Sudden Storm

Weeks of hot days endlessly parading across the desert Lulled me into a coma believing the weather would stay that way forever Mid afternoon I stepped outside to go to the post office Something was different Thunder boomed and over White Mountain was a giant thunderhead Bolts flashed but no rain had fallen yet The chickens vanished into hiding The feral cats dashed from under my parked car to find a safer hiding spot I ran to the clothesline and yanked down the red work shirts and old t-shirts Into the sack I stuffed jeans and my boyfriend's socks and towels A quick glance and I realized all the folding tables were still out So I swooped those up and into the shed they went Now rain was falling like a maiden's blush I opened the gate and climbed into the car as harder rain started slashing the windows I hopped out to close the gate and was tempted to stay home and watch the storm The forked lightning changed my mind. Halfway down my dirt road I saw a thick bolt of lightning pummel the ground at the foot of the mountain Wind whipped papers into the air and trash cans into the street As the rain gained momentum Hours later I drove back up the hill Sand crisscrossing the road was evidence of flooding in a dozen places Pools of water still stood off the roadway Sections of the road were washed down into gullies Part of my driveway looked like a giant had drawn a sharp knife through the sand The power had been out A neighbor said one bolt of lightning had hit the ground and out it went Pretty sure it was the same bolt I saw