Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Shopping (03/01/07)
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TITLE: MORE THAN WE BARGAINED FOR | Previous Challenge Entry
By Patricia Williams
03/04/07 -
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It was a treat for two small town girls to get a day to make a trip to the city, a place where there were real Malls and Boutiques. There would be bargains, bargains, and more bargains.
The sun was beautiful coming up over the horizon. The trees were budding. The wild flowers were popping up everywhere. The cattle were grazing on the tender new grass. The birds chipped while building their nests.
Little towns were few and far between. An hour down the road hunger got the best of us. We stopped at a quaint little restaurant.
“I’ll order the two eggs with toast and coffee. I’ll share an egg with you,” I announced.
“I’ll get the pancakes and share one with you,” Janie offered. We were guarding our budget for the wonderful clearance sale items we would soon find to buy.
“Oh my, we’ve got to hurry if we’re going to be there when the stores open,” I declared, grabbing my purse and reaching for the ticket. With full tummies and a full tank of gas we journeyed on. The more we talked the longer our list grew.
We whipped into the parking lot and pulled into the first space we found. We were five minutes late! We made a dash for the Mall entrance. People were everywhere. One could have thought the Mall was being mobbed.
By the time we checked out six of the shops we started searching for the first unoccupied bench available. We sat down where two gentlemen were getting up to wearily follow their wives to the next store. We couldn’t help but feel sorry for them.
“Look at those people, “ Janie said in amazement as we watched the Mall walkers weave in and out of the crowd bent on maintaining their pace. Nothing was going to stop them. We chuckled. We were winded after six shops.
Looking at my watch I asked, “Did you know it’s 3:00 o’clock already?”
“No wonder my stomach is demanding to be fed,” Janie declared as we reached down to grab our packages and prepared to head for the car.
At the Mall exit we stopped dead in our tracks. The beautiful blue skies were grey with rumbling angry clouds that looked forbidding. The wind was intent on blowing our packages out of our hands. We struggled to secure them in the trunk, which proved to be difficult. Getting into the car was even a challenge with the winds whipping furiously around us.
“Let’s stop at the nearest restaurant and get something to eat before we head home,” I suggested.
Everyone seemed to have had the same idea. Finally we found a seat in the back of the restaurant. We were just finishing our meal when the tornado sirens began to scream. Janie’s apprehension intensified... panic would be a better word for her response..
Looking around, I appeared to be the only calm person in the restaurant, and so responded, “They always blow these things out of proportion.” I’ve lived in Oklahoma and I had never been wrong yet. I know we’ll be fine. “Let’s go.”
“We’re not leaving until the sirens stop, “ Janie emphatically stated,. “Have another cup of coffee.”
Finally, the all clear. Now we could head home! I couldn’t help but point out that I had been right. A big deal had been made over nothing.
The further we drove I got this eerie feeling the storm was following us, causing me to develop a sense of apprehension. Janie’s fear before was nothing compared to what we were experiencing now. Cautiously we passed a sixteen wheeler that was flipped over on its side with the wheels still spinning. Police cars were everywhere with flashing red lights.
Our budding trees were no more, their roots were on top of the ground. The angry clouds continued to follow us while the wind made it nearly impossible to keep the car on the road. We prayed sincere prayers that we would get home safe and in one piece. We were caught on the road where miles separated us from the nearest gas station. There really wasn’t a safe place to stop and we weren’t sure we could outrun the storm. The last two hours of the trip was being turned into a four hour stress test. I turned and gave Janie a look of distress.
Looking at me in total exasperation Janie pointed out, “Remember... you are the one that said these things always get blown out of proportion.”
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