The Night the Lights Went Out

The Night the Lights Went Out

Suzanne Marsh

I was sixteen at the time when we lost power for two days. Two days without my computer, without a shower, without electricity. This was the nightmare of a lifetime. It all began when our weatherman predicted a severe thunder storm warning. We live in Texas, where the weather changes every five minutes. The lights began to flicker as the storm approached. The second boom of thunder, then a brilliant flash of lighting, and poof, the lights went out. We always had candles in reserve as well as flashlights and of course a battery operated weather radio. Momma, was already on the phone with the electric company. She slammed the phone down and began muttering to herself. This was never a good sign. We waited till the storm abated. Momma informed Daddy and I that we would not have power for at least two days. Daddy informed Momma and I that we would be sleeping in the green domed tent; one he used for camping. I did not like the idea of sleeping outdoors in a tent. It did have a floor, and we did have cots to sleep on. I am not an outdoor enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, however it would be cooler outside than in the house with no air conditioning. That also meant no television or computer. I knew somehow I was going to learn about the pioneer spirit.

Daddy, grabbed his flashlight and began looking in the garage for the tent. Two years prior, we had gone on a camping trip. That did not turn out well, Okay so what did I expect? The second time certainly was not the charm. Daddy, simply was no camper. He searched for about an hour before he found the camping equipment. He had Momma help him lug out the tent. Watching Daddy put up the tent made TV's Funniest Videos look tame. The problem began when he discovered he had lost the instructions. He did remove the debris and rocks from where he was going to pitch the tent. He laid down the ground tarp. That was cool. Then he stood there silently scratching his head, deciding what to do next. I offered to help; Google has all types of answers. Daddy, can be a very stubborn individual, this was he idea, he stated, he would complete it. The blue words began to come out. Momma, always the peacemaker tried to help. More blue words flew from Daddy's mouth.

I had my cell phone, so I proceeded to Google “how to put up a dome tent.” It only took a moment. Daddy, was attempting to unfold the tent on top of the tarp, but to no avail.

“Hey Daddy, Google says you should follow these steps:”

1) Lay down the ground tarp in a clear area where you are going to put up the tent.

2) Unfold the tent on top of the ground tarp. I droned on:

3) Assemble the poles according to the instructions.

That would have been great except he could not find the directions. Sometimes being helpful is not what it is cracked up to be. Once again I Googled and found some information on where the poles belonged. Finally two hours later Daddy had the dome tent up, it was the longest two hours of our lives.

Once again, Daddy trudged back to the garage with his flashlight with me in tow. We grabbed the cots and began to set them up. Camping cots can be a real pain in the butt to put up. Daddy's fell down twice before he finally got it right. Momma, in the interim was busy in the kitchen with her flash light attempting to put a meal together. Her muttering was getting louder, that is never a good sign. I helped get the steaks ready and the potatoes. Daddy began the find rocks to make a circle for the camp fire. He then discovered he required matches. He returned to the garage once again grumbling because he couldn't find the wood matches. He called into the house to ask Momma where they were:

“Hey, honey where did we put the wooden matches, I can't light a fire without them.”

“Look above the freezer.”

“I am I can't seem to locate them”

I could tell Momma was more than mildly annoyed. She began muttering even louder:

“I told him this was crumby idea, now he can't seem to locate the matches.”

Three seconds later, Momma handed Daddy the wooden matches from above the freezer. She returned to the kitchen once again, continuing what she had started. Daddy had a small grill type thing that went over the cook fire. He already had it set up. Momma brought out a platter with the steaks. The potatoes were neatly wrapped in tinfoil. She handed the steaks to Daddy who told her he wanted the potatoes to go into the fire first. That did not sound as if it were a good idea. It wasn't. He threw them into the fire which of course made the fire flare up. Then he put on the steaks. Fifteen minutes later we had steaks but the potatoes were cinders in the fire. Steak for dinner only.

Night arrived with the wind as it whipped through the trees. I could see disaster written all over this idea. Sure enough, the wind blew the tent over. Daddy attempted to put things back together the next morning the domed tent looked like a pup tent with no entrance or exit. Momma, at this stage was now to the point of exasperation.

“I am not spending another night in this tent do you hear me Melvin?”

Daddy, just shrugged and went on with the skillet so we could have breakfast. The eggs and bacon were great. Momma pouted for a short while then began to take part in the activities. She was humming: “The Streets of Laredo” so Daddy and I joined in the chorus. Everything was going well, until a corn snake slithered past Momma. She thought it was a coral snake, which are venomous. She was beside herself:

“Melvin, we are going to a motel. I don't want to argue, I want to clean up. I would love

to have a hot bath and soak. Preferable to forget this whole nightmare!”

Daddy as was his normal self:

“Mildred, we are staying right here. One more night is not going to kill any of us.”

Momma, was agitated to say the very least:

“All right Melvin. I am going into the house and take a warm bath. You two can stay here.”

Momma, had forgotten one small thing, the hot water tank was electric. She screamed at the top of her lungs:

“Melvin, there is no hot water. This is to much to ask of me.”

Daddy simply replied:

“Mildred, remember we lost power, the hot water heater is electric. Now be a good girl

and come back outside. Maybe by the end of the day we will have power restored.

Momma returned to the tent rather sheepishly. I supposed she was embarrassed by her last outburst.

Later that day around sundown, a small glimmer of light from we had left on shone brightly. The crisis was over. Civilization was once again reclaimed.