Kaylie was listening to the music CD that her mom bought her at Disneyland. It was playing on the car CD player, just finishing up her favorite, "It's A Small World". She was singing along with a toothy, happy face, one that is so precious to see on a 5 year old...from ear to ear. Well, at least her ears, not the large black ears on her Mickey Mouse Cap she was wearing. Her mom had taken her on the ride in Disneyland of the same name. At least 3 times, she loved it so much! Travelling on the waters in the slow moving boat, passing all the pretty dolls on either side, the song droning on in different languages. She loved every minute of it! She hadn't been this happy in a long time. Kaylie was holding the string to her Mickey Mouse balloon she got, and was pumping the balloon up and down by yanking on the string, keeping a happy beat to the music. It bobbed inside the car like an apple in a water barrel at a country fair. Her eyes were wide and bright, gleaming with joy even though it was a long day and it was probably past her normal bedtime. The balloon kept bopping on the roof of the back seat after every yank on the string, making a sound like a hollow toy base drum. She could see her mom in the rearview mirror, sneaking a glance at her and breaking a big smile herself when their eyes met. She was happy!
Jennifer, the former Mrs. Lee, was driving from Disneyland to the Santa Ana Motel, a few miles away from the amusement park. She picked the motel because it was cheaper to stay there than the larger and closer hotels they used to stay at when she was married to John. Ever since the ugly divorce and custody battle, Jennifer has had to cut back on expenses. It has been hard, since John wasn't supporting them like he said he would. While driving, Jennifer was filled with thoughts of money, budgeting in her mind every expense that worried her now. It really bothered her how her life had changed so drastically. A frown would start to wrinkle up her face, until she realized it and looked in the rearview mirror to see her happy daughter smiling. Jennifer could feel her face loosen instantly into a smile while looking at her beautiful daughter. At least she had her daughter, she thought, the joy of her life. And the house on a ridge next to large open spaces on the outskirts of San Bernadino, a great place for Kaylie to be away from the hustle of the city. She could at least take comfort in that, she thought again, after all the struggles to disengage from her unfaithful husband. And this trip to Disneyland, this was something they had both been looking forward to for so long. Something happy to share together, finally!
The wind was whistling through the window seams of the car, in a high pitch, even after she got off the freeway. Jennifer parked in front of the motel, but she left the keys in the car so the headlights could shine on the ground floor motel door to their room. The CD had finished and the radio was on now, on a local news station. She got out to get Kaylie out of her booster seat. She realized the wind wasn't from the speed she was driving, but from a strong gust of hot air coming from the east. Santa Ana winds, she thought, those strong winds that can create havoc in southern California this time of year. The wind nearly blew her over, and made it hard to open the back door. She braced the door open with her backside as she tried to unbuckle her daughter. Suddenly, a strong gust rose like an unseen dark energy from the underworld, engulfing her with a force, as she nearly doubled over from the rushing wind and the door slamming her .
Just then, she heard a piercing scream from her daughter! She looked up and her daughter was bursting into a river of tears, the smiling, beaming face replaced by one of complete anguish. Jennifer's heart was instantly pounding rapidly, blood rushing through her veins with a jolt of adrenaline. What's wrong? Her thoughts became frantic, as all mothers thoughts turn at the scream of their children. A hot flash of fear and pain hit the pit of her stomach, like a hot iron knifing its way through her belly button. She looked everywhere on her daughter to try to find the source of the pain. Then she noticed that Kaylie's Mickey Mouse hat and balloon had blown away into the darkness. The fear subsided quickly, replaced by motherly concern for her daughters emotions. The radio blared as leaves and trash papers flew by them, eerily pursuing the balloon and hat now long into the dark horizon, like petty accomplices from a crime scene that just took place.
"The wild fire in San Bernadino county, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, have burned 5 homes and are now threatening several more subdivisions...."
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