Jehovah Witnesses and an earthquake. |
A sunny southern California day in East Dewalt, a tiny town that lies along the San Andreas Fault. The neighbors on this Saturday were tending to their chores; and I was filling walkway cracks, a-working on all fours. A car pulled up along the curb and I tossed it a glance; (I felt a little self-conscious with caulking on my pants.) Four well-dressed people then emerged--two women and two men; (Occurrences that rub you wrong come calling now and then.) They were Jehovah’s Witnesses and they set sights on me; I became piqued but then I thought of the Beatles’, Let it Be. Four smiles strolled right up to me and introduced themselves; (in truth I would have preferred Santa Claus and his dear elves.) But then I thought, I’ll feed these birds in graciousness and truth; (the garden hose was all hooked up but would have been uncouth.) Inside we went into the living room where we sat down; I readied for a grand display of proselytize surround. As they began their rehearsed spiel of Ali-Baba blow, there came a grand cacophony of rumble from below. The room began to shake and pictures fell, plus knickknacks too; it was another earthquake--in Dewalt we just make due. (Oh how in life the natural displays itself in might! and sometimes serendipity displays itself just right. Four birds came calling on that day and I felt somewhat out; yet with quake magnitude of four, I almost had to shout.) Because the staid of witnesses, the calm composed extant, transformed level-headedness into the edge of slant. An, Oh my Lord! My God! O Jesus please! oft in repeats, as four birds for Jehovah leapt with verve from comfy seats. The wounds of fear with aching cries escaped from witness’ lungs; then sound surround became the gibberish of unknown tongues. Eight arms and legs were flailing as the earthquake spoke its peace; (perhaps old Mother Nature has a stake in Heaven’s lease.) (I can’t be sure among the shaking of the house and all, but I believe I heard one witness give Satan a call. To me it seemed to be in blame--the “evil” of the quake; I checked the witness later to discern if wide awake.) A living room so littered with debris in randomness; four witnesses left shaken and disheveled, more or less. I wished them well and waved goodbye as they inched down the walk, then returned to my filling, happy I had ample caulk. 40 Lines Writer’s Cramp 12-14-15 |