praying too. Stay safe please!569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMCw0f0cTd
CaptainDad07: Thanks. 569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G3sujztjW
ArmyDaughet01: *wink*569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKveLSJL8CA
Captain Dad07: *rolls eyes*
AD and I talked for a while longer, until I heard something outside, something really loud.
CaptainDad07: Tornado Touch Down here. TTYL (If I live)569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod5eQzPCEL
ArmyDaughter01: S***. Please don't die, I'd be incredibly bored if you did! :)
I logged off and burrowed down underneath the blanket, taking Mera with me. I wrapped my arms around her tiny body and held her close as the tornado ravaged above us. I could hear our house being ripped up. I swore silently, already mentally congragulating myself for planning ahead. I also started mentally planning where we would have to live.569Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMC7TYwDd7
With the tornado raging it's fury above me, I fell asleep with my daughter wrapped tightly in my arms.
When I woke up, it was silent. Really silent. Then, I heard the distant sounds of people, people screaming the names of others. Over the din, I could hear a familiar voice.
"Ben!" It said from somewhere above me, "Ben? Mera? Are you okay?"
I sat up best I could and looked around. My basement was practically untouched by the storm. I stood up from the pile of dust-covered blankets and swung a still-sleeping Mera onto my hip. She stirred a little bit but went back to sleep.
"Ben!" the voice yelled, "Ben! You're alright!'
I looked up, where the sky replaced the ceiling. My neighbor and good friend Jonathan stood on the remains of my house, staring at me.
"Hey Johnny," I said, "Are you alright? Is the neighborhood okay?"
He nodded, "Just propety damages and minor injuries," he said, "No deaths."
I nodded and began climbing the ruined stairs.
"How bad is it?" I asked.
"Come see for yourself." Johnny said, grabbing my hand and yanking me up to where he stood.
I looked around. The whole neighborhood was in ruins. No house was standing.
"Property Damage," I said, "You don't say."
Mera stirred in my arms.
"Daddy?" she murmered, "Daddy whas goin on?"
I looked down at her, big blue eyes framed by a sheet of blonde hair, a sweet innocent face that shouldn't have to witness tragedy like this.
"A big big storm happened," I said, "And we'll have to move."
"Where will we live?" she asked me, looking around at the damage.
i thought about it for a moment, even though I already knew the answer.
"Marietta," I said quietly, "Marietta, Georgia." I said a bit louder.
Mera nodded, satisfied with the answer she didn't understand.
"What?" John said, "Marietta?"
"I know what I'm doing," I said, "I know."
