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Show Twisters . . . 57 Minutes later, we were putting Mom and Ryan on the school bus which was headed for K Mart. An emergency center had been set up there, we were told. She had a message from Stacey for Mrs% Darlington-in case she had ended up there and not at the armory-and messages from some others who were staying behind to Volunteer help. It was all very confusing there for a few minutes. As it turned out, Arthur, Stacey and I didn't get on that bus. We went back to see about Smiley. Firemen had begun searching houses and cars, but they wouldn't get to her place for a long time, we figured. And then they might not find her, not if she didn't answer when they called. How would they know she wore a hearing aid? We made such a good case for going back Mom couldn't say no. "All right, all right, go on. I'm crazy to let you do this-" "I got the boys out, remember7" Stacey said, throwing in the clincher. So Mom hugged us all again, right there in front of everybody boarding the bus. "I'm really proud of you kids, you know that? But please, please be careful. And stay together, you hear?" "Oh mom!" I said, as she gave me an extra nuzzle on the neck. "Don't get mushy." She cuffed me one as I turned and fled. |