The Tsunami

Short Story_ The Tsunami

Prologue ---

“Breaking News” the tv said in red on and off, “Mom what’s the breaking news” my heart pounding in my chest. Breaking News’s are never good, there’s always something bad that will come from it. “Let me take a look” my mom replied sweating while turning on the news channel. “We’re on air” whispered the news Filmer. “Hello fellow San Francisco residents, today we have breaking news” the lady said fiddling with her papers. “Somethings wrong mom” I mumbled. I turned for a second and looked at my mom, her face was covered with pure panic.

There was so no warning, no time to escape. It just came…like a silent bomb dropping. We were unprepared and suffered for it. It came like a tornado, sly like a fox. The silent Tsunami…

We didn’t even notice it coming… it just came, suddenly like a monster in disguise. It started as a wave; a simple wave then turned as a huge monster. That destroys everything in its path, what happened changed the world, and how we viewed it.

San Francisco - 11:00pm

It was Sunny San Francisco in the year of 2021, “Chole, can you please get your sister ready?” my asked while scrubbing away at the dishes. “Fine” I groaned. We moved to San Francisco a few years ago, I was 10 when we left New York. My parents are travelers, they go anywhere really. And somehow, we ended up in San Francisco. “Sarah, hurry up! We have to get going, you don’t want to keep mom waiting” I pounded on her door. “Coming!” she screeched. Thank God, I just have a sister and not a brother I wouldn’t know what to do. I almost stumbled on the stairs, but the nearby couch helped my fall.

“Mom, I’m going to go for a short walk” I said walking out the door. The cool breeze of the wind passes by my face. San Francisco, California a place where stars are born…well not at least me. “Chole!” I heard a faint voice said. I turned around and saw Mia...well it looked like her. “Mia?” I questioned. “Hey Chol, I got a new hairstyle” she said doing a spin. Her hair was shimmery like a shimmery lake. Her hair complimented her face with her beautiful blue round eyes. I’ve known her for about 2 years, we met at school. “Wow, it looks super pretty” I smiled. “Thanks” she smiled, “So, where you heading to?”. “Well” I laughed, “I don’t really know” stuffing my hands in my jacket pocket. “Well…ok” she laughed. “Just going for a walk then?” she inferred. I nodded my head. After a couple more minutes walking around the neighborhood I went back home.

San Francisco - 12:00pm

“I’m back” I hollered. “Finally,” my dad responded tapping his feet. “What?” I questioned, “I was gone for like 5-“. “No, 15 actually” my little sister chimed in. Narrowing my eyes at my sister I said, “Thanks for the correction”. “Yeah no problem” my sister smiled satirically. “Where’s mom?” I asked. “She’s in her room” my sister quickly responded. “Girl’s remember to pack all your things; we aren’t coming back” my dad sighed. “Yeah ok dad” I rolled my eyes, “I’m going to check my room really quick”.

My room, the place where I spend half of my time. I grabbed my back bag and stuffed in some books. I’m a fan of natural survival books there like the best. I took some extra shirts and stuffed them into an open pocket. I should tell Mia that I’m going to be gone for a while. “Chole, hurry it up in there we don’t have 5 years” my dad shouted. “Coming” I replied. I glanced at my room again, I remember when I painted it sky blue thinking it matched with the ocean but was completely off. If only I knew that would be my last time seeing my room ever again.

San Francisco - 1:00pm

“Mom your done?” I knocked. “Yeah dear, you should be in the car” she replied rushing out her door. “Right” I responded. After a couple of minutes in the car we drove away from our neighborhood, leaving my friends and my school. “Is Uncle Gab’s daughter going to be there?” my sister asked unable to sit still. Turns out Uncle Gab’s daughter was the same age as my sister, 9. “Hey, Sarah can you pass me my journal?” I asked. “No, why should I help you” my sister mocked. “Mom!” I fumed. “Sarah be nice to your sister she is older than you” she instructed. I smirked waiting for her to hand me my journal. “Fine” she whined and threw my journal. “Thanks” I smiled with every bit of annoyance I had for her. “Chole, why do you need a journal for?” my dad asked curiously. “To journal our trip” I smiled. “What a nerd...” my sister mumbled. “I heard that! And I’m not a nerd, something exciting could happened.” I inferred. If only I knew what “exciting” thing I spoke of.

San Francisco - 2:00pm

“Are we there yet” I asked buried in sweat. It’s been an hour since we have been on the road how long does it take to go to Uncle’s Gab’s resort. “Look mom, Chole’s sweating like a pig” my sister chuckled. I clenched my fist, shrugged and turned the other way. She looked blankly, sometimes it’s best to not react. I rolled down the window to take in the crispy smell of the air. “Mom?” I asked. I looked to see her sleeping. “Dad, how long are we away from Gab’s resort?” I asked tapping my feet. “We’re almost there don’t worry” my dad exhaled. “Right” I answered. “Mom” I whispered gently shaking her arm. She yawn and turned the other way. Great, well I’m just going to write in my journal. “Yo, where are my earphones” I swallowed harshly. “I’m using them” my sister replied showing me her ears. “Oh, thank God, I thought I left them at the house” I breathed heavily. “Well, I’m going to go sleep” I said.

San Francisco - 3:00pm

We arrived to the sound of waves coming from the east. “We’re here!” yelled my sister. “Huh” I yawned. “I said we’re- “my sister started. “Oh, nice” I rubbed my eyes. I stepped out and felt the quick and salty air of the ocean. “I never noticed Uncle Gab’s resort was that close to the ocean” I frowned, “Well chole it is” my mom said, “Help with the bags”. “Sure” I replied. I’m thankful my parents allowed me to take my designer suitcase, it was worth all my allowance. It was shiny just like the suns glow on the ocean. “Hey Dad” I said moving my head towards the resort area, “Can you help me with my suitcase?”. “Sure, I still don’t understand why you brought it” he shook his head, “Teenagers...”. he sighed. “There” he said rubbing his eyes, “I need a nap”. He’s right on that, he does need a nap. He’s been driving for three hours. I grunted rolling my suitcase to the front desk.

“Hello!” said the front desk lady. “Hi” my dad said. “Can I help you guys with anything?” she asked, “And my name is sky”. “I booked a room in this resort for my family?” my dad said maintaining eye contact. “Can you enter your information, please” she smiled. “Of course,” he replied. “I see your related to Mr. Gab’s?” she asked. “Yeah, we are” I said joining in the conversation. She smiled and nodded her head. “Okay how many people again?” she asked. “4 people” I replied. “Uh, four? Where are the rest?” she wondered. “There still getting the rest of the bags” I pointed out the door. “Oh, I’ll send the Porter’s for you guys” she smiled. My dad nodded and took the keys to our rooms. I can’t wait to explore around this part of San Francisco.

San Francisco - 4:00pm

We unpacked our bags and headed out for the beach early in the morning. “When we will see Uncle Gab” my sister asked, “I want to see Gabby!”. “In a few hours, he’s still on work” I frowned. “Let me check the weather” I called out to my sister, “Tell mom that’ll I’ll be there in a few”. I turned onto channel 57. “Hello fellow San Francisco residents’ todays weather is sun and more sun” said the lady. “A great time to head to the beach” added the man sitting across from her. I switched the channel and read the description of “The Birthday” series then quickly sprayed sunscreen and ran out the door forgetting to turn of the tv. Oh well.

We finally reached the beach; the sand was as smooth as a rock with no edges. The waves were crawling gently to the shore. Many people where there and spacing out. “Chole, were over here” called my mom. I turned and saw her getting a tan. “Coming” I responded. “Where’s dad and Sarah?” I questioned. “They’re in the water” my mom responded, “Can you pass me my book over there she pointed. I never knew she read Ministry books. “Here you go” I said plopping the book next to her. I slowly grew the courage to get in the water. The water was cold, very unexpected especially since today was supposed to be a sunny day. I swam towards where Sarah and dad were. “Hey Chole” my dad waved, “What took you so long?”. “I was checking the weather news making sure everything was okay” I responded. “She’s just a worry rat” my sister rolled her eyes. “Whatever” I shrugged. If I want to spend a great time here, I’m going to have to learn how to ignore her comments, seriously. My dad looked at her sternly. “Sorry” she mumbled. “I’m gonna go to mom for a second” I called out and swam away. The salty water gently touching my face almost entering my mouth. “Mom!” I shouted, “I’m back”. “Oh, nice dear” she said flipping the page.

San Francisco - 5:00pm

I looked up to see the birds, not just one but all the birds leaving the area in such a rush to the south. “Oh no, I forgot to turn of the tv” wide-eyed. “Go close it then” my mom said placing her book on the smooth sand. “I’ll come with you; I need to grab a few things”. We entered the resort and saw Sky cleaning around the area. We smiled at her and went up towards our room. My mom entered the key and the door opened. The cool air from the room blew on our hot faces.

“Breaking News” the tv said in red on and off. That’s weird why is it flickering like that. “Mom what’s the breaking news” my heart pounding in my chest. Breaking News’s are never good, there’s always something bad that will come from it. “Let me take a look” my mom replied sweating while turning on the news channel. “We’re on air” whispered the news Filmer. “Hello fellow San Francisco residents, today we have breaking news” the lady said fiddling with her papers. “Somethings wrong mom” I mumbled. I turned for a second and looked at my mom, her face was covered with pure panic. “Prepare for a tsunami if you live in the coast of San Francisco” said the lady. Those words still scare me to this day. My mom looked at me, tears falling down her face. “We need to get dad and Sarah” I yelled tears filling my face. “Get them while I call Uncle Gab, maybe he can help us” I said running out the door. Panic, all I saw was panic. Cars filled up the roads and people fled the beaches. “Uncle Gab...pick-up” I whispered calling his number. No answer. I called again, “Hello? Uncle Gab we need your help now” I shouted. “Huh? No, we’re at the hotel come please” I said holding my breath. “What do you mean you can’t come? There’s a tsunami! We need you, please please” I pleaded. He hung up. I stood there, while people ran looking at me like I was crazy. “Chole” my mom shouted, “Get out and in the car”. I snapped back into reality and ran, ran like my life depended on it.

San Francisco - 6:00pm

“Did you find them?” I cried. “Yes, yes get in car” my mom replied franticly. “I jumped into the car and cried knowing that if we died at least we would die together. ‘Sarah, dad” I cried, I jumped onto her and hugged her. “Chole, I’m sorry” my sister said tears falling down her face. “It’s okay” I said hushing her. “Drive!” I yelled, “Drive”. I turned my head and saw the horror the monster, it came fast it tore down the people running it tore the buildings even the strongest buildings. I saw a mountain not to far from where we were. Maybe we won’t die. “Mom drive towards the mountains” I yelled. “Look” I pointed. In the far I could see some people there already. “We’ll be safe drive mom, drive” I cried. My dad’s face was blank. Just terror and panic. “I sobbed on his arm, not able to control myself. “We’ll be okay” he said hugging me tightly. “When we get there, run and don’t look back” my dad said tears in his eyes. I looked again and saw it approaching us quickly. “Hurry, hurry” I whispered. “We’re here run!” my dad yelled. I ran, I ran like I was running a race wanting to be in first place. I heard the roar of the wave almost near me but thank God I reached it. I reached the top. I turned around to see the wave, the monster wave destroying everything in its path. I looked franticly for my family and found them. “We’re over here” my mom yelled hugging my sister. I ran and hugged them trembling. I peeked my head and saw everyone, shocked and scared.

San Francisco - 7:00pm

We’ve been on the mountain for a few hours, waiting for the rescue team. Everyone in San Francisco grieved somehow and someway. Many things were revealed and will continue to be revealed. This recovery will take months, maybe even years. Hopefully we move on from this, but this tragic event will be remembered and will go down in history. The Tsunami.