Flood Warning Read Online Free Page A

Amos.
    The walk home, however, was grim. Everything was covered with dark, stinking mud. The crops were ruined. Berry bushes and hop plants were dead. Dad said it would probably be awhile before they saw another rat or mouse.
    Tom felt relieved when they herded the cows down their own driveway at last. He looked across the street to Peggy’s house and wondered if she was back yet.
    Tom and his parents had visited the farm the day before to assess the damage, repair fences and clean out the cow barn. Now, Tom opened the double gates to let the cows back into the field beside the barn. The sun was shining, and Dad said the ground would soon be dry.
    â€œLet’s have a break for lunch,” Mom suggested.
    The three of them stood looking at the house. Luckily the ground the house was built on was slightly higher than the rest of the farm. But a dark water stain skirted the bottom of the house. They had all looked inside yesterday and seen the mud that coated the rooms on the first floor. Now, Mom and Dad didn’t seem to want to go back in.
    â€œI don’t know where we can eat,” Mom said. She had packed them a lunch before leaving the graveyard camp. It would be a while before the kitchen would be clean enough for the furniture to be moved back downstairs. She looked around the farm at all the mud.

    â€œWe could sit in the truck,” Dad said.
    Tom looked up at his bedroom window. The kitchen table was crowded into his bedroom with other pieces of furniture.
    â€œLet’s have a picnic inside,” Tom said. “We could all sit on my bed.”
    Mom and Dad smiled.
    â€œAnd later,” Tom said, “we can find the radio and listen to the Lone Ranger.”
    Amos barked, as if in agreement.
    Tom entered the house with his mom and dad. There was a lot of work ahead of them, but it was good to be home.