Fiction

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Feathers in the Storm


Brown braids bounced up and down against Iris’ back as she ran into the two story brick house. The wood floor felt cool to her dirty bare feet.
“Mama, why can’t we have a fan like my friend Fannie Mae?”
“Oh, don’t fuss, Iris. We are all hot today.” Rose sat the flat iron back on the wood stove and dabbed at her damp forehead with a freshly pressed hanky.
“Can I have another piece of ice?”
“It’s ‘May I’, and yes if you take one out to Daisy.” Rose opened the top door on the wooden icebox and quickly chipped two small chunks off the large block of ice.
Iris let the screen door bang behind her as she ran out. The noise sent shock waves through Rose’s head which was already aching. The simmering heat was making every one irritable.
“Daisy, let me have the swing, and I’ll give you a piece of ice.”
“O.K.” Daisy jumped off the swing and reached for the ice. “Um, that is so good.”
“It’s just ice. Don’t know why we can’t have ice cream. Maybe Papa will make some tonight after supper.”
Daisy wandered over to the porch and picked up her doll. “Iris, let’s play church. You can be Mama and teach our class.”
“It’s too hot. I want to go swimming.”
“Where would you swim? We can‘t swim in the pond at Lafayette Park.”
“Yeah, well I would swim in the river.” Iris stood on the seat of the swing and pumped high in the air.
“In the Mississippi River? Iris, you‘re silly. Besides, You can‘t walk that far.”
“I could if I really wanted to.” Iris hopped off the swing and began to climb the gnarled limbs of her favorite tree. A mother robin scolded as Iris got too close to her nest.
“Hey, look at the sky. It’s a funny color, all yellow and green.”
As the girls watched, dark thunder clouds were swirling up from the western horizon. The clothes on the line began to flap. The air quickly began to cool.
“Ah, that feels better.” sighed Iris as she lifted her freckled face to the wind.
“It’s going to storm.” Daisy murmured as she turned to go to the house.
Rose met Daisy at the door. She looked toward the west as she stepped out.
Lightning flashed across the darkening sky and thunder soon followed. The trees began to sway.
Rose shouted into the wind, “Help me get the clothes off the line.” She pulled Joseph’s white shirts down and piled them in the girls’ outstretched arms. The noise was deafening and rain began pelting them as they ran toward the house. The flagstones were slick; Rose slipped and fell hard. Clean dresses flew out of her arms and flew across the yard.
“Mama, Mama, are you o.k.?” Both girls ran to their mother, white shirts trailing in the mud.
“Just help me up, Iris, don’t worry about the clothes. We have to get inside.”
* * * * *

“Mama, your hands are bleeding,” whimpered Daisy, as she cuddled close to her mother.
“It’s nothing, Sweetheart. Could you help Iris put the windows down?” The curtains were whipping frantically. For once, Iris ran to obey without complaining. She gasped as she looked out the parlor window.
“Mama, what’s that?”
A long skinny funnel cloud danced across the landscape, reaching from the clouds to the ground.
“Girls, come with me - quickly!”
“We’ve got to put the windows down in our room.” Iris yelled over the sound of the wind.
“Don’t worry about them, just run to the kitchen!” Rose grabbed the oil lantern off the dry sink and ran into the pantry. At the back of the pantry was a large wooden door; she lifted the latch as Iris and Daisy came running to her. A damp musty odor filled their nostrils as the door creaked open.
“Mama, I don’t like it down there.” Daisy stepped back.
“Hush, we’ll be safe here.” Rose lit the lamp as they stumbled down the stone steps. The light pushed back the darkness. There were rows of jars on shelves, some filled with fruit and vegetables that had been canned last summer. Cob webs hung like lace curtains from the dirt ceiling. Rose sat on the edge of the empty potato bin and hugged the girls close. A sound like a giant steam engine roared above them. They could hear banging and crashing. Daisy whimpered and hid her head against her mother. Iris stared at the ceiling, holding her breath.
Rose took a deep breath, “Do you remember the verse we learned in Sunday School last week, ‘He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.’ Psalms 91:4 I love that - it reminds me that God is always watching over us. He will protect us, girls. Let‘s pray for Papa too.”
Suddenly everything became very still.
“Is it gone, Mama?” whispered Daisy.
“I hope so, Honey.”
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Joseph ran down the street, jumping over bricks from chimneys, pieces of roofs, and pushing aside tree limbs. He shuddered as he saw the destruction around him. The house next to his was flattened.
“Oh, God, please let Fannie Mae and her family be safe.”
He released a great sigh of relief when he saw his home - it was minus part of the front porch, and the huge maple tree was completely uprooted. The house was still standing.
He shoved aside limbs to get in the kitchen door.
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Suddenly There was a crash from above. Heavy footsteps could be heard running throughout the house.
They heard a frantic voice calling, “Rose, girls? Where are you?”
“Papa, Papa, we’re in the cellar!” screamed Iris.
As Joseph pulled the door open the girls rushed into his outstretched arms. Rose looked out into the kitchen and realized their home was still standing. Limbs were poking through the broken windows. The girls scrambled out onto the porch and into the yard. Iris patted the twisted remains of the big old tree.
“I’m going to miss this tree. Mama.“
“Oh, Iris, be thankful we still have our home!“
As Iris poked amongst the broken branches, mother robin flew out of the nest - under her were four tiny birds.
“Look, Mama! The mother robin protected its babies, just like God protected us!”

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When Joseph got the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper a few days later, it was filled with pictures of the destruction. The tornado was being called “The Great Cyclone of 1896”. Many people lost their lives, and thousands lost their homes. The Moore family was ever grateful for God’s protection.

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