Ava Kimmins - Short Story - Marshall County
Item
Title
Ava Kimmins - Short Story - Marshall County
Description
Welcome Home
Abstract
Every year we go to my Aunt Marcia's for a vacation, we go to the beach, and visit many other places. Our vacation is always eventful, however, this year we faced the power of nature first hand.
It was the last week of July when we set off on our seven-hour drive to my aunt's house. On the way we kept passing flat land and I kept imagining a tornado tearing through the wide open fields.
On our trip, we went to my Aunt Marcia's refuge and headed out for a hike. During the hike we went to explore a nearby dock. As we were standing on the dock, my little brother started making fun of me because my hair was standing straight up. My mom was about to yell at him until she realized that my aunt's hair was straight up and my mom's was also. We heard thunder in the distance and we immediately got off the dock. When we made it back to the car, my Aunt Marcia said that there must have been an electrical charge in the air and we could have been struck by lightning. We all were shocked and thankful to be alive that night.
I had a dream about a tornado that night. I could see the tornado forming and I heard a loud sound like a train running at full speed and I felt like I was on the track just feet away. It was a big black spinning cloud, miles wide. You could feel the wind like it was right beside you. I could feel myself being picked up, all I could think of was to yell, "HELP!".
The next day we decided we would go visit museums. We went to the Harriet Tubman museum and the Assateague Island museum. There we learned about nature and the history of Maryland. In some of the articles we read about natural disasters. We also visited land that was the former Brodess plantation. The Brodess family enslaved Harriet Tubman and many others. Looking out over the open fields, I could imagine Harriet Tubman making a run for freedom in the darkness of night. I could also imagine a tornado tearing through the plantation and the slaves running for an escape in the chaos of the storm.
The final morning of our vacation arrived, we said our goodbyes and headed for home. Our trip home was very long and tiring. Finally, about seven hours after we left Maryland, we were just miles from home, we approached the Beham intersection, and we saw a huge black swirling cloud just about 30 yards away. We saw pieces of aluminium siding swirling in the air and we exclaimed, " IT'S A TORNADO!" . I was crying like I was dying in the back seat. We had to determine which direction it was going, to decide where we needed to go. It seemed as though time stood still but within seconds my mom could see where it was heading. My mom then made the decision to take the road towards the right after the tornado passed slightly. It felt like we were going 55mph, down a small dirt road, trees thrashing in the wind while it was pouring down rain. We made it down to my cousin's house in the hollow to wait out the storm. After about 30 minutes, we headed towards the direction of home. As we were driving, we saw trees down, branches everywhere and debris scattered. We arrived at an area where we couldn't pass because of downed trees, and we stopped to talk to neighbors. They said nothing was touched near our house. I was so happy, I cried again. Once the road was cleared, we headed toward our house which is just about five minutes away. We passed part of the tornado's path as we looked down a hillside and saw broken trees and jagged tree tops everywhere. We then passed our church and the Pastor's porch roof was destroyed. Amazingly, our church was untouched, yet there was destruction surrounding it. Within minutes, we made it home. That night we saw pictures of the tomado on the news and learned it was an EF2. Seeing a tornado in our hometown was so unexpected and unbelievable. Our experience on the dock, nearly missing a lightning strike combined with being greeted with a tornado on our way home, made me realize to appreciate every moment and to be alert at all times because things can change in the blink of an eye and when you least expect it. From going on a hike to suddenly being in danger of a lightning strike to meeting a tornado in the hills of nature, this trip was one for the record books.
It was the last week of July when we set off on our seven-hour drive to my aunt's house. On the way we kept passing flat land and I kept imagining a tornado tearing through the wide open fields.
On our trip, we went to my Aunt Marcia's refuge and headed out for a hike. During the hike we went to explore a nearby dock. As we were standing on the dock, my little brother started making fun of me because my hair was standing straight up. My mom was about to yell at him until she realized that my aunt's hair was straight up and my mom's was also. We heard thunder in the distance and we immediately got off the dock. When we made it back to the car, my Aunt Marcia said that there must have been an electrical charge in the air and we could have been struck by lightning. We all were shocked and thankful to be alive that night.
I had a dream about a tornado that night. I could see the tornado forming and I heard a loud sound like a train running at full speed and I felt like I was on the track just feet away. It was a big black spinning cloud, miles wide. You could feel the wind like it was right beside you. I could feel myself being picked up, all I could think of was to yell, "HELP!".
The next day we decided we would go visit museums. We went to the Harriet Tubman museum and the Assateague Island museum. There we learned about nature and the history of Maryland. In some of the articles we read about natural disasters. We also visited land that was the former Brodess plantation. The Brodess family enslaved Harriet Tubman and many others. Looking out over the open fields, I could imagine Harriet Tubman making a run for freedom in the darkness of night. I could also imagine a tornado tearing through the plantation and the slaves running for an escape in the chaos of the storm.
The final morning of our vacation arrived, we said our goodbyes and headed for home. Our trip home was very long and tiring. Finally, about seven hours after we left Maryland, we were just miles from home, we approached the Beham intersection, and we saw a huge black swirling cloud just about 30 yards away. We saw pieces of aluminium siding swirling in the air and we exclaimed, " IT'S A TORNADO!" . I was crying like I was dying in the back seat. We had to determine which direction it was going, to decide where we needed to go. It seemed as though time stood still but within seconds my mom could see where it was heading. My mom then made the decision to take the road towards the right after the tornado passed slightly. It felt like we were going 55mph, down a small dirt road, trees thrashing in the wind while it was pouring down rain. We made it down to my cousin's house in the hollow to wait out the storm. After about 30 minutes, we headed towards the direction of home. As we were driving, we saw trees down, branches everywhere and debris scattered. We arrived at an area where we couldn't pass because of downed trees, and we stopped to talk to neighbors. They said nothing was touched near our house. I was so happy, I cried again. Once the road was cleared, we headed toward our house which is just about five minutes away. We passed part of the tornado's path as we looked down a hillside and saw broken trees and jagged tree tops everywhere. We then passed our church and the Pastor's porch roof was destroyed. Amazingly, our church was untouched, yet there was destruction surrounding it. Within minutes, we made it home. That night we saw pictures of the tomado on the news and learned it was an EF2. Seeing a tornado in our hometown was so unexpected and unbelievable. Our experience on the dock, nearly missing a lightning strike combined with being greeted with a tornado on our way home, made me realize to appreciate every moment and to be alert at all times because things can change in the blink of an eye and when you least expect it. From going on a hike to suddenly being in danger of a lightning strike to meeting a tornado in the hills of nature, this trip was one for the record books.
Youth(s) First Name and Initial of Last Name
Ava Kimmins
Age Division
11
Category
Short Story
County
Marshall
