Free Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret Page B

dropped to my knees, then stretched out on my back. Instantly, a wet tongue began licking my face.
    â€œPansy!” Josie said. “Leave that boy alone.”
    â€œPuppy kisses! Puppy kisses!” BeeBee said.
    â€œPansy loves kids,” Norm said. “Twice she dug under our fence and ran off; both times she went straight to the school yard down the street to play with the kids. We finally extended the fencing a foot down into the dirt so she can’t get out, but she loves it if kids stop and talk to her when they walk past.”
    I petted the coarse tan fur with my left hand. I still had the towel wrapped around my burned right hand and I wasn’t in any hurry to take it off. “You’re a good dog,” I said. “Good Pansy.”
    â€œSomeone has made a bonfire on the beach,” Norm said.
    I sat up and looked. Far below, a small circle of light flickered against the dark sand, not far from the water’s edge. Clumps of people stood near it, looking like miniature action figures. I wondered if one of them was Daren.
    â€œI can see the hotels too,” BeeBee said. “The Totem Pole Inn is still burning, but the fire is nearly out at the new lodge.”
    I gazed down at the remains of the two buildings.
    â€œI suppose you lost your clothes,” Josie said, “and your luggage.”
    â€œYes,” I said.
    â€œI lost Bill,” BeeBee said. “He burned up.” Her lower lip quivered and tears trickled down her cheeks.
    â€œBill was her teddy bear,” I explained.
    â€œNow don’t you cry, honey,” Josie said. “Here, use my handkerchief. It’s my favorite one.”
    BeeBee took the handkerchief and mopped her face.
    â€œWhen your parents get back,” Josie said, “we’ll take them and you to our place for the night. We have two extra beds and you kids can have sleeping bags on the screened porch. It’ll be much better than trying to find a hotel room.”
    â€œCheaper too,” Norm added. “No charge.”
    â€œCheap is good,” BeeBee said.
    â€œWe can lend you pajamas and clean clothes for tomorrow,” Josie said. “I have an apple pie in the freezer. Won’t take long to heat that up.”
    â€œDon’t we still have Arnie’s old bear?” Norm said. “Maybe BeeBee would like to have that.”
    â€œArnie’s our son,” Josie said. “He has kids of his own now, but he never wanted to keep any of his childhood toys. Yes, I believe the bear is packed in that box in the spare bedroom and in need of a child to love him.”
    â€œThat’s nice of you,” BeeBee said. “Thank you.”
    I could tell BeeBee was relaxing, comfortable with this kindly couple. I was glad to be with them too, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the tsunami warning. Was it a good idea to wait here, or should we be running farther inland? Just because there had been false alarms in the past didn’t mean that’s what would happen this time.
    I wished Mom and Dad were on top of the hill with us instead of—instead of where? I assumed they were still aboard the Elegant Empress but I didn’t know that for sure.
    â€œWhat time is it?” I asked.
    â€œFive twenty-eight,” Norm said. “If there’s a big wave coming, it’ll be here soon.”
    â€œDo you know what happens to ships when a tsunami strikes?” I asked.
    â€œI heard about some fishermen,” Norm said, “in Japan, I think it was. They were out to sea when a tsunami went right under their boats and they never felt it. Didn’t know anything had happened until they returned home and found their village in ruins.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Josie said. “So don’t be worrying too much about your mom and dad. They’re probably safer out on the water than anywhere else.”
    A happy shout went up from the people near the bonfire, then died