American Girl (Nebraska)(Lea Sheryn) The dirt road stretched toward the horizon. Kathleen Harper had stayed in town too long. The day was long and hot. Under the repressive heat, it took an eternity to complete the farmwork. When she finished her chores, Kathleen walked into town to meet her friend, Bessie Beamis. They walked around the town square and finally went into the Rexall. Unlike many other places in town and the surrounding farmhouses, the drugstore was air-conditioned. The girls bought Hollywood fan magazines and sat at the lunch counter. They giggled over photos of their favorite movie stars and drank Coca-Cola.
It was nearly six o'clock before Kathleen realized the time. She had frittered away the entire afternoon, forgetting her mother asked her to help with the baking. She said goodbye to Bessie and rushed out onto the sidewalk. Heavy clouds hung in the sky, cooling temperatures. A slight breeze blew. Kathleen felt glad about it. She could walk home without the oppressive heat baking her skin.
At first, Kathleen meandered along the road. She was already late coming home. A few moments more wouldn't make any difference. She left the small town of Willow Grove behind her. In the distance, her father's corn crop stood on both sides of the road. The stalks swayed gently in the breeze.
Kathleen sighed deeply, drawing the corny scent into her nostrils. At times, she loved the farm. The crops and barnyard animals made her feel earthy. Planting and gathering made her feel a part of something bigger than herself. On the other hand, she found farm chores grueling. The day-to-day sameness grew boring. She wished she lived in town like her friend Bessie.
Kathleen stood in the middle of the road. She decided life was good for her. She could divide her time between farm and town. After a moment, she walked onward. About halfway between town and the Harper homestead, she noticed a change in the clouds. Suddenly, the sky appeared heavy, and the air repressive. The sun disappeared altogether, leaving Kathleen in semi-darkness. Rain pattered down around her.
Lifting her long skirt, Kathleen ran along the road. As hard as she ran, the cornfield remained in the far distance. She knew she had to get home quickly. The sky grew more ominous. The heavy clouds almost seemed to touch the ground.
At home, her parents were busy getting the animals undercover. Father would herd the cows into the barn, and Mother would gather the chickens into their coop. Katheleen had lazed the day away when she should have remained at home to help. Her heart pitter-pattered in her chest as she gained speed. She had to get home.
"Keep your eye on the sky, Kathy," her father often instructed. "Never get caught out in the open when a storm is brewing, understand?"
Kathleen nodded vigorously at her father's stern voice. Yet, she found herself where she didn't belong because she lingered in town. Home and shelter were a long way away. She still had to run through the corn and across the barnyard.
Focusing on the clouds, Kathleen dashed along the road. Her skirts flapped around her ankles and twisted. Entangled, she fell and struggled to rise. Straightening herself, she continued toward the corn. Above her, the clouds turned purple. They seemed alive, stretching and wavering, reaching to touch the ground.
A long, ominous finger appeared and disappeared in the clouds. A moment later, it reached again. Kathleen was trapped out in the open. She stood stark still, frozen in place. She knew her mother would grow frantic if she didn't appear soon.
Kathleen focused her thoughts on the cellar doors. Her parents were already down there, and Shep the sheepdog was with them—safe. Kathleen felt like a fool. She knew better. The wind picked up, swirling her skirt. Plodding into it, she forced her billowing skirt down with firm hands. The angry sky reached its finger downward again. It held and then drew itself back into the clouds. It struggled to gain hold.
The cornfield drew closer until it surrounded Kathleen. The tall stalks bent in the stiff wind. They reached out and whipped her as she passed.
"Run, run, RUN," Kathy screamed to herself. She urged her feet to pick up the pace. Tripping, she righted herself. She would dive for the cellar as soon as she reached the farmyard. In her imagination, she saw herself falling into her mother's arms right on time. The cellar doors would bang behind her, and the sky would release its terror. Kathleen had to make it home. She had to!
Thunder cracked, and Kathleen yelped. The sky became almost as dark as night, and clouds nearly touched the ground. The finger pointed again and withdrew. Kathleen fought her way through the corn. She suddenly realized she was no longer on the road. Somehow, she had plunged into the crop.
TORNADO!
The angry cloud stretched toward the ground again and didn't withdraw. It gathered strength, forming a black funnel. Kathleen watched it, feeling surreal. The slim finger widened and whirled. It sounded like a train running at full throttle. Covering her ears, she plunged through the long stalks. If she could release herself from the crops, she could still make a run for the cellar.
The corn seemed alive in the rushing wind. It snapped at her and nearly bent double. Kathleen tripped again and fell flat on her face. She tried to rise, but the wind held her down. Flattening herself, she hoped for the best.
The wind churned, and the locomotive growled louder. The corn stalks lifted and bent, becoming part of the swirling motion surrounding her. Flapping leaves bit into her face. Kathleen cowered on the ground, burying her head in her arms for protection. Her body lifted, and she became part of the tornado.
Kathleen couldn't move, couldn't think. She became listless and a part of something much bigger than herself. Round and round, she flew, forgetting everything except the wavery, flying sensation. Then, suddenly, everything stood still.
Kathleen lay prone on the ground. Pushing her elbows beneath her, she tried to rise but couldn't. Disoriented, she remained stretched out. Her body felt weak and used. She felt no emotion. She couldn't cry, laugh, or make a sound. She wanted nothing to happen for a long, long time.
"It's Kathleen Harper," a male voice stated from afar. Kathleen looked up through blurry eyes. "Kathleen, Kathleen."
The man squatted beside her and turned her over. She stared into the blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Still, she could not speak.
"It's Farmer John, Kathleen," the man stated. "You're in my farmyard. My, you're battered up. How did you get this far?"
"I…I don't know," she stated tentatively. "I…I can't remember. I was in the corn, trying to outrace the storm. I…"
"My oh my." Farmer John sat back on his heels. He removed his straw hat and scratched his unruly hair. "I'll be…"
The old farmer helped Kathleen to her feet. He half-carried her into the house and laid her on the settee. His wife brought her a warm, soothing drink. She sipped it and began to relax.
"The brandy in the tea will calm you down," the farmer's wife stated. "Just take your time. No one's rushing you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Mills," Kathleen whispered, her voice raspy. "What happened to me?"
"As far as we can tell, that tornado last night took you up and spit you out in our dooryard," Farmer John remarked. "Quite a feat, I must say. It brought you clear across town as the crow flies. The town's okay; it wasn't hit. You came across the fields. You're lucky you're alive, Miss Kathleen."
"You just lie back and relax," Mrs. Mills stated, adjusting the pillow behind Kathleen's head.
The farmer's wife let her sleep most of the day and helped her clean up before supper. Kathleen sat at the table and enjoyed a fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and apple pie. Afterward, Farmer John took her home in his truck.
Kathleen leaned in the truck window and thanked the farmer. Before she could turn toward her home, her father grabbed her around the waist. Swinging her around, he kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly. Her mother approached with tears in her eyes. Farmer John said a quick goodbye, leaving the reunited family alone.
"I was running home, Papa, and got lost in the corn," Kathleen explained. "Next thing I knew, Farmer John was beside me. The tornado took me clear across the fields to his farm. Imagine that."
"You're lucky you're alive, child," her father exclaimed, kissing her again. "Not too many would survive a tornado like that one."
"I am lucky," Kathleen stated gratefully. She hugged her parents tightly. Grouped together, they slowly walked into the farmhouse.

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