The black clouds had taken on an odd greenishcolor. They all seemed to be going in differentdirections.
"Do you think it's a grasshopper attack?" Annieasked nervously.
"No, I think it's some more weird weather, like thathailstorm," said Jack. "Let's go before it gets worse."As they started back to the tree house, the windpicked up.
Jack and Annie looked over their shoulders. Thegreenish clouds had dipped down close to the prairie.
"I feel like something awful is about to happen,"said Annie.
"Hurry!" said Jack. "Run!"He and Annie started running through the grass.
When they got to the ladder of the tree house, theylooked back.
In the distance, twisting had dropped out of thestorm swirled into a funnel shape.
The dark funnel started twisting across the prairie.
Jack's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
"It's a twister!" he said.
"Oh no!" cried Annie.
The twister was whirling and tearing across thegrass.
"Let's get out of here!" said Jack. He grabbed therope ladder and started up.
"Wait!" said Annie. "We have to help Miss Neelyand the other kids!""They have a storm cellar!" Jack said. "That's whatour book said!""Yeah, but it's only their first day in the dugout!
They might not know about it!" said Annie. "Therewas a rug on the floor!"Annie is right, Jack thought.
He looked up at the tree house. All they had to dowas climb up and leave, and they'd be safe.
But what about Miss Neely? What about Will andKate and Jeb?
"Okay!" said Jack. He jumped down from theladder. "Let's go back!"He and Annie started running back toward theschoolhouse.
They ran as fast as they could across the prairie.
The roaring sound of the twister followed them.
Suddenly, the wind threw them to the ground!
Jack clutched the tall grass, trying to stand. Whenhe got up, he grabbed Annie's hand. He pulled her up,too.
With all his might, Jack held on to Annie andpulled her along.
The roaring twister came closer and closer.
The wind ripped up grass and earth around them.
The roar grew deafening.
Jack and Annie could barely stay on their feet.
Finally, they reached the dugout.
They tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.
They banged on the door with their fists. "Let usin!" Annie shouted.
No one opened the door. "They can't hear us!"yelled Jack.
But the sound of the twister drowned out his voice. |