I sit in my truck and mentally prepare myself for the storm outside. I finally opened the car to my old truck making my way through the down pour of rain that instantly chilled me to the bone. My purse clutched to my stomach so as not get too wet in this mad dash to the doors. I had never been so happy to be entering a Target in my life. I grabbed a nearby cart and made my way to the back of the store.
I made my way through the isles occasionally taking thinks off the shelf and adding them to my cart. Just as I was reaching for the band aids everything went dark. I just figured the lights went out due to the rain, I mean they have went out at my apartment before why couldn't it happen at target as well?
I walk to the front of the store to find several people standing there looking out at the front entrance. It wasn't until I got closer to the group of people that I noticed exactly what they were looking at. A large tree had fallen down in front of the sliding doors completely blocking the entrance.
"Is everyone ok?" I ask hesitantly "Yes," he says "everyone is fine but it scared the hell out of me."
My eyes are glued to the now upturned tree and the wind beyond it thrashing everything around. The storm is just getting worse and worse. I've always disliked them and even though I live in Forks where it rains a lot we don't get too many thunderstorms. But I had a gut feeling that this was more than just some little storm, this one hit fast and it hit hard.
I noticed that a lot more people have hundled up around us to see the damage.
Then a man was walking over towards everyone. He towered over many of them and had a booming voice that caught everyone attention.
"Okay everyone calm down. I am aware of the situation and yes there are other exits to the building and if any of you decide you want to leave that is up to name is Emmet. I am the assistant manager here and since my superior has already left for the day, I guess that makes me in charge. Now would any of you like to leave?"
A brunette girl near the back raises her hand but doesnt seem very sure of her answer. She couldn't have been any older than me.
"Sir?" she says so quietly I have to strain my ears to hear even though she is but ten feet away from me
"I would like to leave just to get my dog from its carrier in my car if that's alright with you?"
She looks as if she might start crying from fear of her dog in the horrible storm.
"Usually I don't allow animals in my store, but being that this is an unusual situation I will allow you dog inside as long as he doesnt cause any trouble."he says with some authority " you may get it but only if you take someone to accompany you otherwise the scared dog may be the least of out problems."
"I will help you if you don't mind."A quite attractive blonde haired boy says. He is wearing a work apron and a name tag as well. I assume he works here.
"Why thank you." she mumbles, Then the two of them head to the back of the store to where I'm guessing another exit is.
"Everyone else," the man who earlier identified himself as the assistant manager says "get to the back of the store in case the windows decide to shatter. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt."
I follow a group of people to the back of the store to a section that sells lawn supplies and outdoor furniture. We form a circle with a wide variety of different lawn chairs and benches. We bring two chairs over for the two people that went out into the storm for the dog. They soon arrive and take the empty seats. The women is holding a small fur ball of what I can assume is a dog.
Total there are fourteen of us six men, six women,and two children. The room is quiet for awhile until the assistant manager Emmett starts to speak.
"OK, everyone the storm doesn't seem to be getting any better so it looks like we are going to be stuck here awhile being that its 6 0clock and knowing that I am a little hungry, I think it would be a good idea to get something to eat. Is anyone here a cook of any kind.?"
Surprisingly an older women raises her hand, her other hand still grasping the hand of the man sitting next to her. The man I recognize the man as the man I talked to earlier.
The assistant manager continues, "OK well would you mind making the group something? Your welcome to any of the food in the fridges but keep in mind your cooking for fourteen people.
"I don't mind sir, my husband and I run the Italian restaurant on seventh street so I am used to cooking for much more than fourteen people. Now, is anyone allergic to anything?"
Everyone shakes their ahead and says they are not allergic to any foods. "OK then I am off and oh, my name is Esme and this is my husband Carlisle" she then walks off towards the east end of the store toward the grocery section with her husband holding her hand.