Monday, July 12th, 2021
11:48am
Elmhurst, Illinois
“We’re looking forward to having you join our staff, Ms. Swan,” said the principal, Dr. Riggs, at York High School. “We needed some fresh blood in our building. I’m sorry that we don’t have any administrative openings, but I think you’ll fit in nicely with our English department.”
“I’m eager to start fresh,” Bella said, shaking his hand. “My license is being transferred from Oklahoma and I’m registering with the county.”
“Excellent. Have you found some place to live?” Dr. Riggs asked.
“I’m moving into a place off Mitchell Avenue,” Bella answered. “My sons and boyfriend are currently unloading a moving truck. Not that we had much … we lost everything in a tornado. We managed to find a few mementos in the rubble of our destroyed home, but we’re starting from scratch.”
Dr. Riggs looked down at the paperwork. “Oh, wow. You’re from Elgin, Oklahoma. Are you okay?”
“Physically? I’m fine. I had to have minor surgery to deal with a torn rotator cuff. I was caught in the storm and my now boyfriend, Edward, saved me from being blown away by a tornado. He held onto my hand and pulled me back, dislocating my shoulder. He felt awful, but he was my savior that day,” Bella breathed. “Mentally, I’m struggling with some PTSD, but I’m seeing someone for it and I’m grateful to be out of tornado alley.”
“We get our fair share of storms here in Illinois,” Dr. Riggs chuckled.
“Nowhere near as bad as Oklahoma,” Bella snickered. “Anyway, this is a new start for me and my children.”
“Well, I’m grateful that path led you to us,” Dr. Riggs smiled. “If you need anything, please feel free to call me and I’ll see you at new teacher orientation.”
They shook hands and Bella walked out to her new car, a Toyota Highlander. She grinned widely as she turned it over, driving to her new home.
Since that day, that disastrous day where Elgin, Oklahoma had been erased from the map, so much had changed. Bella had stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for a couple of days to let her arm heal as much as it could. Then, after Memorial Day, Edward drove them back to Elgin to see the devastation of what was left of their home.
Nothing.
There was nothing.
Their home was a pile of rubble.
I love that your using the high school that you student taught at! :D Looking forward to this chapter
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