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Show Twisters . . . 40 At least . . . I scrabbled for something to hang onto . . . at least I still have my_ dad! He'd be safe, wouldn't he, out on the farm7 With a rush I thought of everyone else . . . Stacey, and Angelique, not even a year old, and all the Darlingtons in between. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, have mercy on us--" I heard Arthur's prayer above the ripping and rattling of the storm and knew he wasn't thinking of himself this time. I clenched ©y teeth to keep from going to pieces. Please, God, please, I begged, make everyone okay! Overhead, the storm continued to rage. The sharp sound of hail striking tile never let up, and I began to wonder if we might just be battered to death. Now and then, a finger of wind reached into our hiding place, flipping the blanket until we'd anchor it under us again. I shuddered and pulled up my knees, shifting the baby once more. With the temperature dropping and the water rising, we couldn't stay in the shower forever. What were we going to do? Only Ryan had recovered enough to be himself and was dabbling one hand in the water, making happy noises. Once I got him into a standing position against my knees, he began "talking" and stretching under the blanket tent. He wasn't worried, I wiped my tears on the back of his undershirt. What does he know? I thought, for a second there wishing I could trade places with him. He wouldn't even remember this night. As Ryan bunched up in my lap to jump again, I took hold of his hands to steady him. I made little balls of his fists and felt how small they were inside my big twelve-year-old hands. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had saved his life. I had! I warmed myself on that thought as I rubbed my cheek against his head. He was so little. Bouncing and |
