Spilled Milk

by K.L. Randis

You’s standing in the middle of a field and two things are happening. It’s rainin’ and there’s a tornado off in the distance. I mean, it’s a twirling, killer tornado, coming right toward you. You can feel the rain soaking you as you watch this tornado. Which one of those things you gonna notice first, the rain or the tornado?” “The tornado,” I said. “Why?” “I don’t know. It’s scarier? It can hurt you.” “Now let’s assume that tornado goes away. The threat is gone. Now are you gonna notice the rain?” “Yeah.” “Why?” “’Cause I’d probably be getting wet and cold, I would notice that.” “You had somethin’ in your life so powerful and frightening it took your full attention. It was more threatening, and could hurt you worse. That tornado was Earl. Now that the tornado has gone away, your focus shifts. See? The rain was there all along, your mama always was the way she is now, you just didn’t notice it.”