by Janet Blaylock

Created on: May 22, 2009

A Narrow Escape

"Wow!" I blurted out, as I glanced out the window and jumped out of my seat when lightning flashed in the sky, followed by the thunder that roared, and raindrops that pounded the rooftop along with hail.

I'm Christina, and I've never been in a severe storm such as a tornado, so when I saw the severe thunderstorm warning flashed across the television screen, and the newscaster came on with a weather bulletin about the possibility of a tornado heading toward the west side of River City (a fictitious city in Kansas).

My heart pounded and perspiration dripped down the sides of my face because I lived in the path of the storm. I became fearful and rushed around to take precautions, so the tornado wouldn't harm me. I didn't know what to expect in a tornado since I hadn't been near one, but they looked devastating on television.

I quickly ate my supper and cleaned up the kitchen. I shut off the television in the kitchen and rushed quickly to my bedroom and prepared to take cover in my closet because I thought that might be the safest place for me. However, I waited before I took cover.

I listened intently to the news on my television I had in my bedroom. The newscaster continued broadcasting the weather. He mentioned how storm spotters noticed a tornado a few miles west of town and watched it heading east at a rapid pace, so he cautioned everyone to take cover immediately in the lowest area of the house, or inside a closet.

Then it happened - the tornado siren blew, which was the loudest noise I ever heard, so I scrambled off the bed, grabbed my purse, and dashed inside the closet. I closed the door and covered up with my blankets that I kept in there for storms.

As I sat inside the closet, I could still hear the television report, so I waited patiently for the all clear to sound, but after a half hour, it still hadn't sounded. I continued to listen to the weather report and waited for the all clear, but instead of hearing the all clear, I heard an extremely loud sound and felt things from the outside striking my house. Then, I heard glass breaking and knew the tornado arrived and struck my house. "Oh God! Protect me from this tornado. I'm really frightened and want to escape such a devastating storm."

My body tensed up because I thought this was the end of my life, and I didn't want to die because I had too many goals in my life that I planned to accomplish. As I trembled outwardly, goosebumps appeared on my arms and legs. I couldn't

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