CHAPTER 4
Tanya
Please give this letter to my mother, Brenda Jensen, who lives at the address below.
5943 Laurel St.
Houston, TX 77011
Dear Mom,
Whenever we argued, you made me write letters to “express my feelings.” That always ticked me off, so I wrote hateful words. I wanted to make you cry, and it worked. I was such an idiot, yet you never once belittled me. As much as those letters hurt you, you always said I was a great writer. So I’m writing this now, Mom, my last letter. I wish I could make everything up to you, but if you’re reading this, I’m already dead.
I’m sorry for all the bad things I said to you. I’m sorry for hurting you and I’m sorry I’m not with you now. I wish I’d stopped for one moment and seen how much you love me. When I ran away, I thought I knew more about life than you. But all I really know is what you taught me. Never panic in a bad situation. Take what life gives you and deal with it. Well, part of me wants to scream, but I know that’ll do no good. No one will hear me.
Kenny and I are hiding in a small cave on the side of Mt. Charleston near Las Vegas, Nevada. Kenny’s unconscious on the ground next to me. I think he has second- and third-degree burns. I’m not sure, because I can’t remember the burn pictures they showed us in Health Class. They were disgusting and, like a jerk, I skipped class most of the time. Is Kenny going to die because I can’t help him? He doesn’t deserve that. He’s wild and he often thinks only of himself, but he’s a good man.
After we ran off together, we got married in Las Vegas. Yes, Mom, you have a son-in-law. Like idiots, we used most of our money on a fake ID for me, so we lived in his truck for the first two months but I won’t complain. It was my decision.
Kenny finally got a job as a ditch digger. The pay wasn’t great, but the first check was enough to buy a tent and a few camping supplies. He works real hard and comes home exhausted. How did you know he drinks a lot?
Anyway, this weekend we decided to pack up the house and hike up to the highest point in southern Nevada, Mt. Charleston. I love hiking. I love nature. But I hate rain, at least when I’m stuck in it. Kenny wanted to try the roughest trail, even though he was the one carrying all the big stuff in his enormous backpack. He’s an adventurer, a mountaineer. I guess that’s what attracted me to him. He has a zest for life that I couldn’t find in younger men.
On the other hand, you taught me to be safe and I guess that’s why I’m this chronic complainer. Kenny insists grumbling is my favorite pastime. Looking over at him stretched out on the ground, it’s hard to believe this is all happening. He’s twenty-four years old and too young to die, and looking at the cracks in the stone ceiling, I guess I’ll be next. I’m scared and I can’t stop shaking, but somehow writing this letter to you makes me feel better. Even if you don’t get it, I still feel better talking to you. I always have.
You would have been proud of me when I reached the peak of Mt. Charleston, Mom. It’s over eleven thousand feet high and the view took my breath away. Kenny said we were seeing over 100 miles away! It was awesome!
Well, the beauty entranced us so much we didn’t notice the sky behind us until a clap of thunder almost made my heart stop. It was so loud the whole mountain shook and we almost fell to the ground. My body still aches from the vibration. I’ve never seen such thick, black clouds before. The worst thunderclouds in Houston are babies compared to these. A strange purplish tinge around the edges made them look like something out of the X-Files. But Kenny was elated! As a native-born Lveg (Las Vegas person), he was hoping the storm would hit the city. With a rain average of two inches a year, people would be thrilled to have a rainstorm. Only not this one.
It started as a gentle rain; nothing more than soft drops on our heads. I ran screaming like a maniac, holding my backpack over my head because I didn’t want my hair to frizz. You know how our hair works, Mom, one ounce of water and it’s Brillo City. I found this small cave and huddled inside. Kenny tried to coax me out but there was no way. He asked me if I would mind if he went exploring a little more and of course, I gave him my blessing. I wasn’t in the mood to get drenched.
The cave I’m sitting in is about the size of a small walk-in closet and close to four feet high. The black dirt has a strong earthy odor that’s actually kind of refreshing. The cave floor slants downward facing a patch of tall pine trees and past them is a great view of Las Vegas.
I remember looking out at the pine trees with their dark green spindles moving gently in the rain, when suddenly it started pouring. Water droplets had formed around the ceiling cracks and that’s when it all began.
I sat at the entrance to the cave worried about Kenny. He’s always daring and I could swear he fears nothing. As I brushed my hair, a flash of light and a thunderous boom scared the wits out of me. Within moments, a gust of wind slammed me back into the cave wall. I was shaken and stunned. My head hurt. I can recall lying on the ground, trying to focus my eyes because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The pine trees were literally melting away and smoking! Some were on fire! The rain was harder and (you’re not going to believe this), DEADLY!!! Each drop of rain was hitting the ground and hissing, sending up small plumes of smoke. I saw it but I couldn’t believe it. I crawled back to the entrance and could feel the heat. One drop hit my left hand and I screamed in pain as a burn blister bubbled up.
I remember the horror that swept through me as I thought of Kenny. I kept shouting his name until my throat was raw. I couldn’t stop crying because I was sure he was dead. I finally saw him running towards me. He was holding his backpack over his head. He yelled for me to move away from the entrance, then he dove in, bashing against the back wall. I went to help him but my fingers got burned when I touched his drenched body. He told me to stay clear of him, then ripped the sleeping blanket out of its hold and threw the rest of his pack outside. It sizzled under the pouring rain.
Kenny fell flat on his back and that’s when I noticed the burns. We were wearing shorts and T-shirts and all his clothes had huge ragged, smoldering holes. Burn blisters covered his exposed skin. Several layers of charred skin had already peeled off his arms, and legs. It looked like someone had cooked him in an oven. I’m not sure whether he was shivering or convulsing. I quickly covered him with the sleeping bag and it too began to sizzle. I don’t know what to do. I laid down next to him and watched him fall asleep. I can’t stop crying.
It’s been over six hours and the rain hasn’t let up. My watch reads 7p.m. and it should be daylight, but it looks like nighttime outside. Kenny hasn’t moved. I can see the vein in his neck pulsing so I know he’s still alive, but his breathing is shallow.
It hurts, Mommy, and I wish so much we were with you right now.
With the trees gone, I have a clear view of Las Vegas. What should be bright lights are now hundreds of fires. Violent explosions are bursting the city apart. Most of the casinos are leveled. All the tall buildings are gone. The clouds blanketing the city have an eerie amber glow, reminding me of an inferno. Everyone must be dead. This rain eats everything. I just watched nine, no; make it fifteen, heavy billows of steam burst from the ground in and around the city. They’re huge, almost eye-level with me, which makes them at least ten thousand feet high. It reminds me of that super volcano special they had on the Discovery Channel, but Las Vegas doesn’t sit over a volcano so it must be something else. Maybe the aquifers? I don’t know, but the ground beneath me is shaking and—
The city sank! It sank into the valley floor! The earth beneath it crumbled, cracked in all directions, then everything caved inward and slipped into a massive hole. This is unbelievable! Las Vegas is gone. The beautiful city is gone. All those people are dead.
From the far corners of the cave, streams of water are running down from the ceiling and out the entrance of the cave. The cracks in the stone are getting wider. The rain is eating its way through. I’m going to wrap this note pad in several plastic bags and between several layers of clothes, th
en I’m going to stuff everything inside my sleeping blanket and roll it up. Hopefully, this will all fit in my backpa
Kenn de! it tok Ke
I don’t know how long I was in hysterics and my heart hurts so bad it feels as if it were tore out. I’m all alone now and the pain is almost unbearable. A huge piece of stone caved in and it just missed me as I dove away. The water rushed in so fast I couldn’t get to Kenny in time and it took him out of the cave. He was dead the moment the rain touched his face. I won’t tell you what he looked like when he floated away, but it’s a memory I’ll never forget.
I’m crunched up in the far corner trying to stay away from the river of acid rain that’s getting closer. My notepad is sitting on the top of my knees, which are pressed against my chest. The acid river is so close that if I straighten my feet, it’ll eat off the tips of my sneakers. It’s hard to write like this so I’m going to have to end this letter.
I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t mean to hurt you when I ran away. Forgive me.
I’m only fifteen, Mommy...I’m not supposed to die like this.
Goodbye and I’ll love you forever
Tanya Jensen-Baxter