The old man stood on his porch at the top of Sewell Hill and prepared to witness the end of the world. The clouds were forming up to the west. Huge black thunderheads stretched as far as the eye could see; filled with ominous intent.
He’s joints ached. In particular, his hands – the tools of his life – throbbed with the violence waiting to be unleashed.
He felt calm. His ice blue eyes didn’t betray any fear because he didn’t feel any. The storms were worse every year, but there was nothing for it but to ride them out. The river had never risen to the height of his house, he didn’t figure it would start now.
A jagged blue-white fork of lightning erupted from the blackness in the distance. He waited, counting the seconds, until he heard the low rumble of thunder. A light scream filled the air as it faded. Still some time. He stood and went back inside.
He walked through each room verifying the windows were open. The wraparound porch would protect him from water entering, but it was the cool air the storm promised that concerned him.
He passed the small room off the kitchen where he wrote. That window was shut. No water would get in, but he refused to take the risk, ever.
Entering the kitchen he walked over to the kettle and took it off the burner putting an end to its screaming. He poured himself a cup of tea and took it with him back to the front porch. His knees popped as he sat back in his chair.
The clouds were moving faster now. He could see the sheets of rain moving with them. He thought about how fortunate he was to have the porch. Had there ever been a summer as hot as this one? The news said ‘no,’ and his bones had been telling him the same thing for two days.
The air crackled with electricity. He could see the rain passing through the town. In an instant it was upon him. It landed with a great clap of thunder followed by a desperate drumbeat upon the porch roof.
He imagined the rest of the town in a panic, rushing to close windows or get where they were going, out of the rain. He sipped his tea and watched the fury of Mother Nature unfold before his eyes.
The signs had all been there. Why hadn’t they done more to prepare?
