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“Hang on to me,” Elsa shouted to him She found the split in the fabric, wrenched the flaps open, stumbled out with the children The tent whooshed past thes with it

The money

A gush of water hit Elsa so hard she almost fell

Lightning flashed; in the light, she saw utter destruction Garbage and leaves and wooden crates floated past, riding the torrent, there and gone in a second

Holding tightly to her children’s hands, she slogged against the rising tide of water and made her way to the Deweys’ tent “Jean! Jeb!”

The tent collapsed just as the Deweys crawled out

The sound of people screa rose above the howl of the storm

Elsa saw headlights out on the road, turning Co their way

She spat rain, pushed the wet hair out of her eyes, and yelled, “We need to go that way, toward the road”

The two fa hands Elsa’s boots filled with muddy water She knew her children were barefoot in this cold, ater

Together they fought their way toward the headlights There was a row of cars parked on the hts pointed at the cahts A talla brown canvas duster and a hat that sagged in the rain “This way, ma’am,” he yelled “We’re here to help you”

The Deweys made it to the row of volunteers Elsa saw someone hand Jean a raincoat

Elsa looked back Their tent was gone noashed away, but the truck was still there If she didn’t get it now, she would lose it

She pushed her children forward “Go,” she said “I have to get the truck”

“No, Mom, you can’t,” Loreda shouted