American refugee
It started with an earthquake, a sharp jolt that took forever to stop shaking and rolling, and then nothing…but car horn alarms outside the house and in the neighborhood. The mother gathered her two children and went outside in case there were more aftershock quakes. Later news reports indicated that there 100 aftershocks. The immediate neighborhood was in ruins. Houses cracked open, tilted and fallen off their foundations, a nearby overpass broken and collapsed on one side so as to be unusable and blocking the road over which it crossed. People were congregating in small groups, talking and pointing to collapsed houses and overturned cars. Smoke was coming out of several houses, and flames were visible. People could be seen entering a convenience store on the corner, as well as the liquor store, and leaving with arm loads of merchandise and running away. Gunshots could be heard coming from somewhere. Things were beginning to fall apart. “Qick, you two, let’s get inside, off the street” the mother said to her two children. This neighborhood was not good to be in on a good day, let alone at night, and certainly not with the power out, and after a quake with no rescue first responders coming to save you. And that was certain, they were not coming. “ mom, we have to leave. This city is going to be a war zone by morning. We have to get out now” Tommy, the 15 year old son said.” Okay, let’s pack some clothes, warm ones and cold ones, heavy boots, a hat, towels, blankets, things for the road. We don’t know how long we will be on the road. Oh, and bottles of drinking water. And food.Don’t forget your toothbrush.” Evelyn, the mother said.
