Page 28 - Images Literary Magazine 2016 - 2017.pdf
P. 28
Ha z a r dous Hur r ica n e Hea l s Per spect iv e
by Ka t ie Scha f f n er , Gr a de 8
?It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness,?
-Charles Spurgeon
?What a perfect night,? I remarked, sarcasm apparent in my voice. The wind whistled
and howled as it slammed into my home, making it quiver. The heat and electricity that I
had previously taken for granted were gone. I never would have guessed that having
what appeared to be so little at the time, could amount to so much. ?At least it's keeping me warm,? I silently noted. I tried my best to abstain from
complaining about things that I clearly had no control over. I was sure that my family had
An unmerciful hurricane raged outside my window. Whipping wind sent trees flying
noticed my restlessness.
and caused power lines to snap and give way like thin twigs. My once lit living room was
dark and contained my whole family. I breathed in the various sweet scented Yankee ?Let?s play a game or do something fun since we are all together,? my mother
Candles that were scattered around the room and in the kitchen, beside the open living suggested. A family game night in the dark was not exactly what I had in mind. I
room. envisioned myself sitting in front of a large fireplace with a crackling fire. That would have
been ideal, but I figured board games in the dark may not be half bad. At the very least, I
?Well, Katie, we have to make the best of it,? my older sister, Megan, reminded me. The
knew it would ease some of the jittery feelings that had sprouted and continued to
ethereal candlelight illuminated her warm complexion, and her lengthy golden-blonde
blossom inside my stomach.
hair framed her face. Megan?s crystal blue gaze convinced me to follow her advice, but it
wasn?t easy fighting the boredom that I felt. I had few objects to entertain myself with. Suggestions were thrown around: Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, Outburst, and the list
My plush blanket hugged me tightly, and rested on top of many layers of clothing that went on.
were keeping me warm in my frigid home. Because it was the only thing we could cook ?Ugh,? I inwardly sighed, but I kept my mouth shut. After coming to a consensus, the
on the stove-top, hot brothy soup sloshed in my stomach. The aroma of the shimmering
Schaffner family began playing Trivial Pursuit. I reluctantly joined in, but before I knew it,
soup was pleasant at first, but soon I associated it with an unwelcome burning sensation laughter was bouncing off the four dark walls of the living room. Questions were asked
on my tongue and tingling nose.
about 1970?s television shows and famous figures from way before my time. The
pointless trivia put a smile on my face, despite the fact that I did not know any of the
answers. At that point, what mattered to me, was spending time with my family. The
chilly and dark house and the feeling of hunger, those were all issues of the past. But in
that moment, they seemed to be insignificant.
In the end, on those few October nights, as Hurricane Sandy raged outside my
window, I learned a lot. A lot more than just the fact that maybe it?s not fun living without
heat or electricity. I learned that it is important for us to make the most out every
situation and most importantly, to utilize our time on Earth by being happy and being
with the ones that we love.
Art by Olivia Strumolo and Anna Sumner, Grade 8
and Brynne Harrison , Grade 6
