Don't Go Into the Storm
Trey has a twin sister who tells her side of the story of that horrible day when she almost lost her brother along with the rest of her family as well as could have lost her own life in the behemoth tornado.
Chapter One
June 16th the day everything changed.
Today was Silverton High School's Graduation, now being as my oldest brother was only a junior and my twin and I were only sophomores you are probably wondering why we would even care about the significance of today. Well that's just it, our father is the vice principle. Not the great of a deal for my brother's and I. Anyway my father had volunteered the help of my brothers to video tape a time capsule for our school to be seen in twenty-five years. My brothers were great at the AV thing, I felt like they would could one day make great documentaries. I on the other hand was great with words, I want to be a writer. So while my brothers were task with filming the graduation today I was to be there documenting it for the school paper.
So with the deadline for the time capsule coming closer my oldest brother Donnie decided this morning would be a good day to do his own self interview before daring to find our father for his. Ever since mom died they haven't seen eye to eye and I wondered if they ever would. I'll admit dad could be a hard ass at times but he was struggling with the grief and my brothers weren't always helpful, blame it on teenage angst if you will. Sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast with dad when Donnie came in with his camera. "Hey dad…" Donnie called out to get our father's attention while he filmed.
Dad looked up from his paperwork for a minute before saying, "Hey come on, I'm having breakfast here." then went back to his papers. Typical considering he wasn't even eating breakfast he was just drinking coffee. I gave Donnie a sympathetic look before cleaning my dish in the sink. Dad quickly looked at his watched before calling out for Trey my twin brother to be ready.
"Want to say something to the future you Dad?" Donnie asked being persistent.
"Not now Donnie, okay busy day. Can't you see that?" Dad answered taking his mug to the sink to clean later.
To save my brother from starting another argument with our dad I spoke up next, "Dad you were the one that wanted these time capsule messages done." I said softly give a quick small smile to Donnie.
Before Dad could say anything back to us his attention was pulled to the kitchen's television as the weather report was being broadcasted. Dad ended up mumbling something about postponing the graduation ceremony. I just shook my head and pulled Donnie outside with me.
"You know Dad is just stressed with everything right? With Principle Walker always on his case." I said fiddling with the strap of my book bag.
"So that just makes it right for him to always be on ours Donnie asked obviously ticked off at the moment.
"Well no, but you have to know that he does love us and he wants what's best for us. Right?" I asked hopeful.
"Yeah I do I just wish, you know what never mind." Donnie shook me off and went to talk to Trey.
Dad came out moment later carrying a case of things for the graduation. He looked to be struggling as he asked for help. Donnie being mad at him refused and Trey well Trey just likes be difficult and joked that he couldn't because of an injury that never existed while filming the whole thing. I went over to the car and took some of the weight from dad. I didn't want all of his kids to act useless. After everything was in the car I shut the trunk and watched ad another argument broke out between Donnie and our dad, all I could do was shake my head.
Donnie eventually road off on his bike while I got in the bad seat of the car leaving the front available for Trey. I barely heard Trey ask dad from outside to without thinking about it state who his favorite son was. Why Trey always felt the need to instigate between Dad and Donnie I will never know. Once we were all in the car and on our way to the school, Dad looked over to me asked a simple question.
"Why does he never want to talk things through?"
"Really? Dad you get so caught up in work and trying to be the perfect strict father that you sometimes don't listen, and I'm not saying this in a negative way but you're not always approachable." I answered hoping that I wouldn't anger him too much before we arrived at school.
"Sami, sweetie you don't really… I don't…" Dad didn't know what to say which for once was a first.
"It's okay Dad. I know and understand." I said leaving the conversation hanging in the air. Trey took this to his advantage and decided to do my time capsule interview.
"So Sami what would you like to say to your future self?" I gave dad a quick look before as Trey turned around in his seat to point the camera in my face.
"Let's see, hello Samantha Fuller you're not a sophomore anymore. Hopefully you've graduated college and are on your way to writing a great novel or two. Hopefully you're still the glue that holds your family together…" I saw dad look in the rearview mirror at this statement. " I want you to know that not a day goes by that your family is proud of you even if they don't always show it and they love you." I finished and Trey turned the camera off.
"Jeez Sam way to make the message all deep and everything." Trey joked as we pulled into the parking lot of school.
"Don't blame me, my future self might need that boost of confidence." I said leaving my brother and dad in the car and meeting up with some friends before class started.
Halfway through the day I ran into my brothers in the library. After school instead of filming the graduation with Trey, Donnie was going to help his friend Kaitlyn out with a project for a summer internship. Trey didn't seem too happy about having to do all the work by himself.
"You know I can help, I don't actually have to take notes about the graduation to write the article. I just have to be there." I offered.
"No its okay I can handle it, maybe even prove something to Dad." I nodded and said I seem them later.
I met up with Trey after school to help set up for the graduation ceremony. When Dad saw Donnie wasn't there he looked angry, I saw him speaking with Trey and from the look on Trey's face Dad said something that upset him. Dad probably didn't think Trey could handle filming the event.
"Samantha!" Dad called out to get my attention, "Have you seen your brother?" he asked.
"No I haven't, but don't worry Trey will be able to handle it. Have a little faith in him." I said going back to placing the last of the chairs.
"Sam, when the ceremony's over I want to talk." Dad sounded sincere. I gave him a small smile and nodded.
With everything in place parents started filling the stands and soon the graduates took their march in. The speakers and staff took their places on the stage. I droned out Principle Walker's speech I mean really I would have it recorded anyway so I could just watch it later for the paper.
Towards the end of the ceremony as Principle Walker was finishing up his speech it started to rain, I was glad that I had decided to wear my favorite black zip up hoodie because the rain was really coming down and I had neglected to bring an umbrella with me. As soon as the seniors tossed their caps the wind picked up severely and the tornado warning went off. Dad and our Principle started ushering everyone into the school.
"Dad!" I called for my father as the skies darkened outside. Dad was ushering the last of the stragglers in and trying to get Trey away from the windows. Why he felt the need to record this was beyond me. A moment after dad pulled Trey away from the window a tree came crashing through it. "DAD!" I screamed. I had never witnessed a tornado before and seeing a tree almost crush my twin and my father scared me senseless. Pulling my brother with him my dad made his way back to everyone bunkered in the hallways, he gave me a quick hug before ordering everyone to hold on tight and keep their heads down. I crouched as low as I possibly could shaking with fear as the roof started to be pulled from the building. I had never heard a sound so frightening. It was so loud I couldn't help but scream, dad was close to me and wrapped a comforting arm around me trying to secure my safety I could only hope Trey was holding on tight and pray that Donnie was safe.
I dared to look up only for a moment and saw one or two unfortunate being sucked up into the storm. "Dad don't let go!" I screamed as the wind pulled strongly on us. As quick as it was upon us it had blown over raging on its path of destruction.