Carrie and the Great Storm by Jessica Gunderson

Carrie and the Great Storm by Jessica Gunderson

Author:Jessica Gunderson [Gunderson, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Capstone;Stone Arch Books; Girls Survive; Jessica Gunderson; Matt Forsyth; Galveston; Texas; Galveston Hurricane of 1900; Great Storm of 1900; Action & Adventure/Survival Stories; Historical Fiction; 9781496583857; 9781496584472; 9781496583901
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2019-06-28T00:00:00+00:00


I dropped onto the raft. We were safe for now.

Unless the water kept rising.

I tried to ignore the thought and turned to Henry. “We’re safe here,” I told him. “Should we play riddles?”

Henry didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on something over my shoulder.

I turned to see a large, dark shape bobbing in the water. It looked like a ship with a lighted mast, sailing through the city. Then I realized it was an entire house, ripped clear off its foundation. Lamps were still burning in the upstairs windows. A face appeared in one of the windows, looking out.

The house floated out of sight, pushed by the driving wind. I knew it was only a matter of time until the house collapsed. I tried not to think about what would happen to the people inside.

“Let’s play riddles,” I said again, trying to sound strong.

I had to distract Henry from the horrors around us. Riddles was Henry’s favorite game to play whenever we traveled to Houston on the train or went on a carriage ride.

“I’m flat as a leaf, round as a ring. I have two eyes, but I can’t see a thing. What am I?” I asked.

Henry didn’t answer. He just stared into the water.

“A button!” I said.

Henry didn’t seem to hear me.

I started to worry. Henry was always happy and ready to play. Now he seemed just a shell of himself.

Even if we survive this storm, will Henry ever be himself again? I wondered. Will I?

The trees provided some shelter from the storm, but not enough. At any moment a roof tile spinning through the air could smash our heads. I knew we needed more protection. I grabbed what I could of debris that floated past, propping boards and pieces of plaster onto the raft to act as a shield against the wind.

I scooped a large bowl from the water and held it out to Henry. “Here’s a hat,” I said. He looked at me but didn’t make a move. “Hold it over your head for protection,” I told him.

Henry did as he was told but didn’t say a word.

Time ticked by. I was so wet and so cold. Colder than I’d ever been in my life. I held onto Henry, hoping we could keep each other warm. Instead we shivered together as wind battered our makeshift shelter.

Then Henry lifted his arm and pointed.

Just a few feet away, a hand stuck out of the water. Then the face of a young black boy emerged. “Help me!” he cried before the water swallowed him up again.

I gasped. The boy was so close to us. I had to help him.

“Carrie! Do something!” Henry begged.

I stretched out my arm, trying to grab the boy’s hand. But I couldn’t reach him.

Just a little farther, I thought. I leaned over, straining to reach.

Our fingers touched. The boy’s hand curled around mine. But our hands were slick with rain, and his fingers slipped from my grasp. Before I could take another breath, I toppled off the raft and plunged into the water.



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