Tornado

by Kirbi Fagan

  Andie nodded, her eyes lingering on the dog. When Tony saw she wasn’t moving, he nudged her in the ribs.

  “There’s nothing we can do for him,” Tony said. “But we have to —”

  “I know, I know, we gotta get out of here,” Andie said sadly. Her voice rose when she added, “I bet one of those old cabins by the lake has a basement! It’s worth a shot!”

  Tony nodded. “Good call,” he said.

  Tony turned the handlebars of his four-wheeler and hit the accelerator . . . and felt the engine sputter and then die.

  “Let’s go, bro,” Andie said. “Move it!”

  Tony tried to restart the engine. And again. The wind picked up behind him. As he tried to start the engine once again, he heard trees at the edge of town snap like twigs underfoot.

  “I can’t get the engine to turn over!” Tony yelled.

  CHAPTER 6

  MAD DASH

  “Get on!” Andie shouted.

  Tony tried to start his engine one last time so they could ride away together. Nothing happened. Dead, he thought.

  Tony grunted and jumped off his four-wheeler. A moment later, he was seated behind his sister on her four-wheeler, his hands gripping the back rack tightly. She turned sharply and revved the engine, spinning them back onto the trail. Back the way they’d come.

  “I’m in first place again,” Andie shouted as they took off.

  Tony smirked — and held on for dear life. Andie drove like a maniac under normal circumstances. With a deadly tornado thrown into the mix, Tony realized she’d been holding back.

  In minutes, Tony’s neck was sore from the wind slapping against his helmet. Branches and loose debris from Branson pelted him from every side. The roar of the funnel cloud was nearly deafening. For the first time since the storm began, Tony wondered if they were going to survive.

  A tree fell into the road just ahead of them. “Hang on!” Andie cried. She veered sharply, guiding them into a ditch. The off-road was bumpy, forcing Tony to grip the back rack even tighter.

  Tony heard a big, metal crunch behind him. As he turned back to look, the landscape changed before his eyes. Trees toppled smaller ones, which were then tossed into the air. With utter disbelief, Tony watched his abandoned four-wheeler disappear into the funnel cloud.

  I hope Dad insured that thing, Tony thought.

  “Will we make it to the cabins?” Andie cried, her voice stuttering from bumps in the ditch. “It sounds like this twister is getting closer each second!”

  Tony didn’t know what to say. At any moment, a tree could tip over and smash them into the ground like a twisted game of Whack-a-Mole. Getting to the cabins in time was the last concern on his mind.

  “We just need to find a basement or something underground!” Tony said.

  “I hope you brought a shovel,” Andie said. “We’re a little short on basements out here!”

  Tony grinned. He was about to respond when he noticed a worn sign up ahead. In faded, stenciled letters were the words CAMP LUDWIG.

  “Turn here!” Tony said. “Maybe we can find shelter at the camp.” It was a long shot, but they were out of options. The abandoned cabins were too far away, and the twister was right on their heels.

  Andie turned without argument. Tony held on tight as the four-wheeler’s fat tires bounded over the rough ground toward the summer camp’s site.

  The dingy little buildings up ahead looked sad and small, seemingly cowering in fear.

  “Stop!” Tony cried. The four-wheeler tore up a huge swatch of grass as they jerked to a halt. They hopped off the four-wheeler and ran to a nearby cabin.

  Andie looked the little structure up and down. “Is there a basement?” she asked.

  The wind howled around them. Trees fell nearby. Tony spotted a small window near the bottom of the side of the cabin. He ran over, dropped down onto his butt, and kicked with both feet. The old wood broke apart, shattering the glass.

  “Yes!” Tony said. “Let’s go!”

  He poked his head in through the dusty, cobwebbed hatch and looked around. Oh, no, he thought.

  Tony pulled his head out. “There’s no basement!” he shouted to his sister. “It’s just a crawlspace!”

  CHAPTER 7

  LAST DITCH

  All Tony had seen inside were a bunch of wooden beams, some rusty pipes, and what he could only imagine were animal nests. There wasn’t any more protection inside than there would be in the rickety old cabin itself.

  As Tony brushed the cobwebs from his hair, he saw Andie scanning the campsite, her eyes darting from building to building. She’d stopped chewing her gum, and her face was pale.

  Tony glanced around at the other cabins as well. To his dismay, he saw that all of them were built the same way. Every single one had a crawl space. No basements, he realized.

  The wind grew even stronger. Tony knew their time was almost out.

  “You saw what that thing did to the town,” Tony said. “These flimsy cabins won’t keep us safe.”

  Andie nodded. “So let’s get back on and drive away from here,” she said. “That thing is going to be here any second!”

  They turned to run toward the four-wheeler just in time to see a cabin at the outer edge of the campground explode in a cloud of splinters and shingles. Pieces of wood whistled through the air, one of which embedded itself in the side of the neighboring cabin.

  Tony tugged his sister by the arm and said, “Run!” Andie ran alongside him, and the two headed toward the other side of the campground. Another cabin fell beneath the tornado. Chunks of debris and leaves swirling around them made it nearly impossible to see where they were going.

  Tony squinted. A large, rectangular opening in the ground lay up ahead.

  “The pool!” Tony shouted. He ran faster while making sure Andie stayed in front of him. “Get in!”

  “Are you serious?” Andie shouted back. “How would that help us?”

  “It’s below ground!” Tony said. He grabbed his sister by the arm and they reached the edge of the pool. There, along the side, was a faded number 9. Together, they dropped over the edge. The bottom of the pool was filled with old, soggy leaves, a few fast-food cups, and a pathetic, deflated beach ball.

  “Get your back against the side,” Tony shouted. “We’re sitting ducks here!” Andie cried.

  Tony grinned, remembering the mock drills they’d had in the basement of their school. “Then play the part: Sit down and duck your head!”

  Andie gave him an incredulous look. “You’re crazy!” she said, but she did what he’d suggested.

  The two of them curled up and pulled their heads down between their knees, covering their helmets with their arms.

  Above them, Tony heard what remained of Camp Ludwig being torn to shreds. Cabin walls flew over their heads, raining chunks of wood on them. A canoe smashed into the lip of the pool and split in half, the remains landing within a few feet of them.

  The wind was unbelievable. Tony felt his body shifting back and forth despite his best efforts to stay still. He held his breath, certain he and Andie would be snatched up into the sky and tossed somewhere into the woods.

  As the tornado swirled near them, he felt the incredible wind pressure squishing him against the side of the pool. Tony struggled to turn his head. He saw the base of the tornado rip through the nearest cabins and trees, erasing them with destructive force.

  And it was heading straight for the pool.

  Tony closed his eyes. “Hold on!” he cried, his voice barely audible through the blasting winds. “It’s coming for us!”

  Andie didn’t respond.

  CHAPTER 8

  BLOWN AWAY

  After what seemed like forever, the air started to settle. Everything around Tony went silent. He kept his head down, too afraid to look up and see that his sister was gone.

  Then he heard Andie laughing. “Oh, wow,” she said. “What a rush!”

  Tony lifted his head and opened his eyes. His crazy sister
was lying on her back next to him. She didn’t seem to care about the wet, leafy sludge that lined the bottom of the pool. There were at least three cabins’ worth of destroyed lumber scattered around the remains of the camp’s canoe.

  Tony let out a sigh of relief. “Now who’s the crazy one?” he asked.

  Andie continued to chuckle while looking up at the sky; it seemed to Tony like she was laughing in its face. She dabbed the cut on her leg. Amazingly, neither of the twins had been otherwise injured.

  “We made it,” Tony said, smiling.

  “That thing was after us,” Andie said. “It was like it didn’t want us messing with the ranger tower, and it was mad.”

  “Tornados are unpredictable,” Tony said with a shrug.

  “Whatever, brainiac,” Andie said. “That twister was out for our blood.”

  Tony shook his head. He’d let her think what she wanted. What mattered was that they were alive. His mind wandered to the people in Branson, which made him suddenly think of . . .

  “Our cabin,” Tony said. “Dad.”

  Andie went pale. “I hope he’s all right,” she said quietly.

  Within minutes, the twins climbed out of the pool and made their way through the rubble, heading for the main path.

  * * *

  Walking through the woods wasn’t easy. But after an hour and a half of lifting, jumping, and climbing, Tony and Andie Shermer finally found their dad’s cabin.

  And it was still in one piece.

  Their little brother raced across the damp yard toward them. “Hey you guys!” Joey shouted. “You missed it! We saw a tornado!”

  Dad emerged from the doorway, relief washing over his face. He joined Joey and the twins in the front yard.

  “Yeah,” Tony said, ruffling Joey’s hair. “We saw it too, buddy.”

  Once Dad was finished obsessively checking the twins for injuries, they told him about their adventure.

  “I was worried sick,” Dad said. “I heard from the neighbors what happened to Branson. We were afraid maybe you’d ended up there.”

  “Almost,” Andie said. “We saw the tornado chew that place up and spit it out.”

  Tony hung his head. “We lost both of the four-wheelers, Dad,” he said.

  Their dad shrugged. “Don’t care,” he said warmly. “As long as you two are safe. Four-wheelers are replaceable. My twins aren’t.”

  Andie chuckled. “We should get faster ones, actually,” she said. “That stupid tornado almost caught up with us.”

  Tony had to admit it: his sister was fearless.

  Dad smiled and playfully socked Andie in the shoulder. “I thought I told you no daredevil stuff,” he said.

  “In her defense, Dad,” Tony said, “she didn’t have much of a choice this time.”

  Andie smiled from ear to ear.

  * * *

  That night, the four of them lit fireworks on their dock. Joey ran along the beach with a sparkler. Understandably, Branson canceled the fireworks — but the Shermers made do with what they had.

  “After today, fireworks seem even more boring,” Andie said. She held a sparkler in her hand. Little flecks of light popped and fizzed from the metal stick. A bandage was wrapped around her leg.

  “Yeah,” Tony said. “But I’m okay with boring for a while.”

  What his sister said next was more shocking to Tony than anything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

  “Yeah,” Andie said. “Me too.”

  SURVIVING A TORNADO

  Despite what you may have heard, tornados can happen at any time. They’re usually invisible until they pick up dust, objects, and other debris, so if you can see a tornado, then you’re already in danger. Thus, it’s important to be prepared for whenever early warning signs appear.

  PREPARATION

  • With your family, choose an emergency safe space that’s away from windows. A cellar, closet, or bathroom at or below ground level is best.

  • Decide ahead of time who will bring your pets to the safe space.

  • Identify where utility shut-offs are located, including gas, electricity, and water. Have the necessary tools nearby to shut them off ahead of a tornado. Decide who will shut them off.

  • Keep a fully stocked first aid kit, flashlights, and batteries nearby.

  • Above all else, determine if your city or town has a designated safe place or shelter — and how far away from home it’s located.

  WARNING SIGNS

  A dark, pale green sky can be an indicator of a tornado. Other signs include heavy hail, dark and low-lying clouds, and a roaring sound in the air. When any of these appear, begin your preparations! Lastly, make sure you keep an eye on weather watches via television, radio, or SMS alerts (text messages). A Tornado Warning means that a tornado is on the ground or has been detected. Seek shelter immediately!

  DURING THE TORNADO

  If you get caught in a tornado outside your home, don’t stay inside a car or try to outrun the tornado. If you’re outside, find an open field or low-lying ditch that is far away from items that could injure you if flung around by the tornado. Duck down, lie flat, and wait out the storm.

  AFTER THE STORM

  Don’t return to your home or go outside until the all-clear has been given! Make sure to document all damage to your home and belongings with a digital camera. That way, filing an insurance claim will be easier.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Thomas Kingsley Troupe has written more than thirty children’s books. His book Legend of the Werewolf (Picture Window Books, 2011) received a bronze medal for the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Thomas lives in Woodbury, Minnesota, with his wife and two boys.

  ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

  Kirbi Fagan is a vintage-inspired artist living in the Detroit, Michigan, area. She is an award-winning illustrator who specializes in creating art for young readers. Her work is known for magical themes, vintage textures, bright colors, and powerful characterization. She received her bachelor’s degree in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design. Kirbi lives by two words: “Spread joy.” She is known to say, “I’m in it with my whole heart.” When not illustrating, Kirbi enjoys writing stories, spending time with her family, and rollerblading with her dog, Sophie.

  GLOSSARY

  abandoned (uh-BAN-duhnd)—

  left alone, or left behind without needed care or protection

  adrenaline (uh-DREN-uhl-in)—

  a substance that is released in the body of a person who is feeling excitement, fear, or anger. It causes the heart to beat faster and gives the person more energy.

  casually (KAJ-oo-uhl-ee)—

  without much effort or concern

  minimal (MIN-uh-muhl)—

  very small or slight in size or amount

  overgrown (oh-ver-GROHN)—

  covered with plants that have grown in an uncontrolled way

  rivalry (RYE-vuhl-ree)—

  a state of competition

  soggy (SOG-ee)—

  soaked with water

  timber (TIM-ber)—

  wood from a tree, or a tree that may one day be used as wood for building something

  WRITING PROMPTS

  After reading the tornado survival tips after the end of the story, what do you think the siblings in this story should have done differently? Make a list of things they could have done — or not done — to increase their chances of survival.

  Write a short story about surviving some other kind of natural disaster. What happens? How do you survive it? Write about it.

  Create your own preparation plan for a tornado. List all the members in your family, including pets. Assign responsibilities to each person while explaining why. Where would the safest place in your home be? If you live in an apartment, where is the tornado shelter located?

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Which sibling in this story do you like more? Why? Discuss your reasons.

  Do you or your family go to cabins for vacations
? If you could go anywhere, where would you want to go for a vacation?

  Which illustration in this book is your favorite? Why?

  SURVIVE! is published by Stone Arch Books

  A Capstone Imprint

  1710 Roe Crest Drive

  North Mankato, Minnesota 56003

  www.mycapstone.com

  © 2016 Stone Arch Books

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available at the Library of Congress website.

  ISBN: 978-1-4965-2556-7 (library binding)

  ISBN: 978-1-4965-2562-8 (paperback)

  ISBN: 978-1-4965-2566-6 (eBook pdf)

  ISBN: 978-1-4965-8895-1 (eBook)

  Designer: Hilary Wacholz

  Design Elements: Shutterstock: Epsicons, NEGOVURA, squarelogo, punsayaporn, Catz, MaluStudio, In-Finity

  Summary: Andy and her brother Tony are four-wheeling in the woods near their family cabin when they notice the sky has turned a sickly shade of green. Moments later, the sky erupts into a raucous tornado. The twins dodge falling trees and debris in search of shelter only to face an even bigger dilemma: is it safer to keep moving or hunker down beneath less-than-ideal cover?