Citronella Storm

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I remember that day very well, the four of us kids tossed into the truck and we headed two hours away for a weekend of camping and fishing. It was our favorite time, and we played games that whole long journey, while Aunt Vickie tried not to kill Grandpa for criticising her driving.2

When we got to the camper, I was handed the keys and told to open it up, air it out. We didn't come here but once every other month, plenty of time for rats to move back in. We were always scared opening that camper. 3

No rats popped out at us, but the faint scent of citronella candles drifted out to us. Dad hated them, Grandpa swore by them.4

As the sun began to go down, our work had just been finished. So much to do when we first got there to make it livable! The adults gathered up the poles for night fishing while us kids solemnly prepared the snack bucket and fetched the special catfish stringer.5

Thunder rumbled through the campsite, and rain began to trickle down through the beautiful autumn leaves above. No night fishing tonight. Grandpa lit the citronella candles, we pulled out the awning, and sat in those white plastic chairs. Citronella was a familiar smell, we kids loved it. Not only did it mean a wonderful night in the country doing whatever we pleased, but it was Grandpa's smell. He had them at his house too. Grandpa was as strong and lively as that flame, and just as hard to take out, or blow out. 6

More relatives camping stopped by, and we welcomed them into our circle of citronella and love. The storm got worse and worse, so bad that even secretly playing with the candle wax didn't have an appeal. 7

Tornadoes, the radio claimed, and the youngest of us began to cry. There was no basement in the camper, what would we do? The adults began to talk about where to go, but my eyes were on Grandpa. He said the only thing he needed to be protected from were mosquito's, and he had his citronella candles for that. He wasn't scared of no twister. 8

I went and sat by Pa, putting me next to and behind two citronella candles. We sat there, me and Pa together, watching the sky as the lightning and thunder raged around our site. The storm couldn't put out those candles though, even raining as hard as it was. And time cannot stop the peace I felt during that storm with him that comes back to me every time I smell a citronella candle.9