Rainy Days: A Collection of Short Stories Volume 1
Copyright 2014 Angela Prince
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Disclaimer: This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
Half Way to Safety
Alexis stood in the doorway cursing herself. Damn it, she hadn't meant to fall asleep. She had come home to grab a few essentials then leave. Now it was too late. The storm had raised the water level to wash the bridge out. Now, there was no way to leave. She watched the water rush over where the bridge should be. She sighed and closed the door to her mobile home. No point in watching the rain. With how fast the water was rising she'd be swimming in no time. She wasn't sure why but she went to her closet and pulled out her rain jacket. She brought it into her living room and tossed it on the recliner in front of the television. The news was showing a map with all the flooding areas highlighted in red. She noticed that most of the map was lit up. How long had she been asleep? A glance at the clock showed it was 6 a.m., she had gotten home at 2:45a.m.
Double damn the water was rising quickly. She went into the kitchen and grabbed some protein bars and several bottles of water. She returned to the living room and looked at the television and saw the words FLASH FLOOD and RESCUE TEAMS. Her hopes perked at the latter. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait long if they were already dispatching rescue teams. She distributed the bars and water into the jacket pockets before putting it on. The smell of plastic and rubber washing over her as she put it on for the first time ever. It had been a gift sent from her mother years ago, but she wouldn't think of that now. There would be plenty of time to think later. Alexis opened the door and stepped out onto her porch. Rain pelted the yellow coat and she was thankful she had kept it all these years. She glanced at the entrance of the trailer park and briefly considered driving over it. She dismissed the idea knowing how dangerous it was to drive though rushing water. She had seen stories on the news about people being trapped in their cars for doing that.
“Only one thing left to do,” she sighed to herself as she turned and onto the porch railing and from there onto the roof. “Sit and wait.”
***
Several hours later the rain had let up and the rescue team was preparing to cross the treacherous water once more, this time to bring her to safety. There had been three other families trapped in the flooded neighborhood, now it was her turn to get off this damned roof. She watched anxiously as the volunteer slowly started his way in the little yellow raft. It should take about 10 minutes to cross the water she thought to herself. How long had she been sitting here? There was no sun to be seen. She wished she had packed another protein bar, she was getting hungry again. She was on her last bottle of water as well. She stood and paced the length of her roof. She was stiff and cold from being in the rain. She would give anything right now for a hot shower and a back rub. She walked to the edge of her roof and peered down to what used to be her back yard. Just a few days ago it had been green and beautiful with blossoms of pink and yellow sprinkled around stating that spring was upon them. Now, all the plant life had been drowned under the muddy water. She stretched her arms above her head trying to loosen the muscles. She thought of how on quiet nights she could hear the trickle of the creek from her bedroom singing its lullaby. Now it was over the underpinning of her trailer and wreaking havoc on her home. Sure it wasn't much of a home, a two bedroom single wide that sat in the back of her neighborhood, but it was hers. She had started saving when she was sixteen and at eighteen bought this place without thinking twice. Her mother had been furious when she moved out, but it served the woman right, she thought. She owed no one and depended on only herself. She turned and walked back to the front to stare at her hero coming to the rescue. She snorted at the idea. For the past eight years she had been independent, carving her path through life on her own without asking anyone for help, and now here she was, saddened by the thought that now she had to depend on someone else to help her. What would become of her now? Where would she live now? There was no way she could repair the damage from the flood. Her home was destroyed. These thoughts were racing through her head now, she couldn't stop them. She felt her chest tighten and the tears well up. She tried to blink them away.
“That's enough of this!” she scolded herself “You can't fall apart now! You have to get off this damn roof first!” Volunteer was almost to her trailer now. Slowly inching along by pulling himself with the rope system that had been constructed. She hadn't remembered that part. How had it gotten there? She must have dozed off when they had put it in place, though she couldn't imagine being able to sleep with cold spray of water soaking her to the core. She remembered watching shows on T.V. About firefighters and paramedics risking their lives to save complete strangers. She had never known anyone brave enough to do such a thing and had always marveled at the characters in the programs. She also never thought she'd be the damsel in distress stuck on her rooftop. She laughed slightly to herself at the thought of herself being locked in a tower and her prince coming to save her. Two more yards and she would be able to climb down into the raft. She'd be halfway to safety at that point. When she got to complete safety who would she call? Her mother? Ha that would be the day. She hadn't spoken to her mother since she'd moved out years ago. She could still hear her mother screaming at her as she walked away and never looked back. She was pulled out of her reverie when she felt a jarring under her feet, and suddenly she was sitting again. She scrambled to her feet and ran to the edge of the roof. The flood had uprooted a massive tree and slammed it into the edge of her home. She could see the dented metal of the underpinning and knew it wouldn't long before the water pushed it completely through the trailer. If that happened, the whole thing would collapse and she would be dead for sure. She imagined the tree pushing through the pillars like a hand sweeping stacks of papers off a desk. What did she do now? Did she jump? Did she wait? She ran back to where she had been standing. Volunteer was almost there but had stopped moving, no doubt staring at the hunk of wood that was intent on destroying everything. Fear gripped her chest, she could hardly breathe.
“What do I do? God, what do I do?” She chanted.
She stumbled as another jarring came from underfoot, but this time kept her balance. She looked over to see the corner of the trailer collapse. She couldn't wait any longer. She stepped back, got a running start, and jumped. For a moment she felt as if she was floating, then came the cold splash of reality as she crashed through the surface of the murky water. The undertow sucked her further under, twisting and spinning her until she didn't know which direction was up. She slammed into something and had to fight hard not to take a breath. She had to get above the surface. She tried to get her bearings, but her lungs were screaming for air and she felt disoriented. Just then she felt something pull her arm. Her head broke the surface and she gasped for air. She thought she heard someone yelling, but couldn't make out anything over the roaring in her ears. She realized then that Volunteer had her arm and she was right next to the raft. She pulled herself up as the volunteer helped pull her over the edge of the boat. She collapsed into the floor of the little boat breathing heavily.
“Are you okay?” Volunteer ask
ed over the rushing water.
“I-I think so.” she stammered. She looked up to see the face of the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. Olive skin with a strong jaw and a chiseled nose.
“My name is Dylan and you’re halfway to safety.” He said looking at her with soft brown eyes. She just nodded and looked at him. She didn't know what she would do once she got to dry land, but right now halfway to safety felt like paradise.
The Tunnel
Andrew and Nikki stood at the opening of the tunnel. It was a sunny day, but the light could not penetrate the darkness they were about to step into. This was part of the typical “Country Boy Date” as it is called in this little town of Greenbrier. The only difference is that this time it she is taking him. She'd been taken on this date several times in the past, but this was the first time she had asked someone.
“Now remember,” she said turning toward him, “you can't use your cell phone as a flashlight.” Andrew nodded but said nothing. He looked a little nervous. “You’re not afraid of getting hit by a train are you?” She giggled. Trains hardly came through any longer.
“N-No” he answered. This made her giggle even more. She took his hand. “Here, this way we won't lose each other.” His hand was warm. He was a farm boy so his hands were calloused and strong. He held her hand with a gentle grasp that made her smile. He was a couple years younger than her nineteen years, but he was a little taller with blond hair shaved close to his scalp. She was described as an odd girl who wore all black clothing and dark make up. She had a petite frame that most people mistook for fragile. They stepped into the hole in the earth and let the cold blackness envelope them. The tunnel was one half mile long with a forty degree curve to the right that could result in someone running into the wall if not careful. There were also the wooden planks and iron bars of the track that could easily trip you in the complete darkness.
“There is a small alcove up ahead to the left. If a train comes, find it” she told him as they began their hand in hand walk.
“Um, I'll try.” He answered sounding even more nervous at the mention of a train. He couldn't see anything so how was he supposed to find a hole in the wall?
“Don't try. Do it.” She demanded “There is only a few feet between the track and the wall. If you don't make it you'll be sucked under the train.”
He now thought this was complete insanity. He reached his free arm out beside him. His fingertips grazed the stone wall. It was cold and damp. He imagined that in the winter the wall was covered in a thin sheet of ice. They continued on in silence for about fifteen feet.
She was thinking about how this tunnel reminded her of her life. Walking blindly along in the dark trying to make it to the light at the end. She was wondering if she would ever reach a happier place in her life when she heard his voice in the dark.
“So why did you leave this place only to come back?” he asked shyly as if he was afraid the question would offend her.
“I was looking for something I thought I was missing.” She answered remembering her trip out west.
“What was that?”
“Family.”
“Huh?”
“My parents left me with my Aunt Gracie when I was two years old. I went to find them. She told me they were in Washington.” She answered him. More like she begged her aunt to tell her.
“Were they happy to see you?” He asked sweetly. There was just something about those Greenbrier boys.
“No,” Auntie had told her she wouldn't like what she found. “Apparently they had forgotten all about me and started a new family.” Auntie was right. The memory of the confused look on their faces made her angry.
“I could never forget about you.” He mumbled.
“Excuse me?” surely she didn't hear him right.
“Nothing.” he answered too quickly.
“No, tell me.” she commanded.
“Okay, I said I-” He was cut off by a surprised yelp and her hand being pulled from his grasp. He reached out blindly to try to help when he felt his foot tangle with hers causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground. He landed hard on his shoulder and winced in pain. He could feel her beside him just an inch from where he landed. If he landed on her he would have felt like an idiot. He had barely missed sounding like one. What had he been thinking?
“Are you okay?” she asked him.
“Y-Yeah, are you?” He stammered, but not from the pain. In fact he couldn't feel the pain in his arm anymore. What he could feel was her breath on his cheek. They were still on the ground lying face to face. Lips almost touching. All he needed to do was lean in. The ground began to vibrate beneath them. Gradually at first but increasing with every second like the approach of a marching band. Fear immediately paralyzed his entire body. Not marching. A train.
“Oh shit!” She cursed out loud.
They both looked back the way they had come to see the train fast approaching the entrance to the tunnel. Adrenaline took over as they both scrambled to their feet and ran. They would never make it out before the train caught up to them. It entered the tunnel its light illuminating their path. It blared its horn in warning. The sound echoed along the walls drowning out all thoughts. The light flooded past them. He noticed a rectangle of blackness on the wall about 10 yards in front of them. The alcove! They could make it. They had to; there was no other option. The train screamed a second warning at them, but it made no effort to slow its pace. He ran faster to keep up with her. She was small and fast. Seven yards to go. The alcove slowly inched closer to them. The train was closing its distance behind them. Lighting their way at the same time threatening to run them over. Six yards. He was running beside her now. Five yards. They were almost there. Four. Three. Two. Suddenly, he stumbled. His heart leaped into his throat. If he fell now he was doomed. The train called its final warning. He could feel the heat of its engine on the back of his neck as he struggled to keep running. He wasn't going to make it in time. A hand grabbed his shoulder. Nikki pulled him the last two feet and tossed him into the alcove. She thrust herself in; pushing them both as far into the cubbyhole as possible just as the train passed. The roaring of the passing train was as loud as its horn had been. It filled his ears and blocked out his thoughts. He could feel the suction of the wheels pulling at his feet. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, fearful she would be sucked under like a piece of paper in a vacuum. She tipped her head back and laughed. He could smell her minty breath as she did so. It was intoxicating. The combination of excitement and fear made him feel dizzy like funneling beer at a keg party. He began to laugh too. She was pressed so close against his strong body that he thought he could feel the vibration of her laughter in his chest. She pressed her cheek against his and yelled something in his ear. It sounded like “This is exciting!” but her words were immediately whipped away by the wind. He tightened his grip around her waist as the train continued to race by creating a strong wind tunnel that threatened to rip her away from him. The next thing he knew her lips were on his. The feeling was amazing. The sound of the train faded from his ears, replaced by the sound of his pounding heart. He returned her kiss. The taste of her was incredible, like ice cream in the summer. He completely forgot where he was. He had kissed plenty of girls, but none had felt like this. There was just her. And him. The end of the train passed stirring up dust and debris in its wake.
Nikki continued to kiss him. She had never made the first move before, and she wanted to savor this moment of bravery. This date was so amazing. Being with him now she felt completeness. This was the feeling she had always searched for. She didn't want this feeling to end. When they came up for air and their senses returned to normal they were in the quiet black of the tunnel again free to continue walking, and smiling, hand in hand to the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Runaway Bride
Ginger stood at the counter staring at her reflection in the mirror. It was her alright; just a more formal, sophisticated, more terrified v
ersion of herself. Underneath her veil, her red hair curled in soft ringlets down to her shoulders. Her sparkling green eyes shined like emeralds, and her pale pink lips looked amazingly full against her ivory skin that had been powdered to perfection. She reminded herself of a porcelain doll as she stood there in her wedding gown. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, so why did she feel a sense of foreboding? It's just nerves. She thought to herself as she took another deep breath. The morning had been so hectic with Becky, her best friend, curling her hair and applying war paint as her father would call it. Her mother and fiancé's mother running about cackling like a couple of old hens, the room had become too small and she had asked everyone to leave. She didn't feel like herself today. She did not get scared or nervous or sad. However, at this moment, she was feeling all of these things. She began to tear up and pulled open the top drawer to find a pack of tissues. As she picked them up she noticed a postcard tucked under them. She picked it up to get a closer look. On it was a city scene with the words MEXICO: Wish You Were Here... She flipped it over to see her father's small uneven handwriting that simply said:
We can be there in an hour, just give me the signal.
She laughed out loud. It had been an inside joke with them for years; every big occasion their family had he always found a way to mention his plan to drive away on his motorcycle to Mexico and find himself a senorita. This occasion was no different. When she had arrived at the church that morning and saw the Harley Davidson parked at the front door, she knew it had been him. No one could say he didn't have a sense of humor. She dabbed her eyes with the tissue, careful not to smudge her make-up, and looked at herself once more. She felt out of place in the strapless white satin dress and sheer veil that her mother insisted was 'made for her'. She was never the heels and pearls type. Give her jeans and a helmet any, day she would always tell her friends. Now, here she was about to walk down the aisle and merry John, her fiancé of three years. He was a nice enough man with a good job. Her friends thought he was the perfect balance for her. Quiet to her loud, serious to her lightheartedness, yin to her yang so to speak.