phones fixed and be able to call for a plow,” Iola said.
“Let’s hope,” Chet replied. “I think J. J. usually clears out their driveway during the big blows. And he’s welcome to the job.”
They all went to the water tower to fill up their buckets once. After that, they planned to form a line back to the house and pass the buckets along as they filled them.
Chet had the most experience with the temperamental spigot at the tower’s base, so he was electedto be the main bucket filler. “I always did want to find a vocation,” he joked as he fiddled with the ancient valve.
As he began to twist, the tower shook suddenly.
A loud snapping sound filled the air, followed by a tremendous groan.
“Look out!” Frank cried. “The tower’s falling!”
12 Water Wonderland
----
One of the four stout wooden legs holding up the tower buckled, tipping the huge container toward the startled teens. The three remaining legs creaked and protested before they started to snap.
Frank grabbed Chet by the collar and pulled him out of the way. At the same time, Joe put his arms around Iola and thrust both of them to one side.
The four teens scrambled as the huge metal container gave a final groan. Then the legs gave way completely and the whole thing tumbled toward them.
“Jump!” Joe cried.
He and Iola dove to one side, and Frank and Chet leaped toward the other. The tower crashed to the icy ground and burst open, spraying countlessgallons of water in every direction. The four friends landed in the snowdrifts to either side of the falling tank.
The horrible sound of rending metal filled the air as the tank caved in at the seams. Its wooden top smashed when it hit the ground, filling the air with fragments of timber. Frank ducked as a big board soared past his head, barely missing Chet.
The icy water hit the teenagers like a tidal wave, drenching everyone right through their parkas. For a moment a huge sloshing sound filled the chilly air. Then the barnyard fell silent.
“Is everyone okay?” Joe asked.
Iola and the rest nodded. “Yes, aside from being soaked to the skin,” Chet said.
Frank stood up and shook himself. Droplets of water dripped from his parka as though he were a wet dog. “We were lucky,” he said. “If that tower had fallen any more quickly, someone could have been killed.”
“I’m wondering why it fell at all,” Joe said. He sloshed through the chilly water and drenched snow to the tower’s broken base.
“What in tarnation?” Grandpa Morton cried. He and Grandma dashed out of the house, pulling on their coats as they came. The two looked around the scene in disbelief. Sorrow and frustration welled up in their aged eyes.
“It just . . . collapsed,” Chet said apologetically.
“It was pretty old, Pa,” Grandma Morton said consolingly. “All the snow and wind must have taken a toll on it, especially with it being full and all.”
Dave Morton nodded slowly. “Must have,” he agreed sadly. “Are any of you young’ns hurt?”
“No, we’re all fine,” Iola replied.
“Though we’re going to need to change our clothes . . . again,” Joe added. Already their parkas had begun to freeze up.
“This is gonna make getting water more difficult,” Grandpa said. “That old pump in the barn is barely enough to water the animals, and I’m not lookin’ forward to meltin’ snow on the stove.”
“We’ll work something out, I’m sure,” Grandma said. “I guess all of you best come inside and clean up.”
“We’ll come inside in a minute, Mrs. Morton,” Frank said.
She shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll get the cocoa brewing and set up the drying rack by the fireplace again.”
“I’d best check on the pump near the animals,” Grandpa said, “and make sure it’s still working. You all watch your step out here. This whole place’ll be a skating rink in no time. I suppose I better fetch some road salt after I see to the pump.”
The two elder Mortons went about
“Let’s hope,” Chet replied. “I think J. J. usually clears out their driveway during the big blows. And he’s welcome to the job.”
They all went to the water tower to fill up their buckets once. After that, they planned to form a line back to the house and pass the buckets along as they filled them.
Chet had the most experience with the temperamental spigot at the tower’s base, so he was electedto be the main bucket filler. “I always did want to find a vocation,” he joked as he fiddled with the ancient valve.
As he began to twist, the tower shook suddenly.
A loud snapping sound filled the air, followed by a tremendous groan.
“Look out!” Frank cried. “The tower’s falling!”
12 Water Wonderland
----
One of the four stout wooden legs holding up the tower buckled, tipping the huge container toward the startled teens. The three remaining legs creaked and protested before they started to snap.
Frank grabbed Chet by the collar and pulled him out of the way. At the same time, Joe put his arms around Iola and thrust both of them to one side.
The four teens scrambled as the huge metal container gave a final groan. Then the legs gave way completely and the whole thing tumbled toward them.
“Jump!” Joe cried.
He and Iola dove to one side, and Frank and Chet leaped toward the other. The tower crashed to the icy ground and burst open, spraying countlessgallons of water in every direction. The four friends landed in the snowdrifts to either side of the falling tank.
The horrible sound of rending metal filled the air as the tank caved in at the seams. Its wooden top smashed when it hit the ground, filling the air with fragments of timber. Frank ducked as a big board soared past his head, barely missing Chet.
The icy water hit the teenagers like a tidal wave, drenching everyone right through their parkas. For a moment a huge sloshing sound filled the chilly air. Then the barnyard fell silent.
“Is everyone okay?” Joe asked.
Iola and the rest nodded. “Yes, aside from being soaked to the skin,” Chet said.
Frank stood up and shook himself. Droplets of water dripped from his parka as though he were a wet dog. “We were lucky,” he said. “If that tower had fallen any more quickly, someone could have been killed.”
“I’m wondering why it fell at all,” Joe said. He sloshed through the chilly water and drenched snow to the tower’s broken base.
“What in tarnation?” Grandpa Morton cried. He and Grandma dashed out of the house, pulling on their coats as they came. The two looked around the scene in disbelief. Sorrow and frustration welled up in their aged eyes.
“It just . . . collapsed,” Chet said apologetically.
“It was pretty old, Pa,” Grandma Morton said consolingly. “All the snow and wind must have taken a toll on it, especially with it being full and all.”
Dave Morton nodded slowly. “Must have,” he agreed sadly. “Are any of you young’ns hurt?”
“No, we’re all fine,” Iola replied.
“Though we’re going to need to change our clothes . . . again,” Joe added. Already their parkas had begun to freeze up.
“This is gonna make getting water more difficult,” Grandpa said. “That old pump in the barn is barely enough to water the animals, and I’m not lookin’ forward to meltin’ snow on the stove.”
“We’ll work something out, I’m sure,” Grandma said. “I guess all of you best come inside and clean up.”
“We’ll come inside in a minute, Mrs. Morton,” Frank said.
She shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll get the cocoa brewing and set up the drying rack by the fireplace again.”
“I’d best check on the pump near the animals,” Grandpa said, “and make sure it’s still working. You all watch your step out here. This whole place’ll be a skating rink in no time. I suppose I better fetch some road salt after I see to the pump.”
The two elder Mortons went about
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