Foolish Folks: BLACK SUN

It’s a gray morning in Ft. Lauderdale. I sit by the motel window and stare at the line of cars headed to warmer Key West. My grilled cheese sandwich cools and tastes like shoe leather. The weather channel warns that rain, heavy rain, is due from Boca Raton to the Keys. I watch the gray sky turn grayer, take off my bikini I had expected to wear, deposit it on the twin bed, put on jeans and a non-interesting T shirt with nothing under it except my bouncing boobs.

 

My roommate, Jason, is doing laps, unaware, uncaring that the beach will be blah today and we have no plans for such unexpected tragedies. Ashley, in a sunny yellow thong, her long blond hair almost the same color, lets it blow itself into knots as she steps out of her doorway. She’s slugging a can of Miller’s Lite and I gag at the thought of this so early in the morning. She gives me a toodly  wave and goes to sit on the edge of the pool where Jason will soon be breast-stroking by.

 

More beer cans, attached to sun-tanned arms, are ready for a sunny day, a wild volley ball game or 10. For the sunny day they’ re expecting
they will have to drive north to Boynton.

 

‘Come on, Guys, let’s get a volley set up while we can.’ Abbey and Jason go to sign for it. Reluctanty, I join them. ‘Did you hear that?’ I scream.’ ‘What, that little bit of thunder? No, we didn’t hear it or see the lightning either.’ Jason, I’m going back to our room. You idiots want to stay out here in an electric storm, stay. I’m gone!’

 

I get to the door, start to put the metal key in the lock and a tingle goes from my fingers to my elbow. I turn the key, jump back and leave the door unlocked so Jason can come in safely. The AC is on and we don’t need it. I’d like to have 15 minutes of heat instead. The AC is turned off. I put a blanket over my shoulders and lie down on the bed.

 

A thunderous clap of thunder shakes the room. My phobia is digging in. I look out the window and still see the volley ball players at it, not caring about the lightning hitting the waves. The thunder excites the volley players. The t.v. takes my mind off the storm for only a few minutes. ‘Bulletin: water spouts have been sighted in the Ft. Lauderdale area. They may mean a tornado is forming. Seek shelter.’ The players don’t hear the warning so dumb little me, waves her arms frantically, tries to yell over the wind, ‘Come in NOW.’ They ignore me.

 

I’m scared. I’ve never seen a water spout but see one now. It is grey, taller than tall, and spins like a well-wound top, only faster. Jayson, Ashley, the other 4 players hear the whoosh and start running. The dervish is at the ocean’s edge and starts to rise. It rises as far as we can see and disappears in the unknown.

 

Beer cans are on the beach. The volley ball net has much bigger holes than it had a few minutes ago. There is silence as the unexpected phenomena came and went and we are all safe. Sans moi, the group returns to their game.

 

A crack of thunder, brilliant lightning and they follow me into me room.
Sam, the Silent, opens his usually sealed lips to thank me for the warning. Jayson tells his buddies and Ashley how brave I was to try to save them. My modesty evaporates, ‘Thanks everybody, I DESERVE YOUR THANKS. Now will you all leave so Jason and I can play tiddlywinks?’

 

They get the message and go. Jason does the winks and I tiddle around.