storm

The wind swept up the hill pulling with it rain and leaves and little pieces of old paper ripped from a yard sale sign. It beat these against the side of the house. The shingles shuttered as if to rip off, making the inhabitants inside worry about hail and lightning and leaks in the roof.

From a second floor window she watched the trees bend from side to side. They tipped down low towards her window, then bent back skywards. Had she the courage she could have opened the window and grabbed the tip of one of those trees, ridden it through the storm towards the sky.

Instead, she closed the blinds and tip-toed downstairs in case of disaster.