Haboob

“Haboob”
By
W. P. Gerace

Sally hated coming to the supermarket, especially after a long tiring day at work. What made it worse was it was a boiling hot day outside, compliments of the desert lifestyle offered by the Phoenix climate. Just as she was checking out her daughter Patti, only ten, asked if she could get some candy. Sally said no in her best mother voice as she really sucked at saying no to her daughter. Being a single mother, she tried to give her everything she needed, sometimes more. She could hear her mother scolding her in her thick German accent, saying she was spoiling the child. Mother was nearly several hundred miles away in Las Vegas, but her ability to control knew no boundaries. No, Mother, I will raise Patty my way, she thought to herself and told Patti to pick a few pieces of her favorite color.

The cashier, a pudgy middle-aged woman with fire-red hair and deep brown eyes, just stared at Sally as if she could not believe what she saw. If Patti were not with her, she probably would tell the woman a thing or two but left well enough alone. She already had too much on her plate; working two jobs, trying to pay bills, and taking care of her little girl. Huffing and puffing, the cashier were really pushing it, Sally thought to herself.

“Come on, honey. Mommy needs to take us home so we can eat. “Grabbing Sally’s hand, she turned around and glared at the cashier.

Putting their groceries in the back of the car, a steady wind began to pick up from the western sky. She vaguely recalled the weather people calling for storms as it was the favorite monsoon season, but most called it non-soon as it rarely rained a drop, if that. All the same, she did not want to waste any time and get caught. Patti had to take her allergy pills which had to be taken at a specific time each day.

Suddenly, a wall of black darkness swirled in from the sky above as the wind kicked up, spewing everything around. Within seconds the sun was utterly blotted out as if it never existed. The winds were now howling, almost sounding like mourning women at a funeral. The trees in the parking lot began to sway back and forth violently, their branches and leaves being torn apart by the massive winds. Debris and darkness flew about everywhere. Sally felt a sharp object pierce the back of her neck. A steady stream of blood trickled down her neck, staining her white blouse. Patti screamed and began to hyperventilate. Quickly getting into the car, Sally knew she had to get them both home soon, or Patti might have one of her asthma attacks.

Almost as just thinking this put it into action, Patti began to wheeze. Her tanned cheeks were pale white. Sweat blotted her face. Digging her fingers into the seat, Patti could not talk except try to breathe. Frantically turning the car on, Sally was unsure how to get out of the parking lot. A thick black dust covered everything. There was no visibility at all whatsoever. In the distance, she could hear cars grinding and crashing into each other. The sound of metal crushing, being manipulated, and people screaming sent a shiver up her spine. Looking back at her daughter, each passing second put her in danger. Searching through her glove compartment, she knew sometimes she kept a spare Nebulizer for emergencies. There was nothing in here except some old papers and the divorce papers for when she and Drew divorced when Patti was just a baby.

The dark abyss picked up in speed. Shaking the car violently back and forth and sliding it along the parking lot, she could hear someone yell to watch out, but it was too late. Sally’s car had already crashed into someone else. Glass splattered everywhere over the floor, cutting her legs. Patti’s head jolted back and forth, aggravating her breathing even more.

“Oh my god, what is going on? Ok honey, give me a sec; mommy will get you some help!” But how Sally wondered if there was no way to see where you were going.

A dark skeletal figure flew towards their vehicle. Its eyes were red as fire, and its teeth as razor-sharp as butcher knives. It ground its teeth, making an eerie clicking noise. Poking its long dangling claws in the window, trying to pull Sally into the darkness. The creature made a chattering noise. The teeth were rows upon rows of razor blades quickly rotating on each other.

Saying a quick prayer in a desperate attempt was all she could think of at this point. Another piece of advice from mother but this one she would take and use in this dire moment. Within seconds the sooty darkness surrounding her burned off, and the warm rays of the June sky returned. Patti was breathing normally again. It was as if this were some horrible nightmare.

“Come on, honey, Mommy is going to take us home. “Sally said, trying to catch her breath and breathe.

“Mommy, did you fall asleep?” Patti asked.

“No, why?” Weird question for the girl to ask, thought Sally.

“I was sitting here playing with my dolly Ms. Muffy, and I heard you snoring. “Giggling, she covered her face.

Was this all a big dream? Was she just overtired and dreaming all this? Shaking her head, Sally thought she might have to reconsider this whole two-job thing. Smiling, she drove down the road to their home.