Page 51 of Memphis

“Well, I’m going to run to the store and get some groceries before the weather turns.”

“I don’t know if you’re gonna have time for that.”

“It’s just a few things. I won’t take long.”

“Then get a list together, and I’ll get one of the brothers to go.”

“No, that’s okay. I want to go.”

“Suit yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

“Consider me warned. Now, do you need anything while I’m out?”

He thought for a moment, then added, “Would you mind grabbing a few more of those noodle things that we had the other day?”

“Sure. Anything else?”

“Nope. That should do it.”

“Great. I’ll be back in a bit.”

I grabbed my keys and was on my way out the door when Wes shouted, “Hey! Grab some C batteries. We might need ‘em for the flashlights.”

“Will do!”

With that, I rushed out to my car. The air felt heavy and thick as I stepped out of the front door. I glanced up, and I was hit with a wave of unease when I noticed the dark clouds rolling in. Arkansas was known for its vicious storms in late spring and early summer. We had similar weather in Memphis, but it was rarely as bad.

Thankfully, the grocery store was just a few blocks away, but by the time I’d arrived, the wind had picked up, and the trees were starting to sway back and forth. A low rumble of thunder rolled in the distance, urging me to move faster. I started to regret my decision to come to the store. I should’ve just waited or let one of the brothers go for me, but I was too stubborn for that.

Regardless, I was there now and needed to get this thing done. I quickened my pace, and my mind raced through the list of things I needed: milk, bread, eggs, noodles, and a few other essentials. Just enough to get through the next day or so.

The fluorescent lights overhead started to flicker, and I knew I needed to hurry it up. The people around me seemed to feel the same sense of urgency as they rushed down the various aisles.I quickly grabbed what we needed and rushed to the checkout lane.

Minutes later, I was rushing back out to the car and throwing my bags into the backseat. The sky was growing darker by the second, so I wasted no time getting in the car and racing home. Sadly, I hadn’t gotten far when the first fat drops of rain started splattering on the windshield.

The wind howled. The thunder rolled. And the lightning danced across the sky. I pulled into the driveway, and after grabbing the bags, I darted inside. I slammed the door shut behind me and rushed over to the kitchen counter and dropped the bags. “Holy mackerel.”

“Getting rough, huh?” Wes called out from the living room.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

I put everything away, and my pulse quickened with every rumble of thunder. I was tempted to just go lock myself in the basement, but there were no sirens or any indications that this was anything other than a simple thunderstorm. I stepped over to the doorway of the living room as I asked, “What’s the weather saying?”

“Looks like the worst of it is above us.”

“Is it going to stay that way?”

“Certainly hope so.” Wes studied me for a moment, then asked, “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Just a little nervous. I don’t like storms.”

“Ah, the girl who tries to play the tough guy is scared,” he taunted.

“Shut up. I’m not scared.”

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