Finding the Upside of Down by Dionie McNair

Author:Dionie McNair [McNair, Dionie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Finch Books
Published: 2016-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

It was beginning to get light by the time the State Emergency Service volunteers pulled up in a huge truck and a four-wheel drive. Rain still fell, lightly now, but the wind had dropped to almost nothing. It was freezing outside. Tabitha watched through the front window as her father discussed the accident with a tall, heavy-built man in very dirty orange overalls. It was brief after which her father returned to the shelter of the veranda and the man in orange overalls returned to the truck. Curious about what had been decided, Tabitha pulled on her coat and slipped out the front door.

Her father looked down at her as she came to stand silently beside him. “Go inside, Tabitha. It’s cold and wet out here and there is nothing you can do.”

“What’s happening, Dad?” she asked.

Her father looked surprised at her question, and Tabitha almost smiled. He had the right to be shocked, seeing it was the first interest she’d shown in the world since being released from hospital. It felt good to care even just a little about someone else’s hurt above her own. Perhaps there is hope for me yet.

“They’re going to cut the tree up and remove it from the roof. If they can, they’ll prop up the garage to get the cars out. If there’s too much damage, I’ll have to pay for professional demolition and rebuilding.”

“The tree is huge, Dad, and some of it’s over the house. At least the house is okay and Mum’s car’s not damaged.”

“Don’t worry, Tabitha. These guys are fully trained. Apparently they’ve been out for half the night doing rescue jobs like this. Maybe you and your mum would like to make hot drinks and some food in a while? I bet they’re not only cold and wet, but hungry.”

Tabitha turned to look as the crunch of heavy boots broke the quiet of the early morning. She watched with interest as ten people in orange overalls advanced up the drive. They had helmets with lights, and two had chainsaws and what looked like green cowboy chaps on, while another couple had poles, huge spotlights and extension cords. Behind them came two more—one tall and skinny with a cheeky grin, and the other, a woman, small and slight in build. They both wore climbing harnesses. She also carried a pole with a small chainsaw on top and wore green chaps. A little behind the first six were four others carrying two ladders between them. The first team was obviously two more women, one slim and elegant with a tangle of red hair poking out from under her helmet and the other a robust young woman at least a dress size bigger than Tabitha.

She couldn’t help staring at these apparitions in orange as they went to work. The small woman scurried up the ladder, secured herself to ropes held by others, and took the small saw on a pole from her partner. He scrambled up behind her. Even

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