When I Hear Your Thunder
By Lorie

	She stood by her bedroom window, staring out 
into the night. Sleep escaped her as the events of 
the day ran through her mind. It was crazy at work 
with all the projects due at once. Crazy at home with 
all her belongings packed away from the recent move. 
Crazy with her marriage because her husband rebuffing 
her need for a little freedom from the duties of her 
life. Crazy with her children being restless from the 
upheaval of the move and the calling freedom of 
summer. Her whole existence was in turmoil and 
everything was coming to a head. If only she could 
get a good night's sleep, she would feel so much 
better. But the clear starry sky and sweltering heat 
did little to help. "If only it would storm," she 
whispered but felt no one would hear her request.
	But someone did hear. Eric stood and made his 
way around the halls of heaven to his favorite place. 
One of his eternal duties that he enjoyed was 
providing the thunder for storms on a large drum set. 
Keith Moon was just finishing a set when Eric came 
in. " 'Ello, Eric. You're a little early for your 
shift." Eric smiled, "I got a request. She's a fan 
and has had a rough time lately. It's not on the 
schedule but it's summer so…" Keith laughed, " 'At's 
the beauty of summer. Sudden storms. Have fun!" He 
grabbed his sticks and walked away.
	Eric settled in behind the kit. A set of sticks 
appeared in his hand. He had done this so many times 
since he passed over, he barely thought about it 
anymore. With a light tapping, the clouds began to 
form. A steady rhythm on the toms caused a breeze to 
blow. Not too much to cause damage, just enough to 
cool the air. The beat on the snare commanded the 
raindrops to fall in a pattern. As the rhythm began 
to build, the bass drums rolled out a rumbling 
thunder. A crash of the hi-hat cymbal ignited the sky 
with lightening. "Here you go," Eric thought with a 
smile, "This should help." 
	She laid on the bed and watch the raindrops 
slide down the window glass. The sound of the storm 
was a relaxing lullaby causing her to forget her 
worries. She remembered the story she told her 
daughter so she wouldn't be afraid of storms. She 
told her that it was Eric Carr was playing a big set 
of drums in heaven. All the thunder and lightening 
was one of his famous drum solos. The story worked 
and her daughter never feared storms again. 
	As she drifted off to sleep, she whispered with 
a smile, "Thank you, Eric."