about the bedroom? Can't we use that?"
"Of course, but right now our other houseguest is napping. Enya is also in our group," Ida reports.
I look around the room once more. Each mattress and sleeping bag has a pillow and someone's clothing on it. "That's pretty darned good organizing in so short a time," I say. I look at the faces of my girls. They are frightened but excited, too. And trying very hard to act brave.
"Thanks to Evvie," says Ida. "She mapped out this plan in her last newsletter."
I blush. I've been so involved with Jack; I'm probably the only one who hadn't read it. I look apologetically at my sister. She smiles knowingly.
Sophie adds, "The minute the TV said we were going to get hit, Evvie was on the phone organizing every building. Within an hour everyone was set."
Evvie comments, "A lot of people went to schools and community centers but we all voted to stay here."
Suddenly there is a loud smashing sound outside. We all jump.
Enya rushes out of my bedroom with sleepencrusted eyes. "What . . . what happened?"
Ida puts her arm around Enya. "We don't know."
Sophie joins Ida and embraces the shaking Enya. "Anybody hungry?" she says. "The pot roast smells ready."
Enya sees me and comes to hug me. "You're back safe."
I nod. "We'll be fine. Try not to worry."
"We have three kinds of potatoes to choose from," Evvie says, starting for the kitchen. Everyone follows. "Five different veggies and three meats."
My tiny kitchen will have to hold all of us.
There is a poignant cry from the living room floor. It's Bella, struggling to get on her hands and knees. "Somebody help. I can't get up!"
We rush to her aid.
Partners, all of us. Through thick and thin. God help us through this night.
16
A Night to Remember
W e are all pleasantly stuffed, which helps
make what's going on outside almost bearable. The girls are stretched out in the living room in nightgowns and robes, leaning against pillows, walls, and couch backs, contentedly watching a classic movie. Each of them has a flashlight at her side.
It's dark out and the storm rages around us. Every time there is a banging somewhere, we stiffen. But we are determined to keep things light, to soldier on.
Enya stiffly sits away from us on a chair at the dining room table, eyes closed, still dressed. She is somewhere else, lost in her troubled thoughts. She clutches her cup of tea, already cold.
I am in the kitchen cleaning up the mess we made at dinner. I had offers of help, but it's much easier for one person to move around in the small space. Besides, I need something to take my mind off the storm. I watch my girls and Enya through the small pass-through opening. Poor Enya, she seems almost in shock.
Believe it or not, the girls voted to watch this TV rerun of A Night to Remember. Evvie, our movie maven, explains that this is the famous black-andwhite English version of the disaster. It came out in the 1950's. The girls are mesmerized by the almost documentary style of the sinking of the T itanic. I guess watching another disaster is better than thinking of the one we're in right now.
Bella giggles.
Evvie asks, "What's so funny? We're watching a serious movie. They're about to hit the iceberg."
"I can't help it. Two nights in a row I get to go on a sleepover." Bella burps, and then giggles again, holding on to her expanded tummy. "Maybe I shouldn't have had three different desserts, but how often do I get to eat peach pie, chocolate cake, and strawberry shortcake in the same night?"
Ida huffs. "You didn't have to stuff yourself."
"Well, it was gonna spoil."
"So what," Ida answers. "It's disgusting watching you pig out."
Sophie grins. "I'm with Bella. I loved having all those different main dishes. I vote Evvie's cabbage rolls were the best."
"Thank you ever so much," Evvie says modestly.
"And besides," Sophie
"Of course, but right now our other houseguest is napping. Enya is also in our group," Ida reports.
I look around the room once more. Each mattress and sleeping bag has a pillow and someone's clothing on it. "That's pretty darned good organizing in so short a time," I say. I look at the faces of my girls. They are frightened but excited, too. And trying very hard to act brave.
"Thanks to Evvie," says Ida. "She mapped out this plan in her last newsletter."
I blush. I've been so involved with Jack; I'm probably the only one who hadn't read it. I look apologetically at my sister. She smiles knowingly.
Sophie adds, "The minute the TV said we were going to get hit, Evvie was on the phone organizing every building. Within an hour everyone was set."
Evvie comments, "A lot of people went to schools and community centers but we all voted to stay here."
Suddenly there is a loud smashing sound outside. We all jump.
Enya rushes out of my bedroom with sleepencrusted eyes. "What . . . what happened?"
Ida puts her arm around Enya. "We don't know."
Sophie joins Ida and embraces the shaking Enya. "Anybody hungry?" she says. "The pot roast smells ready."
Enya sees me and comes to hug me. "You're back safe."
I nod. "We'll be fine. Try not to worry."
"We have three kinds of potatoes to choose from," Evvie says, starting for the kitchen. Everyone follows. "Five different veggies and three meats."
My tiny kitchen will have to hold all of us.
There is a poignant cry from the living room floor. It's Bella, struggling to get on her hands and knees. "Somebody help. I can't get up!"
We rush to her aid.
Partners, all of us. Through thick and thin. God help us through this night.
16
A Night to Remember
W e are all pleasantly stuffed, which helps
make what's going on outside almost bearable. The girls are stretched out in the living room in nightgowns and robes, leaning against pillows, walls, and couch backs, contentedly watching a classic movie. Each of them has a flashlight at her side.
It's dark out and the storm rages around us. Every time there is a banging somewhere, we stiffen. But we are determined to keep things light, to soldier on.
Enya stiffly sits away from us on a chair at the dining room table, eyes closed, still dressed. She is somewhere else, lost in her troubled thoughts. She clutches her cup of tea, already cold.
I am in the kitchen cleaning up the mess we made at dinner. I had offers of help, but it's much easier for one person to move around in the small space. Besides, I need something to take my mind off the storm. I watch my girls and Enya through the small pass-through opening. Poor Enya, she seems almost in shock.
Believe it or not, the girls voted to watch this TV rerun of A Night to Remember. Evvie, our movie maven, explains that this is the famous black-andwhite English version of the disaster. It came out in the 1950's. The girls are mesmerized by the almost documentary style of the sinking of the T itanic. I guess watching another disaster is better than thinking of the one we're in right now.
Bella giggles.
Evvie asks, "What's so funny? We're watching a serious movie. They're about to hit the iceberg."
"I can't help it. Two nights in a row I get to go on a sleepover." Bella burps, and then giggles again, holding on to her expanded tummy. "Maybe I shouldn't have had three different desserts, but how often do I get to eat peach pie, chocolate cake, and strawberry shortcake in the same night?"
Ida huffs. "You didn't have to stuff yourself."
"Well, it was gonna spoil."
"So what," Ida answers. "It's disgusting watching you pig out."
Sophie grins. "I'm with Bella. I loved having all those different main dishes. I vote Evvie's cabbage rolls were the best."
"Thank you ever so much," Evvie says modestly.
"And besides," Sophie
Similar Books
