think about it," she continued, trying to help him out in any way she could. "We don't want Mom and Dad out driving in this stuff anyway. They probably had to stay in town, and they will be safe and sound there. I am sure they are worried sick about us, and with the phone lines being out, well, you can only imagine what Mom is like about now."
Alec nodded his head, forming the same image in his mind as his sister.
"But think how proud they'll be tomorrow when they see we've survived a hurricane!" Winnie looked to Alec, hoping he could see a light at the end of the tunnel, as she was attempting to do as well.
"But what about tonight? What are we going to do?"
Winnie looked from her brother to her watch. It was only 8:00. Usually at this time of night, they were still outside playing in the back yard or watching a favorite show on TV. It was hard to imagine what they would do to occupy their time besides worry.
"Let's try the radio again. I found some new batteries." Winnie said, hoping a channel would come in with some news. "Maybe we can get an update on things."
Alec grabbed the radio first and began fiddling with the knobs. It took quite a few minutes, but he finally tuned in a station.
"The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for Manatee and Sarasota" the announcer said in a stern voice. "Winds will be at gale force. People should remain indoors and protect themselves accordingly. Do not attempt to go outside unless it is an emergency. There is flying debris due to winds⦠winds that are capable of doing plenty of damage. Please follow all hurricane safety guidelines and be safe!"
Winnie and Alec stared at the radio like the voice was speaking directly to them. When the man was finished with his report, he had a guest on from another area speaking about the damage in his town. Winnie directed her focus away from the box and onto her brother.
She tried her best, once again, to think about what her parents would do if they were here. Her dad would most likely be bustling about, making sure everything was secure and safe. She and Alec had already done all they could in that department. Doors to the outside were locked, and the basement door was securely barricaded from whatever was trying to come up. Her mom would probably try to get them involved in something that would take their minds off the howling wind and distant claps of thunder. She thought about this for a moment and decided to give it a try.
"Hey, Alec, we still have a while before bedtime. Want to play a game?" She wasn't sure how her brother would handle this suggestion.
"First off," he said, sounding rather bold in his answer, "I don't think we are going to bed tonight. At least Iâm not. And secondly, it depends on what game you are thinking of."
Winnie almost laughed at his diplomatic way of dealing with her. "Your choice," she said, knowing this would delight him.
She knew he would choose Monopoly. He always did â every time he was given the opportunity. That was his favorite board game, and the least favorite of Winnie's. She had given him the choice, though, and she had anticipated his answer. So she was prepared to go with Monopoly.
She took the flashlight, and Alec's arm, and carefully walked in the dim light to the hall closet where they kept the games. He held the light while she reached and moved items to finally get to the box. Alec was already mumbling about how he was going to beat his sister and leave her broke and in jail. Winnie was inwardly surprised that her diversion was starting out so well.
The children played for almost an hour without even mentioning the storm. It took them a little while to adjust to playing in the low light of three flashlights propped on a chair, but once they got started, they had no problems.
Alec was on a roll and just about to buy 'Boardwalk' when he heard a sound that distracted him.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, dropping the hundreds he had in his hand.
"Hear
Alec nodded his head, forming the same image in his mind as his sister.
"But think how proud they'll be tomorrow when they see we've survived a hurricane!" Winnie looked to Alec, hoping he could see a light at the end of the tunnel, as she was attempting to do as well.
"But what about tonight? What are we going to do?"
Winnie looked from her brother to her watch. It was only 8:00. Usually at this time of night, they were still outside playing in the back yard or watching a favorite show on TV. It was hard to imagine what they would do to occupy their time besides worry.
"Let's try the radio again. I found some new batteries." Winnie said, hoping a channel would come in with some news. "Maybe we can get an update on things."
Alec grabbed the radio first and began fiddling with the knobs. It took quite a few minutes, but he finally tuned in a station.
"The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for Manatee and Sarasota" the announcer said in a stern voice. "Winds will be at gale force. People should remain indoors and protect themselves accordingly. Do not attempt to go outside unless it is an emergency. There is flying debris due to winds⦠winds that are capable of doing plenty of damage. Please follow all hurricane safety guidelines and be safe!"
Winnie and Alec stared at the radio like the voice was speaking directly to them. When the man was finished with his report, he had a guest on from another area speaking about the damage in his town. Winnie directed her focus away from the box and onto her brother.
She tried her best, once again, to think about what her parents would do if they were here. Her dad would most likely be bustling about, making sure everything was secure and safe. She and Alec had already done all they could in that department. Doors to the outside were locked, and the basement door was securely barricaded from whatever was trying to come up. Her mom would probably try to get them involved in something that would take their minds off the howling wind and distant claps of thunder. She thought about this for a moment and decided to give it a try.
"Hey, Alec, we still have a while before bedtime. Want to play a game?" She wasn't sure how her brother would handle this suggestion.
"First off," he said, sounding rather bold in his answer, "I don't think we are going to bed tonight. At least Iâm not. And secondly, it depends on what game you are thinking of."
Winnie almost laughed at his diplomatic way of dealing with her. "Your choice," she said, knowing this would delight him.
She knew he would choose Monopoly. He always did â every time he was given the opportunity. That was his favorite board game, and the least favorite of Winnie's. She had given him the choice, though, and she had anticipated his answer. So she was prepared to go with Monopoly.
She took the flashlight, and Alec's arm, and carefully walked in the dim light to the hall closet where they kept the games. He held the light while she reached and moved items to finally get to the box. Alec was already mumbling about how he was going to beat his sister and leave her broke and in jail. Winnie was inwardly surprised that her diversion was starting out so well.
The children played for almost an hour without even mentioning the storm. It took them a little while to adjust to playing in the low light of three flashlights propped on a chair, but once they got started, they had no problems.
Alec was on a roll and just about to buy 'Boardwalk' when he heard a sound that distracted him.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, dropping the hundreds he had in his hand.
"Hear
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