Sunday, July 1, 2012

A Storm (Part Two)

(This is Part Two of this story, taken from accounts by my grandfather and great aunt, as well as historical record. If you didn't read Part 1, go on over there and read it. Then come back here! And here is Part 3.)

...And yet, even into the night when the heavier rain began, people didn't abandon their feelings of security, although under the ebony, water laden skies, the sea had already begun silent deliveries of an ominous cargo, depositing them onto the beach with the high tide.

The silent deliveries the agitated sea pushed onto the beach that night would have chilled the souls of anyone who had seen them, as well as given stark warning as to what was furiously churning a bulls- eye into Corpus Christi. But no one saw them, not until it was much too late. Wreckage from one of the ships the clandestinely raging hurricane had chewed up and spit out reached land before the storm. Among the splintered wood and ephemeral flotsam were several broken bodies of the sailors of that ship.

Although it was raining, Rosa pressed her nose to the window of their honeymoon suite. It was still early, and the breaking sun was barely visible, but she wanted one last drink of the breathtaking vista. "Look, Rob, isn't is gorgeous, even with the rain?" Rob pulled open the curtain even as he latched his long arm around her tiny waist. His brow furrowed in concern as he took in the the wild frenzy of the distant, wind whipped waves. "What's wrong, honey?" Rosa asked, seeing his concern.

"Don't you worry, my sweet Rosa. I'm going to talk with the manager. That looks like a nasty sea out there. You finish packing and we'll be on our way quickly home," he assured her, his long legs already striding for the door.

Father shouted to M.C. over the gusting wind, even as he slapped the reins, urging the horses on. "Son, we've got to get those newborn calves back up here into the wagon and back into the barn. The rest of the cattle will follow if we can get the calves into the wagon. I really don't like the looks of this storm. This makes me thankful we're inland ten miles. Old Parker, right there so close to the island, is going to have a hard time with this, coming in from the east like it is."

M. C. nodded in agreement as the wagon bumped over the small bridge spanning the river. He pulled his hat down tighter over his head to try and provide a better cover for the rivulets of rain already flowing inside his jacket.

Maria called out, "Be careful, Jose! I don't like you and the kids being out in this storm- This wind is blowing hard and the rain is really picking up!"

"Don't worry, Mama. We'll have that mule picked up in no time. Then, we can go to noon mass together, when this storm lets up. It won't take us long," Jose said over his shoulder to her as he, twelve year old Pablita and ten year old George hustled down the road from their seaside shanty to pick up the mule and get it back into the small stable he'd built for it in the back.

Maria rubbed her belly nervously, not liking the look of the sea or the feel of the stinging rain, slung down from the sky with such force that it felt like small stones. She suspected, but hadn't yet told Jose, that she was pregnant again. She'd lost the last three babies early in those pregnancies, and this was one she wanted with all her heart. She relaxed a little as she thought of her blessings in her hard working man, Jose, who had such big dreams for the future, of Pablita, the shy girl with liquid brown eyes and glossy, braided hair, and of George, who was smarter already than many adults. She prayed and asked God to keep her family in His care.

Rob had only been gone a few minutes when such a blast of wind hit the hotel broadside that the floorboards groaned and the walls shrieked at the strain. Rob burst into the room to find Rosa, suitcase already packed, sitting wide eyed on the bed. "Hurry, darling! It's a hurricane! We must get to higher ground!" The shock rendered Rosa mute, but she held her beloved's hand tightly as he guided her to the stairs.

Already the salt water had erputed across the sand and the storm surge was pushing across the street and into the hotel lobby. Other panicked guests joined them in the flight up the stairs to the top floor. "Hold onto me!" Rob instructed Rosa. "Don't let go, no matter what!" Her small arms wrapped around his waist as he navigated a path for them.

The stairs swayed and then buckled as wind gusts over 110 mph tore through the boards like they were cardboard. Rosa screamed as her arms were torn from their grip on Rob's waist and he disappeared into the maelstrom as the whole front wall of the hotel sheared away in front of them. The swirling water gushed in like a hungry predator.

Father worked to control the team as the winds whipped the wagon back and forth. M. C. held onto the three young calves they had gathered in the back. "Son, we've got to take shelter! This storm is trying to carry us away!" They unhitched the horses and gave them their head while running for an outcropping that could provide some shelter. Each held a calf in one arm and shared the third calf between them. "Father, what about Mama and the girls and little Henry?" M. C. shouted as they reached the outcropping.

"Pray, Son, pray!" was all his undone father could reply.

Back at the house Mama gathered the girls and Henry and while she hitched a horse to the light wagon. "Hurry kids, we've got to try to make it to the schoolhouse! It's on the highest ground and the sturdiest building. We're going to ride fast. I need you to hang on tight! Girls, all of you need to keep a hand on Henry," she instructed even as they forced themselves against the wind into the wagon and she slapped the horse to a gallop.

"Mama, what about Father and M. C.?" her oldest girl shouted as they jolted along the trail to the school house.

Mama was glad the driving rain hid her tears. "Pray, baby, pray!"

Maria looked in horror at the twelve foot wall of sea coming across the beach. Her legs somehow found the strength to run, buffeted by the most powerful wind she'd ever encountered, and she reached the lawn of the Spohn Sanitarium, the city hospital, just in time to see their shanty disintegrate in a fusillade of surf. The surge knocked her knees out from under her and she was plunged under the water like a frenzied baptism. She choked in sea water as her knees scraped across what had once been the gravel road two streets behind. No! she thought. No! It will not end like this! I have my family!

She struggled to find footing even as she choked and gagged on the salty water. Her hands grabbed at holds under the water, only to be jabbed and scraped. The pull of the sea was relentless; a suction that seemed to even want to divide bone from marrow. She was being swept out to the sea and couldn't get her feet planted. She saw the doorway of the Spohn Sanitarium in one of the moments her head was above the water and saw there were others who made it to the steps. If only...

(The final installment, Part 3, will be coming soon. Thank you for sticking with this!) 

48 comments:

  1. My mind is filled with terrible images and my body tense as I head off to bed, Shelly. I knew this would happen and yet I couldn't wait till morning to read part 2. The power of wind and water should never be underestimated, nor should the will to survive and protect our loved ones. I'll be back for chapter 3, dear friend. Thank you and good night!

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    1. Shady: I can promise you, my friend, there will be some good news in the aftermath. In researching and writing this, I feel like I've been through one now, too. You are so right. These can never, ever be underestimated nor can we ever become complacent about safety in one. Thank you for stopping by!

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  2. I like how the responses of the parents to the children were to pray......I await part three (breathlessly)

    betty

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    1. Betty: Thank you! I'll work on getting it up before the holiday~

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  3. Mother nature is certainly something to be respected and sometimes feared. GREAT story!

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    1. Pat: That she is- especially with hurricanes. Thank you!

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  4. This part was better then the last part mother nature can be so fiece at times and often takes us by surprise at just how fiece.......

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    1. Jo-Anne:And when we take it for granted that we get into all kinds of trouble. Thank you~

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  5. Very suspenseful and well told. Suction that seemed to want to divide bone from marrow--beautiful language.

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    1. Stephen: Thank you- I actually got bone being divided from marrow from a verse in the bible. This part left me feeling worn out after I wrote it because there was so much action to try and condense down.

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  6. Hi Shelly, I was late getting here and so was able to read part one and two together. Together the stories are so suspenseful; I enjoyed the tense excitement combined with a little anxiety while waiting to find out who lives, who dies, and whose lives are about to be changed forever by forces out of their control. I recently watched a clip of the Tsunami in Thailand, and images of those waves and the people running kept popping into my head while I read your story. It would be absolutely terrifying to experience something like this.

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    1. Jenny: Thank you so much for stopping by! And yes, anytime I see clips of Tsunamis, flooding, or other disasters like that, my mind immediately runs to our hurricanes. The only saving grace of a hurricane vs. say a tornado is the ample warning time we have now, unlike what they had back then. Hurricane season always puts me in a higher state of alert, even if there is nothing immediately threatening us out in the Gulf.

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  7. I could feel the tense emotions as the storm was having its way with everyone and brought me back to 1954 when hurricane Hazel passed directly over my home in Nashville, NC rocking our old wooden house sitting on cement blocks and finally ripping the chimney off. The eye passed over and it was like the finest calm I ever experienced and then the other side of the monster passed over. The only positive about it was that it came during daylight. This is an awesome post Shelly and I can hardly wait for the finish. Thanks.

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    1. Odie: Those of us who have lived through hurricanes have experienced that eerie calm of the eye and the profound relief when it is all finally passed. I remember as a kid loving the sense of adventure that came with them, but now, not so much at all. Thank you~

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  8. You have done a craftsman's job of building the suspense. You know exactly how to articulate the tales for presentation as a serial. Here we eagerly await the next instalment.

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    1. vanilla: Thank you! I'm a little surprised at how draining it's been to piece these stories together. What a time that was-

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  9. Dearest Shelly,
    Wow, the first paragraphs are especially SO poetic and luring or making us want to read on!!! I learned very young that typhoon has eye so that we have rage of the wind and then quiet moment... with real experience. I'll read again to feel the story, my friend. "frenzied baptism" or the part your friend Mr. Stephen Hayes pointed; your reply made me understand where the phrase came from, haha; as a Japanese they are really impressive. The hospital; "shanty disintegrate in a fusillade of surf"; what an expression!!!
    We all are in dager of abnormal weather, the whole world, aren't we☆☆☆
    Haha, you stopped me from washing dishes of dinner, dear friend.
    Sending you lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. Orchid: Thank you, my dear friend Miyako- you are always so kind and descriptive in your sweet comments. Natural disasters show no favoritism, do they? I hope and pray this year they will ease up and leave the nations who always suffer them in peace. Have a wonderful evening!

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  10. So well written, Shelly. I am heartsick knowing what awaits so many of your characters. Thanks for writing this!

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    1. Nancy: I feel emotionally spent having researched these stories and what people went through then. There are some good things coming, though!

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  11. I like your snow back ground! That is snow, right??!!
    I have lived in MN all my life and never once experienced a hurricane ...just scary storms and almost a tornado.

    I feel for these people...so so scary.

    looking forward to reading the good things!

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    1. Christine: I think it is snow- wishful thinking for here, though! Hurricanes are plain nasty in their ferocity and power. It's hard to compare to another natural disaster because of their duration and size.

      Thank you for stopping by today!

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  12. Oh dear, what a tragic situation all these people are finding themselves in. I am hoping against hope that they will all survive, but life isn't really like that, is it? You really are doing this story justice my friend, as I was completely involved with what was going on, and could visualize it so well in my mind. I pray that we will never find ourselves in a situation like that. Brings to mind that terrible Tsunami that we all witnessed a few years ago on Boxing Day. Mother Nature can be so cruel at times. Like the others above, I just can't wait for the third episode.

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    1. Thisisme: I am amazed at the strength ordinary people find within themselves when dangerous situations arise. Thank you for your very kind words, my friend! Hope you are regaining strength in leaps and bounds!

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  13. Dear Shelly, as I read this I forgot to breathe and so was breathless by the end of Part II and had to take a deep gulp of air! That's the result of your storytelling! As the kids say, "Awesome!" Peace.

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    1. Dee: Thank you! There was so much to these stories it was hard to whittle any of it down, so I'm glad the action of it isn't too affected. Have a wonderful day, my friend~

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  14. You have a talent, my friend. :-)

    Pearl

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  15. I'm on the edge of my seat - just like with the first installment. I've never been in a hurricane, and I hope I never am.

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    1. Karen: I hope you never have to go through one, either. The one thing, though, about hurricanes now is that they can predict so well what their path will be; not always, but usually. I still get chills down my spine thinking of Katrina, that was originally projected to hit us.

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  16. Another well written chapter Shelly. You are wonderful with the words and the way you describe everything - including the imminent danger. sandie

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    1. Sandie: Thank you so much! I hope to wrap it all up in the next installment.

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    2. "The swirling water gushed in like a hungry predator." Wow, great description Shelly! You are quite the writer, can't wait to read the third installment!

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    3. Saimi: Thank you! I'm working on the third part~

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  17. What a riveting story, Shelly, made all the more compelling and tragic because it is true! I'm on the edge of my seat for the third installment!

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    1. D. Kathy: It has been gut wrenching, but also heart warming, to read through so many personal accounts from this storm. I hope to have it ready in the next day or so. What people went through...

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  18. What an intriguing story and the fact that it is based in your family history makes it even more compelling.

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    1. Sweet Tea: I have always been fascinated by this storm. Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. Enjoyed your writing and the story - looking forward to the last part!

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    1. jenny_o: Thank you! Working on the last part~

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  20. Good Morning! I just wanted to stop in and wish you and yours a very Happy and Safe Fourth of July. Let Freedom ring and bring forth a song of gratitude.

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  21. Rhonda: Thank you so much, my friend. May those same warm wishes cover you and your family, too.

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  22. Oh my Shelly, the suspense. My daughter and I both have had bad experiences with rushing water. My daughter almost drowned floating on an inner tube in Townsend, TN. Anyone can set up shop on this river and rent out inner tubes. After her experience I made some phone calls about this being legal and concerning the safety. I was told "the locals" knew better than to rent a inner tube when there had been heavy rains in the area.

    About a week later, a young girl my daughter's age drowned in the same area, she had rented one of the inner tubes. She was not one of "the locals" who knew better. I can still remember how upset and sad I was to learn about this girl's death.

    My story: I was actually stranded on an island by myself when our "homemade" water craft (partly inner tubes) sprung a leak in the rushing river water.

    Didn't mean to digress so much, Shelly. This story hit home with me and brought back those painful memories.

    I can't wait for part 3! Thank you, Shelly, for all you put into your writing and for sharing it with us all! ♥

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    1. Cindy: That is horrifying- and so tragic. I have been through too many hurricanes in my lifetime not to have a healthy respect for the flooding. I can totally see why you have concerns about the water, too. How did you get rescued?

      Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  23. What a great story! Continuations drive me nuts because I hate waiting, but your story is such great quality. Can't wait to check out the last part!

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    1. Crack You Whip: Thank you! I hope to have it up tomorrow~

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  24. now I can read the whole part. I like your writing style..definitely draws the reader in...but is scares me!

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