Free Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin Page B

“Where are the people?”
    â€œThe people whose homes were destroyed?”
    â€œYes. Are they dead?”
    â€œHeavens, no,” says Uncle Weldon. “They’re living in shelters. Hatford High has been turned into a shelter. You might be going back to school on Monday, but the high school kids won’t be going back any time soon.”
    â€œI’m glad the people aren’t dead,” I say. “Do you want me to wake up my father?”
    Uncle Weldon shakes his head. “Let him sleep. I’ll put the groceries away, you and I can have breakfast, and then I’ll go get the truck. Your father can help me unload the building supplies from it. We’re going to start work on the temporary bridge today.”
    Uncle Weldon and I eat breakfast together at the kitchen table. When we’re finished, we cross our fingers and touch our hearts with them. Then I go to my room and spread a map out on my bed. It’s the map of New England from our garage. I feel happy because it was folded properly and all the creases were going in the right directions. Next I open a phone book. It’s our county phone book. Last night I looked through the business pages and found the section listing animal shelters. There were more than I had expected.
    I have everything I need: the map, the phone book, the phone, a little pad of paper, and a pen.
    It’s time to put my plan into action.
    HOW TO LOOK FOR A LOST DOG, BY ROSE HOWARD
    Â Â 1. Circle your hometown on a map.
    Â Â 2. Circle the towns where dog shelters are located. (Consult the phone book.)
    Â Â 3. Next to each town, write down the names of the shelters located there.
    Â Â 4. Find a compass, place the point on your hometown, and draw a circle all around your town. This circle should be about 15 miles from your town.
    Â Â 5. Draw a bigger circle that’s about 30 miles from your town.
    Â Â 6. Draw a bigger circle that’s about 45 miles from your town.
    Â Â 7. Draw a bigger circle that’s about 60 miles from your town.
    Â Â 8. Make a list of the shelters in each circle, one list per circle.
    Â Â 9. Phone the shelters, starting with the list of shelters that are closest to your town.
    10. Keep phoning until you find your dog.
    I take the map and my lists into the kitchen. My father is awake now, finishing his breakfast and talking to Uncle Weldon. I hold up the map.
    â€œWhat’s that?” asks my father.
    â€œIt’s my plan for finding Rain.” I show him and Weldon the circles and my lists. “I’ll start calling the shelters in the smallest circle and work my way out,” I say.
    â€œVery organized,” says Uncle Weldon. “A very smart plan.”
    â€œPlus it will keep you busy,” says my father.
    There’s a chance that my father wants me busy so that I won’t ask him any more questions about letting Rain outside without her collar.
    â€œI have a new homonym,” I announce. “‘Guise’ and ‘guys.’”
    Then I take the map and the lists into my room and close the door.

 
    26
    Someone Calls Me Ma’am
    The first shelter on my list is called Creatures of Comfort. I’m not sure what that means, but it doesn’t matter. Creatures of Comfort is located just seven miles away, outside the village of Effingham. I dial the number.
    â€œHello,” says a voice.
    â€œHello,” I say. “My name—”
    But the voice continues talking. It sounds like it belongs to a robot. “Due to flooding, all services at Creatures of Comfort have been suspended. Sheltered animals are temporarily being housed at the Holiday Inn in Bellville. Please call back at a later time, or visit the Holiday Inn. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
    The voice stops talking.
    I look down at my list. I had planned to cross out each shelter after I called it, but now I can’t cross out