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Storm Rescue
by Laurie Halse Anderson
from the series
Wild at Heart
A block farther, the mailboxes are barely visible above the water. And by the middle of that block, the water is almost up to the second floors of the houses. through the drizzle, I can barely see Mrs. Clark's house at the far end-there are a couple of large trees in the way- but it must be more than half submerged. Lucy...
'Do you think they've evacuated everyone already?' Maggie asks.
'Look!' Brenna cries, cutting her off.
In the distance, I see a motorboat chugging toward us.
As it gets closer, I see who's inside- two men in bright yellow slickers and a small white-haired woman wrapped in a plaid raincoat.
'Mrs. Clark!' I cry.
At that moment, Mrs. Clark spots us. 'Help!' she cries, waving her hands at us. 'My poor Lucy!'
Maggie, David and I run toward the boat, splashing down the hill until we're knee-deep in water.
'Guys! Don't go out too far!' warns Brenna, who stays back with Stormy.
'Are you OK?' I yell over the sounds of the wind and the boat's motor. 'Where's Lucy?'
'She's still in the house!' Mrs. Clark calls back. 'She was frightened by the men and the boat. She ran and hid in the attic. they insisted I leave her.'
'I'm sorry, ma'am,' one of the rescue workers says.
We couldn't spend any more time. The water's rising quickly, and we need to get you to the emergency shelter, which is where you kids should be-under shelter.'
I open my mouth to protest-to tell them about Lucy's broken leg, her diabetes-but the rescue workers are already steering the boat toward the next street. Mrs. Clark shouts something about Lucy, but her words are drowned out by the sounds of the boat's motor.
I stare down the hill. I remember how those flooded houses looked on TV. And the flooded stable. what if it was Mittens? It all makes me feel so scared and helpless that I have to clench my hands into fists to stop them from shaking.
Then I remember how Lucy meowed at me this morning, bumping her head against my hand when I bent to pet her. And I know what I have to do.
(Copyright by Laurie Halse Anderson)
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