The long tail of the tornado

"Mom, you need to come down to the little barn."

Despite my daughter's insistence, I didn't jump up right away. Usually when she makes these calls, she and her sister found a new kitten, the wagon she uses to move feed around has a flat tire, she and her sister are arguing or they spotted a raccoon.

"What is it?"

"You just need to come down here."

I shut my computer down and trudged to the barn, fully expecting to be underwhelmed by whatever she had to show me.

But when I got there, the girls directed my attention to the back of the barn, where the tattered remains of a tornado that went through in June had hung for more than two months. The half-rafters that had appeared to remain secured to the barn had finally given way and collapsed.

All I could do was sigh.

More than two months