Hurricane--A Story of Two Little Children Lost in the Storm---Part I

The winds whipped and pushed as two small children made their way along inundating sidewalks holding hands as they faced the stinging wet rain and strong winds from the approaching Hurricane Annabelle. Walking as fast as their five year old little legs could carry them, making it a very slow progress, against the wind as it became stronger; the closer it came to shore.

Little Tomas and Charlene began their journey to freedom by running away from their foster home in Key West, Florida. They carried all their belongings in a Wal-Mart plastic bag. It was difficult for little Charlene to hold onto her bag, and her Teddy Bear---Clyde at the same time, he was already soaking wet and heavy from the rain.

But she would not let go of him, as her little fingers curled around his little collar that held his tag---with his name on it. Tomas reached over and took her bag, and hung both on his short arm, and carried them, for his love---Cha-Cha.

Key West was being evacuated, so when the foster children and the MacDavis' were rushed into a school bus to be evacuated; Tomas grabbed Charlene's hand and pulled her into a closet. Tomas and Charlene stood so silently they could not hear each other breathe. Only when the house was quiet again, Tomas opened the door slowly to see the bus drive away. This is how they got away from the MacDavis'.

It had been a bad year for them both, as they had lost their parents at the same time, from a freak storm at sea. Mr. and Mrs. Hemingway, (Tomas' parents) and Mr. and Mrs, Campbell (Charlene's parents) were passengers on a cruise line out of Miami. However, their parents were not acquainted, and after the accident, Tomas and Charlene became wards of the court with no living relatives who wanted them. So Tomas and Charlene were then placed in a foster home, with a couple, named MacDavis, who already had five foster children.

Living there was a nightmare for all the children, and the only attention they received was to be screamed at, and given chores to complete before they could eat anything.

The seven children slept in the same room, on dirty blankets on the hard floor, which were never washed. It was a different story when it was time for the state inspector to visit, and then the children were instructed to show the beautiful bedrooms, which were unlocked for the occasion.

Each child was instructed to stand outside of a bedroom. Making it appear that each one had a bedroom of their own. However, when the inspector left---the doors were locked, again, and the children had to finish all the chores, while the MacDavis' watched television, drank beer and ate snacks.

The children were never given any snacks, as they barely were given enough food to keep them alive. And what food they were given they had to fix themselves, which were sandwiches with no meat--just pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, bananas and mayo on old bread.

All the children thought the inspector lady's name was Mrs. Damn, because when the MacDavis were called by one of their informers telling them they would have a surprise visit, they would always say, "Damn."

Tomas spoke softly in Charlene's ear, "Char-Char, we should walk the back alleys until we find a place to hide, maybe in the woods. Then we will eat some of the things I got out of the kitchen---you will never believe the food I saw that we never get to eat."

"Tomas, thank you for taking care of us. But what will we do after the storm? Will someone nice want us?"

Tomas grabbed her hand and said, "Let's run Char-Char, the rain is getting harder and the wind is blowing big limbs down on the sidewalk."

They ran as an electrical wire down the street was broken by a falling tree, and was spitting fire and whipping like a giant snake, in all directions.

Two little terrified children running into the woods--- little Tomas and Charlene were lost in the storm.

Continued on Part Two

© BEPH 2011

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Hurricane--Little Tomas and Charlene Lost in the Storm---Part I