The lightning cast weird shadows on the rain streaked window in Cathy’s bedroom. She was alone until her parents would return from their community meeting in town, but after all, she was twelve years old and very mature. Cathy had been alone for short periods of time before, but the storm with all of it’s sounds of thunder made things seem, well, a bit more loud and wet and just a bit more scary! “I sure would like to have a nice cup of Mom’s hot chocolate…ummm, and maybe with some whipped cream or marshmallows!” thought Cathy. Suddenly, there was a great BOOM!! outside near the house…and then Cathy heard the creaking and cracking sound of a large tree limb. Running to her window, Cathy looked out through the rain just in time to see a great limb fall to the ground and split in two near the back fence. The lightning crashed even more loudly now and the rain was splashing at her windows as if it were trying to get into Cathy’s bedroom and drench her! Then Cathy heard a loud BAM! and all the lights went out and her clock radio started blinking “12:00” Cathy tried to switch on her lights and turn on her radio but the electricity was completely out! Cathy was trying to stay very brave and calm but the more she thought, the more she started to become just a little bit scared! Ally, the family cat was under the bed and wouldn’t come out even though Cathy called and called to her. Actually Cathy wanted to hold Ally and hug her instead of just being alone,watching and listening to the fierce storm. Cathy jumped as the phone rang and she stared at it for a couple of more rings before she picked it up and pressed “talk”. “H-Hello?” she whispered. “Cathy…Dear…it’s Mommy, are you all right?” “Oh…Hi Mom…s-sure everything’s fine Mom…” “Well the storm has knocked down some trees in the road and the firemen are clearing the street so we have to wait for them to finish before we can get home…OK Dear?” “Ah…sure Mom…don’t worry…I’m a big girl, I can handle everything here…but Ally is pretty scared but I’m comforting her…don’t worry!” “OK…I’ll call back in a half hour or so.” “Ah…sure Mom…see ya.” After Cathy hung up the phone…”Maybe I should have told Mom about the tree and the electricity and …but then she would have worried and thought that I was just a scared little girl. But I’m NOT …am I?” Cathy laid down on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. Strange moving shadows were running all over as the lightning made them look a little bit like monsters flying around her bedroom. Ally the cat was still under Cathy’s bed afraid of the storm. Then, just as suddenly as the storm arrived, it miraculously stopped! The moon jumped out from behind the clouds and a soft breeze fluttered the leaves on the tree outside of Cathy’s bedroom. ‘The storm…is…over Ally! You can come out now!” It took a few minutes before Ally began to slowly creep out from under the bed and then into Cathy’s arms. Ally was still shaking a little…but then…so was Cathy. “See I told you everything would be OK!” and Cathy hugged Ally and Ally purred very loudly and cuddled into Cathy’s arms. Then Cathy heard the front door open…”Cathy…we’re home Dear!” Cathy ran downstairs and her parents asked…”Was everything OK Cathy?” “Sure Mom and Dad…Ally and I were perfectly fine.” “You mean that nasty storm didn’t scare you?” ‘Naw…we were fine weren’t we Ally?” The cat purred. “Oh…by the way…a huge tree limb fell in the yard near the fence!” “Cathy…my my…and you still weren’t scared…what a brave little girl you are!” “Well, actually, I’m a brave BIG girl!” “Yes you are!” Cathy looked at Ally and the cat looked at Cathy. “But I sure am glad that you’re both back home again…ah…safe and sound I mean.” “Were glad too, but I must admit we were kinda scared driving home in that storm and we’re so glad to be back with our brave BIG girl!” “Well…there might have been a few minutes…when the tree fell and the electricity went off that…I…thought…” “That’s OK…as long as you try to keep as calm as you can and then soon everything usually turns out all right!” “USUALLY???”