The Storms
Friday, April 30, 2010
The winds were still up. The skies alternated between sun and stretches of storms. It was all so beautiful.
The day was spent in mostly doing nothing of any significance. Because instead of getting any sort of mathematics work in whatsoever, it happened that Francis’ entire morning was spent mowing the yard before the whole family (excepting Joe, who had studies and plans to go spelunking) would be in Kansas City, visiting extended family.
Meanwhile… after the SAT, Linnea had young Susannah Rum over for the afternoon where they ate lunch in the treehouse and played with a menagerie of Webkinz.
And Francis was joined by Creole and Puff ‘o Lump for another afternoon of fun with bikes, disc golf with Henri, and Sonic.
Storms threatened in the west as Joe, Collette, and Puck brought back a stack of Little Caesar’s and the Plum children joined Linnea and Susannah for some fun before walking down to Dairy Queen.
Shortly later, Lucia picked up Carrie for an evening of storm-watch in the city.
After dinner, Dad went out for his jog, and Collette learned to play some frisbee with Joe, Rose, and Puck in the backyard. Rose’s M’nM pants were rolled up to her knees. Her hair was the longest it had ever been, pulled back in a ponytail. Thunder rippled in the west. Puck marched over to Joe, who was chewing on a piece of grass. He wanted to know what he was eating. When Joe explained, Puck started his own grass chew.
Inside, the windows were open to the wind, gold lamplight, Snuggles stretching lazily, the green of the yard heightened by the darkening of the skies…
And it was time for another movie night at church, Emma, which included Mom, Grandma Combs, Aunt Petunia, Linnea and her three pals (Linnea was working concessions), and the three boys running the film.
Just as OLeif came from work to pick them up, the rain spotted the sidewalk. And as they pulled out, the rain thickened and the lightening flashed.
There was a whiteness in the air that night. A mustard green of the foliage. A gold light as if the whole world were plunged beneath the sea. A passing of rain and the crackle of the thunder. And then violet to dark. Ceiling fans spinning around the windows still open to the pouring rain. Perfect evening. Tornado warnings were prolific. Half the Snicketts kids made a study of the radar for the rest of the night.
And the following morning, Dad, Mom, Grandma Snicketts, Carrie-Bri, Rose, Francis, and Linnea would be headed out to Kansas City at five o’clock in the morning.