Interruption

While watching tv on a warm spring day.
The wind at my window whined and howled.
A map popped up with a scroll display.
"Tornado Watch" meant plans were fouled.

The afternoon ball game was now postponed.
With "Baseball sized hail near Central City"
Switched channels just as a new warning toned.
Now completely focused on my own self pity.

I compromised with a pay per view movie.
Outside a deep groan crescendoing to a wail.
Thinking out loud that "That isn't so groovy".
Moments later confirmed by the "thud" of hail.

Switched back the channel to the local station.
Outside sirens and hail both continued to sound
The Cheif Meteorologist updated the situation
"Trained spotters confirm, Tornado on the ground."

On screen came live footage and audio from a chaser.
"This dangerous tornado is at least a mile wide."
Gazed in shock at the wrath of this monster defacer.
Debating weather to go look or to run and hide.

Power flashes and huge debris from the base of the storm.
With chasers following and the camera firmly trained.
Saw the town ripped apart by the massive black form.
Becoming ever more difficult to keep panic contained.

The Meteorologist in the studio spoke in a wavery voice.
"At times like this it's hard to find the right words to say."
The camera zoomed out and I had to make a choice.
Recognizing the Tornado was only three blocks away.

As I ran for the basement I heard a sound at my back.
Thinking "what a horrible time for a train to come through."
Then I remembered I didn't live anywhere near a track.
If I had any doubt before, now I certainly knew.

Never bolted down stairs faster in my life.
Upstairs there was a boom and a terrible crash.
Ceiling fell down on me, adding to my strife.
Open sky above me and a big lighting flash.

The wind died down and the rain splashed my face.
I could still hear the roaring twister off in the distance.
How the hell was I going to get out of this place?
My entire house on top of me was providing resistance.

It seemed like forever that I dug through the debris.
Wading through my possessions put through a blender.
When I found a gap in the rubble and I finally was free.
To meet a toilet, a light pole and a Volkswagon fender.

As I surveyed the damge I turned and I wretched.
I saw a hot tub in what was left of a tree.
It was like a bomb went off and for miles it strechted.
Neighbors huddled around a body, "That could have been me."

For the next twenty hours I helped others all I could
After that experience I would never be the same.
It puts things in perspective like one thinks it would.
Like someone whining about a damn baseball game.