The Storm

I BUTTON THE SHUTTERS HIGH AND LOW, AS HIGH STRONG WINDS BEGIN TO BLOW. A NIGHT OF TERROR BEFORE MY EYES, AS DARK GRAY CLOUDS HAVE FILLED THE SKIES I MAKE READY THE FIREPLACE TO PROVIDE SOME HEAT. TO WARM THE HOUSE AND MY FEET. I TAKE TO MY CHAIR WITH AN UNCORKED BRANDY. MY RAINCOAT AND BOOTS STAND BY HANDY. LIGHTNING STRIKES AS THE CLOCK STRIKES TEN. A NIGHT OF HORROR HAS YET TO END. I READ MY NOVEL TO PASS THE NIGHT. THIS STORM SHOULD SUBSIDE BY MORNING LIGHT. POURING RAIN KNOCKS AT THE DOOR. A DRAFT CREEPS IN AROUND THE FLOOR. FULL FIERCE WINDS NOW PREVAIL AND BRING WITH THEM BALLS OF HAIL. SWIRLING WINDS RIP THE SHUTTER FREE. A DEADLY STORM IN PURSUIT OF ME. THUNDEROUS ROARS COME AND GO. A FULL MOON LIT WITH A STRANGE DARK GLOW. HOWLING WINDS RATTLE THE GLASS. ICE COLD RAINS WATER THE GRASS. AT 4 AM I POUR A BRANDY. I GRAB MY FLASHLIGHT I KEEP HANDY. I CHECK THE HOUSE FOR SUDDEN LEAKS. THIS WICKED STORM HAS REACHED IT'S PEAK. OUTSIDE THE WINDOW A NICE SURPRISE. ON THE HORIZON A NEW SUNRISE. LIGHTS ARE OUT, THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. CLEARING SKIES SEEM INBOUND. THIS WICKED STORM LOOKS TO PASS. BUT NOT BEFORE LEAVING A TREE ON MY GRASS. ONE MORE BRANDY I SHALL POUR. BEFORE I OPEN MY FRONT DOOR. NOW THAT THE STORM HAS GONE AWAY. I'LL ASSESS THE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.