“What’s going on?” I whisper in fear to Mackenna while clinging to Olivia’s arm. We were cramped beneath the computer lab tables on the hard carpet floor, knees tucked into our chests.

“I think there’s a tornado,” she replies with confidence. On the other hand, Olivia holds onto my arm, proving that I’m not the only one who’s worried. Suddenly, the lights flash out. The classroom erupts into a mixture of confused yelps and panicked whispers.

“What happened?”
“Is there really a tornado?”
“This is just a drill, right?” I remember looking out the green double doors in the gym and seeing that the sky was a shade of light green. Not only that, but the clouds looked like they were starting to shift and twist toward the ground. Maybe there really is a tornado. I just hope this passes quickly.

We remain cramped in uncomfortable positions for what feels like hours until Mrs. Braidlow finally explains, “There’s a chance that a tornado could form nearby, so we’ll have to stay down here and wait until it’s clear.” I am already slouched and my back is starting to ache.

Mrs. Braidlow continues to explain and answer questions about waiting out the storm, finishing lunch, and staying under the tables. I try to avoid thinking that the tornado could suck up the whole school and throw us out somewhere far off.

It’s quiet for a minute while Mrs. Braidlow’s speech sinks in. I don’t know what to think. I never imagined that we could be in danger like this, especially not at school. Usually when a storm got bad, I would be at home in the basement making a fort out of blankets and pillows with my brothers and sisters.

As we wait in the dark, hunger begins to replace my fear as I remember that we never got the chance to finish lunch. I hear a few of my classmates begin whispering again, and a few others I see cuddled up together, starting to fall asleep.

There’s a soft knock on the door before it creaks open, revealing Ms. Gamm, holding a white and yellow picture book and a small light. Of course she’d do something like this, I always remember her being sweet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her get angry. It’s no wonder she’d come to the rescue for students that aren’t her own to try to calm and comfort them. I look over at Olivia and Mackenna to see that they’re both close to falling asleep.
Ms. Gamm brings one of the metal stools to the center of the carpet and begins reading aloud. I don’t hear her exact words because I’m too occupied trying to keep my eyes open and fighting off my hunger. As she reads, my eyelids grow heavier and the dim light pushes me into sleep. It feels nice to fall asleep like this, with my friends around me.

When I wake, the bright florescent lights are back on. I have to blink hard to get the tiredness out of my system. Almost everyone is awake now, looking dazed and tired. “Okay,” I hear Ms. Braidlow say, “It’s time to get up. The storm is gone.”

We crawl out from under the computer lab tables and stretch out the kinks that had formed. It feels good to finally be off the rock hard carpet. I hear a yawn that spreads like a disease, making me giggle. 

Now, as I look back to this experience six years ago, I realize how important my classmates are to me. At the time, they were just the people I went to school with. Now, they’re more than that. They’re my friends – my family. When we are in a crisis they bring me peace of mind. They let me feel safe. I am beyond grateful that I was blessed with St. Patrick School and the friends that I have made here. Next year, I’ll miss the green and white paint that encases the building, the thin line of grass by the fence where many of my last recesses were spent, and the teachers who watched us grow up since pre-school. We’re practically siblings by now. We’ve spent the majority of our lives together. I’m so happy that we did. I want to thank each of them for being a part of this family that we have become.