Flood Warning by Jacqueline Pearce Page B

clicked opened. Tom could hear muffled voices, quiet but urgent. What was going on?
    Tom climbed out of bed and listened at the top of the stairs. He heard the words river and rising steadily . A chill ran up his back.
    â€œWhat are you doing up?” said his mother.
    Tom turned to see Mom standing in the hallway. She had her housecoat on over her nightgown.
    â€œGo back to bed,” she said. “It’s a school night.”
    â€œBut I want to know what’s happening,” Tom said.
    Dad appeared at the bottom of the stairs. “There’s a flood warning all along the river!” he called up to them. “I’m going to help build up the sandbags.”
    â€œI want to help too,” Tom said.
    Mom put a hand on Tom’s arm, holding him back. “It’s nothing for you to worry about,” she said. “The men will take care of it.”
    â€œI’m old enough to help,” Tom said. But Mom did not give in.
    She nudged him toward his bedroom. “There’s school in the morning,” she said. “You need to get your sleep.”
    Tom climbed back into bed. He heard the sound of the front door closing and men’s voices outside the house. He checked to see his mom wasn’t still in the doorway. Then Tom jumped out of bed and hurried to the window.

    A pickup truck was parked in the driveway below. It rumbled loudly. It was dark outside, but Tom could tell it was Peggy’s dad’s 1929 Ford. The light at the side of the house shone on her two older brothers in the back of the truck. Dad climbed into the cab next to Peggy’s dad. The truck doors slammed shut, and the motor coughed into gear.
    Tom leaned on the window ledge as the truck pulled away. He wished he was going with them. The Lone Ranger wouldn’t stay home and do nothing.

CHAPTER FOUR

    Rising Concern
    The next morning, Dad was home in time for the milking.
    â€œHow’s the river look?” Tom asked.
    Dad shook his head. There were dark shadows under his eyes. “Still rising,” he said. “Men are working steady, building up dykes. I’ve got to get back there as soon as I’m finished here.”
    â€œCan I come with you this time?” Tom asked.
    Dad shook his head. “You’ve got school, and you’re going to have to help around here when you get home. Now, hurry up with that hay,” he said, striding into the barn. “We’ve got to finish quickly.”

    After the milking, Mom packed Dad some food and a thermos of coffee. He drove off with another group of men. Tom watched him go as he waited outside for Peggy. She and Tom walked to school together every morning.
    â€œI wish I could go with my dad instead of going to school,” Tom said when Peggy joined him.
    â€œMe too,” Peggy said.
    Amos barked as if in agreement. He trotted in front of Tom and Peggy, leading the way to the shortcut across the back field and through the neighboring farms. The cows were now out grazing. The new calves stood close to their mothers.
    â€œI wonder how high the river is,” said Tom. He pictured the sagging row of sandbags they had seen yesterday. Was water pouring over the top and through the cracks? Had the men fixed the wall and made it higher?

    When they reached the edge of the pasture, Tom and Peggy climbed the fence. Amos sat watching them. This was as far as he was allowed to go. He raised one brown eyebrow as if to say, Are you sure I can’t come with you?
    â€œSorry, boy,” Tom said. He knew how Amos felt. He hated being left behind when his dad was off doing something important.
    â€œHey,” Peggy said, breaking through Tom’s thoughts. “This field is soggy.”
    Tom felt mud tug at his shoes. When he lifted one foot, water slowly filled his footprint.
    â€œThat’s strange,” Tom said. “Where’s the water coming from?”
    He looked up at Peggy, knowing the answer at