Page 8 of Storm Season

Susan winced as she braced herself on the bathroom sink. “This ankle is hurting me more and more. Would you redo another bag of ice and then we’ll take a look outside and see what we’re dealing with? I haven’t looked out yet and I don’t think you have either.”

Jo realized that between the phone call and helping Susan, she really hadn’t looked outside at all other than that glimpse when she was talking to her father. She walked over to the window and looked out past the driveway. Just as Susan had remembered about Hurricane Evelyn, it seemed their house was like a floating bungalow in the Maldives. But instead of palm trees swaying, there were pieces of cedar and pine trees, limbs and branches, everywhere. Crab pots were bobbing along, and it looked like pieces of an oyster farm had found a new home against the fence rail next door. It was then Jo realized she could see the house next door which, for as long as she could remember, she hadn’t been able to. The view to the neighbor Frank’s home had been obscured by a beautiful live oak tree that now blocked the lane, its trunk split and gaping.

Susan came up behind Jo and placed her hand on her shoulder. “It’s déjà vu for me, Jo,” she sighed. “These storms just seemed to be carbon copies of one another. I can guess about the motel based on just the little bit I’m seeing, but we won’t know until you lay eyes on it, and that won’t be until this tide recedes a bit and we know there aren’t any power lines down hiding in the water. I can’t believe we both managed to fall asleep but I’m glad we did.” Susan winced from the pain. “I wish I was still asleep because this ankle is really starting to throb.”

“Let me move the couch back, and you’re going to sit there as I get more ice and fix us some coffee. I really understand now why a generator is so important when you live down here.” Shaking her head, her eyes were drawn out the window again. “I just can’t believe what I’m seeing. How will we get that tree up?”

“Oh, I suspect Frank has a chain saw. And probably by later today it will be all in pieces,” replied Susan. “You’ll be amazed at how quickly things bounce back. There will be plenty of devastation, to be sure. But people here are truly resilient and we pull together in times like this. I know that as soon as the road opens, the charities will come on in, like the Red Cross and such, but our own CERT people will already have started to get aid organized and will be providing all the assistance and support they can.”

“CERT?” asked Jo.

“Community Emergency Response Team,” said Susan. “They are folks who live right here and are prepared to mobilize right away and do what they can. I wouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t already communicating and figuring out where to set up and what’s needed most. They really are amazing.” Susan looked at Jo. “You know, Dare’s mom is involved in that, I think.”

She was interrupted by the landline ringing again. Jo picked it up, mouthed “Dare” to Susan, and smiled.

“Oh, hey Dare,” she said. “We were just talking about your mom. Isn’t she part of CERT? Gran thinks she is.”

“Yes, she is, but I’d like to know how you two are doing. Glad Mom and Dad kept this landline. Mom always says it’s for emergencies when I tease her, and I guess she’s right. Did y’all come through this blow OK?”

“I think so,” Jo responded. “The house shook like crazy but we didn’t have any broken windows or anything. There’s tide here with stuff floating all around and a big live oak tree, the one next door, came down and is blocking the lane between this house and Frank’s. Of course, we have the generator but cable went out hours ago and the internet too. No cell, but you know that. What are you hearing or seeing? I’m guessing you’re all OK too?”

“We are. But it’s a mess here. I don’t even want to think about the harbor and all the boats and whatnot strewn all over the place. Mom’s been on the phone with CERT folks and it seems like it’s water everywhere, so there will be lots of flood damage. Apparently, it’s real bad by the school and the highway was breached up north in several places. I guess the electric co-op will try to get out as soon as the wind diminishes. That will be the first priority – power. But you both made it safe and sound, then? That’s great news.”

“Well,” Jo hesitated. “Gran twisted he ankle pretty good last night. She fell over a rug. I’ve got it elevated and put some ice on it. Any other suggestions?”

“Give her some Tylenol or whatever she wants for pain, I guess,” said Dare. “I know that’s what we do down at the docks when someone falls. With all the ropes and stuff lying around you’d be surprised at how often that happens. Visitors mostly. They are looking at everything and not paying attention. A swollen ankle can sure ruin a vacation.”

“Speaking of visitors,” said Jo. “I guess it will be quite a while before we have some. I had hoped to end up this summer on a high note, but this isn’t the note I was looking for.”

“Cheer up,” Dare said. “I know it’s bad. And it’s going to be a mess for a while. But you’ll be amazed at how quickly things get back to some semblance of normal.”

“That’s what Gran just said. The resilience of the islanders or something like that.”

“Well, she’s right,” he said. “And in fact, as soon as I can manage to get Dad’s truck onto the road and Mom gives me the OK about any downed power lines, I’ll come and pick you up and we’ll check out the motel. I’m guessing Gran will stay put.”

“Yes, she will,” she said. “Let me know when you’re coming and I’ll walk down the lane out to the edge of the highway. There’s too much debris and stuff to bring the truck back here. And if there’s still a lot of tide, don’t worry about getting me. I’ll just get out there as soon as I can. Guess we’re all in the same boat more or less.”

She hung up the phone.

“So nice of him to call, wasn’t it?” asked her grandmother.

“Yes, Dare’s such a good friend.” Then she turned and headed out of the living room.

”Well, guess I’ll fix us some breakfast. Not much else to do but watch the tide go down and the crab pots roll by. Let me get you that Tylenol.”

It was later in the afternoon before Dare phoned to say he’d be by, but it would be slow going. Jo put on her boots and stuffed her work gloves into her jeans.

“Gran, I’ll take some photos with the phone for you. Don’t worry about us. You know we’ll be careful. Just make sure you stay put,” Jo advised.

“I am not going anywhere, for sure,” replied Susan. “This foot is more swollen than I thought it would be. I think I’ll start making a list of the things I’m pretty sure we’ll need to follow up on. That’s a start. But I won’t move from this couch.”

Jo nodded as she waved, blew her a kiss, and closed the door behind her. The wind was gradually dropping and while it was breezy, it wasn’t any more gusty than most Hatteras days. The sun had broken through the clouds enough to make it plenty warm outside, and she thought of how the mosquitoes would be having a field day in the next week. When she got to the bottom of the steps, she moved into the water carefully. It was about mid-calf but she could see from the marks on the house pilings it had been higher than that during the height of the storm. Then the water level would have been up over her knees.

She made it out to the highway by keeping to the center of the lane and steering clear of anything suspicious floating around. She turned back to look at the roof of Gran’s house, and saw perhaps where a shingle or two was missing but, remarkably, nothing more. She had only been standing at the end of the lane for a minute or two when Dare appeared in his dad’s old Ford.

She hopped in and asked, “Doesn’t he care about all the salt water and what it’ll do to this truck?”

“He says it’s so old now he’d be glad if the salt got to it. But he always hoses it off and he keeps it running somehow. It’s good for times like these. Really glad we got your gran’s car to the airport. The tide ran high but it wouldn’t have gotten that high for sure. Or we wouldn’t be here.”

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