#SpringFlingKidLit 2024

Here's my entry for this year's Spring Fling contest. I wrote it during a tornado watch, in my basement. In Kentucky, we grow up with tornado watches and warnings so we know what to do: go to the basement, away from any windows, and wait for the birds to sing again. Last night, we didn't hear any birds, but the sun peeped out for a bit before shutting its eyes for the night.

Thank you to Ciara ONeal and Kaitlyn Sanchez for hosting this annual contest!!

Tornado Watch

by Amy Miller

The sky darkened.

The windows shook.

The sirens wailed.

We looked wide-eyed

at the door, at one another.

The swing stilled.

The birds silenced.

Then . . . 

The clouds burst.

We ran wild

to the stairs, to the basement. 

The rain pelted.

The wind rushed. 

The thunder crashed.

We hid scared

behind boxes, under the blankets.

We cried and held hands.

We worried and reassured.

We quieted and noticed.

The room brightened.

The roof dripped.

The birds sang.

We were okay!

We raced excited

up the stairs, out the door.

We swept the porch,

untangled the swing,

gathered the branches,

Then . . . 

our laughter exploded.

We chased through the wet grass,

relieved.