There were two people in our county alone that had ascended. It was a west coast phenomenon that was quickly traveling east, already as far as Idaho and moving fast.

My mom and dad insisted that we stay inside after school. My mother watched from the window for the schoolbus and walked us out to catch it every morning. She'd have one of us gripped in each hand and her eyes on the sky the whole time. The other kids used to point and laugh as she zoomed back into the safety of the house.

My mom took the ascensions very seriously.