It was almost dusk and I could hear the rumblings of thunder off in the distance. “Oh boy! A thunderstorm!”
I looked over at my husband Steven and our son Alex. “Do you guys want to go sit out on the porch and wait for it to come in?” I was looking out the kitchen door and could already see the droplets of rain hitting the wooden deck, quickly bouncing before settling into the small puddles that had begun to form. “It sounds like it’s going to be a good one.”
Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, why not.”
“I’ll come out for a while.” Steven said as he opened the door for us.
I went over to my rocking chair and pulled it away from the edge of the porch so I didn’t get wet before I settled in and began to slowly rock. A quick flash of light had the trees in our back yard looking like it was daylight. “Oh, this is going to be a good one!”
Less then a second later there was a loud crack before the low rumbling of thunder, the kind that you could feel in your chest, rumbled on.
I looked over at Steven. “Yup, I was right! That was a good one!” By now the rain was starting to get heavier.
Alex leaned back in his chair. “I wanted to take a shower.”
I looked over at him. “We’re in the middle of a thunderstorm you can’t take a shower.”
“I know.”
Steven looked over at me. “I’ve taken showers in thunderstorms.”
I nodded my head sadly. “Well, I guess you’re just lucky you didn’t get hit.”
I looked over at Alex. “When I was growing up you weren’t supposed to use your land line phones either.”
“Seriously?” Alex started to laugh.
“I’m serious.” I held up my cell phone. “It’s not a problem using these but if you were on the house line and lighting struck the wires it could travel through the line and…” I snapped my finger. “you’re hit.”
Steven looked over at me. “So how many people do you know that got struck by lighting that way?”
I stopped to think about it for a moment. “I guess none.”
Steven laughed. “See!”
“See what?” Now I was confused. “I don’t know anyone that got struck that way because everyone knew not to take shower or use the phone during a thunderstorm!” I cried.
“Hey, guys.” Alex tried to get us to take our voices down a notch. “I’m not going to take a shower until the storm stops, so stop worrying.”
I looked over at Alex. “I’m glad you’re taking after me and being safe.” I pointed my thumb over to Steven. “And I’m glad you’re not being ridiculous like your Dad.”
“Hey!” Steven said but didn’t finish because a huge crack of thunder roared overhead shaking the whole house.
I jumped up from my rocking chair. “Well, I’m out of here!”
We were all headed for the back door as the wind picked up and the rain was coming in sideways getting us all wet. I looked over at Steven. “Bet you’re glad you weren’t in the shower for that one?”
Steven was right behind me. “Who needs a shower now? I’m drenched!”
Slice of Life 