Maria, my wife, my two daughters, Karen, age 2, and Sabrina, age 3, clung to each other at the bus stop

in New Orleans, desperately waiting! But no buses came, no cars, as the hurricane winds tried to push us

down the street. It was all we could do, to hold onto the bolted down bus bench. Buildings were being torn

apart; belongings flew through the air like they were made of paper.

 

By now, the flood waters were waist high, as we held our children tightly. Before we knew it, the lake water

was rushing toward us. The water was brown, filled with bodies of people and animals, pieces of houses,

even cars, and to me, I felt that death was beside us. The stench of death was choking my senses, as we

realized no help was coming. Then my hip was struck by something sharp, and I cried out.

 

I reached my hand down, and when I lifted it out of the water, my shirt sleeve was soaked in blood. Sabrina

was shivering in the rain, her eyes filled with terror as she squeezed my neck so hard with her hands, I almost

couldn't breathe. Those friends, neighbors and stranger's whose faces I could see were screaming, crying out

for help, but the roar of the storm drowned out their voices.

 

I watched in horror as the flood waters rose higher and higher. In moments, those I had seen disappeared under

the flood waters. Suddenly, an elderly neighbor, Sally Ann surfaced a few feet from my hand, frantically gasping

for air, for my hand, as I looked into eyes of despair, before she went under the water again and didn't come back

up! Everyone called her "Granny", as the rains washed tears from my cheeks. It was if we were lost in the twilight

zone! It seemed unreal what was happening. I couldn't comprehend why no one came down my street before the

waters came to help get us to a safer place? My mind raced as I rationalized that, "We were black, and poor.

We were "Expendable"!

 

We had no job, no car, and no credit cards! Hell, we didn't even have a phone! I yelled and yelled to Maria,

to tell her to try to follow me to a near-by power pole as the flood waters rose even higher. But the roar of the

storm was deafening and she was looking away from me. I could see Karen's tiny face and I will never forget the

look on her face! How could someone so small possibly understand what was happening? Suddenly a huge wave

struck us and we were all carried farther down the street. So much was under water as our bodies bumped into

objects we couldn't see. Our street looked like a tremendous bomb had exploded! My wife and daughter were

no longer beside me.

 

I could see them, just barely as I tried to fight my way over to them, as I tried to keep Sabrina's head above the

water. At that moment, it felt like time had stopped and that everything was happening in slow motion! I couldn't

even tell where we were anymore! Maria was the first to grab onto a ten foot tall chain link fence near her. It was

between two businesses. She had a look of relief on her face when she turned to look for us, and see me so close.

An angel must have been beside me, to help me reach my family! I wrapped my arm around Maria, and kissed her

and Karen as waves pushed against us, trying to break our grip on the fence as it shook back and forth! Then I saw

a second story window, about 15 feet from the fence.

 

When I yelled to Maria, she had fear in her eyes, shaking her head "No"! But we both knew that death was close,

and that we couldn't hold onto the fence forever because the water was rising fast! Reluctantly, she nodded and I

was the first to try to cling to the building. Luckily, I was able to grab the window ledge, and push Sabrina inside,

before I climbed in too!                                                                                                                                 

 

I was hoping there might be something to use to help Maria grab onto, but there was nothing. I stuck my head outside

the window, facing the howling wind and biting rain, and motioned Maria to let go! Over and over I waved my hand,

but she wouldn't let go of the fence! Finally she did let go, and was coming my way fast! I swear I saw my arms grow

to grasp her arm just in time, and I held her close to the window. I grabbed Karen and lifted her inside and then held

tighter to Maria's arm. She was panicking, fighting me! I knew it wasn't her fault.

 

In a few moments, I had her half way thru the window, and as she relaxed as best she could, I got her onto the floor.

It was a four story office building and the walls and roof were still intact. For that, I was grateful! I had no idea how

much longer, or how much worse the storm would be before it would pass! We were soaked to the skin, cold, shaking,

and though I searched, I found nothing clothing wise to warm us. Neither did I find any food or water. Day after day we

waited, hoping someone in a boat would come down the street in search of survivors, but no one came! Not a soul!

 

It was now day four and we were in shock! How could a city; "Our city" be destroyed? Thousands must have

died, I was sure! But where were the military, the emergency rescue people? Why had we been abandoned? It

was simply unthinkable! During those four days, we talked very little. We just held our children, trying to comfort

them, and each other. Trying desperately not to give up hope! I looked around and saw a large framed poster on

one wall and got up and broke out the glass, and returned to Maria. "If we see a rescue boat, I can wave it out the

window, so they can come get us"!

 

She smiled back at me, and it looked like a half smile, with her eyes filled with doubt, but she nodded. By the fifth

day, as our little girls slept, we talked. "Darling; we both know that no one is going to come! It's been 5 days, 5

damn days! I’m so sorry! You are my love, my life. You have always believed in me, in spite of all that we have

been through. I wanted so much more for you and the girls". Maria looked down at Karen and Sabrina, sleeping

close to each other on the carpet floor, and she kissed me softly.

 

Her large brown eyes released tears as she whispered; "It's okay baby, it's not your fault! We have each other,

we have Karen and Sabrina. Only God knows how many of our friends, neighbors and stranger's have died"?

Suddenly we heard the sound of a boat's motor, and excitedly, I ran to the window with the framed poster. I

stuck my head out and waved it frantically, at the boat carrying four men. But when I saw all the computer

equipment and the guns in their hands, I realized they were looters, not rescuer's!

 

They fired their guns and as their bullets hit the poster, I ducked inside! I grabbed my family and we retreated

to an office in the back and locked the door. We huddled on the floor together and prayed on our knees, they

would pass our building. We slept in that room that night and came our when it was morning. We had been lucky!

That afternoon, we heard the loud speaker of rescuer’s in their boat calling out if anyone was alive!

 

Cautiously, I peered out and saw the military uniforms and yelled and waved! They waved back and pulled their

boat close to our window as we moved away from the window! A National Guard soldier climbed inside and

told me he was so glad to find someone still alive! He motioned for us to come to him and get into their boat,

but I shook my head "No"!

 

There was confusion in his voice as he asked me why? I told him we were grateful that help had finally arrived,

but that he had to continue to look for survivors! I turned and kissed Maria, and hand in hand, we turned away

as Sabrina looked back over my shoulder into the soldier's eyes, and waved her tiny hand good-bye. In that split

second, he watched us disappear. We had died waiting, and were now spirits, hoping that in the days to follow,

he would find and save many other people.
 
©2005 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)