Page 21 of Safe at Home

“Who’s cat is out of the bag?” Peyton asked.

“Pen, this is Erick. He’s a reporter for SNC,” Tyler said.

“What’s SNC?” she asked.

“Not a sports fan, huh?” Erick asked with a chuckle. “SNC stands for Sports Network Corporation.”

“Yeah, not a sports fan, sorry,” Pen said with a shrug. “But can you please move this monstrosity. It’s blocking me in.”

Erick grinned at my beautiful friend. “I was told to park by the antique blue VW bug. We’re going to the same place, so I figured I’d follow you.”

“What’s with the van and trailer, man?” Tyler asked him.

“Well, I take it you didn’t watch the news.” We shook our heads, and he continued explaining, “We asked people to bring certain items to the game tonight and to different locations around town. This van and trailer are filled with tons of cases of bottled water, blankets, flashlights, toilet paper, first aid supplies, non perishable food, pet food, diapers, clothes of all sizes, and more. I even saw some card games and toys for children who have lost their homes.”

“That’s so awesome!” I exclaimed.

“Do we get a toy?” Peyton asked.

“No, honey, those toys are for kids who lost everything in the tornado,” Penelope explained.

“Oh,” Peyton said but didn’t seem to really understand. “I still have my ponies from CJ, so I’m okay.”

“One whole ladies church group got together last night and sewed pillows and teddy bears to donate. It was really awesome to see how many they had!”

“That is awesome!” I said. I then got down on the little girl’s level and said, “Pey, maybe you could hand out pillows and teddy bears to kids who need them?”

“That would be awesome!” Peyton said while jumping up and down.

“Can I help, too?” Cam asked.

“Of course, my man,” Tyler said and ruffled his hair.

“Well, we better get a move on. We don’t have much room in the van, but I do have enough for you and your girl, like you requested, Stone.”

Tyler nodded and squeezed my hand. “Thanks, man.”

“I also have to pick up my cameraman on the way out of town. You guys will love Tanner.”

“The kids and I will lead the way,” Penelope said. “That way, if we have to take a potty break, you guys can just follow us.”

“Oh my God.” Molly’s whispered words filled with shock echoed my own voice in my head. The road ahead of us was mostly clear, but tree branches and bigger pieces of debris were still on parts of the road. Erick drove slowly as he maneuvered around the obstacles in the road. Silence filled the crowded cab of the van. We looked out the window at houses with whole walls torn off and littered on the ground all around them. A destroyed and mangled vehicle sat still in its parking spot with its front end torn off and the windshield filled with cracks. Next to that car sat a pickup truck on its side with a huge dent on the top of the cab and covered with tree branches. Bricks and cinder blocks were tossed around the yard where a house had once stood. I wondered if the family that had lived there had ever gone to Raptors games or to Molly’s bakery. I hoped they were all okay. The house next to the now-empty lot sat like it had a few days ago and didn’t seem to have been touched at all other than some tires, clothes, and other debris in their yard.

I noticed that Tanner was taking video of our reactions as well as everything we were seeing. Tanner was a little older than us, in his late twenties, and was pretty quiet as he sat in one of the captain’s chairs of the van. Erick, Molly, and I were all crammed together on the front bench seat. We were very lucky that Molly was so little, even with her baby bump. The rest of the van was stuffed with tornado relief supplies.

“Oh my gosh, there is Mrs. James! I’m so glad she’s okay!” Molly exclaimed and reached her arm across my body to point out of the window. “Can we stop to talk to her? I saw her the morning of the tornado.”

“I can’t believe that was only yesterday,” I replied. I was ready to get out of the van, so Molly could slide out of the middle seat and go check on her regular customer.

“There is no way that was just yesterday.” Molly shook her head in disbelief. I squeezed her hand to try and give her some comfort.

“We can talk to her in a few minutes,” Erick said as he went around a car that was turned upside down in the road ahead of us. “We need to find Cornerstone Church. That’s the tornado relief headquarters. Volunteers are scheduled to be there to help hand out supplies. We will walk back this way and make sure your friend gets supplies, and you can check on her then.”

Molly nodded and directed Erick towards Cornerstone Church, which was only two blocks away from where Batter Up! had stood. When we got to the area of Main Street that had once been lined with shops and trees, I felt my wife tremble beside me. Her bakery, the bookstore, flower shop, the dry cleaners, small grocery store, and bank were unrecognizable. Even the town hall in the middle of the square had the top blown off, but the walls were all still standing.

“It can all be rebuilt,” I told her while holding her tightly. “The town will be beautiful again.”

Molly nodded and took a deep breath. “At least Campbell Field is still standing.”

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