DELUGE, DEATH AND DISEASE STRIKE DAYTON
Chapter One
It was just like any other day in Dayton. The townspeople were riding their horses and driving their automobiles, to complete their everyday chores and errands. The women were dressed in Victorian clothing and the men were dressed in nice pants, with their shirts buttoned, a coat jacket, nice shoes – and umbrellas were everywhere. It was exactly March 22, 1913, and later that evening the city of Dayton city basketball semi-finals would be played.
As the whistle blew Rob jumped up and received the ball. He passed it off to Joe Smith and the team proceeded down the court. Joe passed the ball to Rob and he made a shot. As the first half ended the Stivers Basketball team was down by eight with the score 34 - 26. Stivers High was led by their six-foot three inch senior center Rob Brownly. Stivers came out in the second half and they were playing like this was the last game of their lives. As the third quarter ended Stivers was only down by five. In the last minute Stivers was down by two. With six seconds to go Rob Brownly sank a lay up and was fouled! If Rob made this foul shot he would win the game for Stivers. As the shot went up he prayed it would go in. The gym was silent. Rob shot the ball, Swish! Stivers won the game! They were going to the City championship to face Steele High School!
After the game Rob walked up to Margie, one of the Stivers cheerleaders.
“Great game Rob” she said.
“Yeah but it got a little close there at the end” Rob said.
“Do you want to walk home with me and Ruth” Rob asked.
“Yes that would be fine.”
“So how is Mitchell doing with his cold and all?” he asked. I’ve heard he’s been feeling pretty bad these last few days,”
“He is doing much better. He’s still is sick but he is showing signs of improvement” she replied.
“Well that’s good. The last thing that needs to happen is for somebody to get sick with school being so busy.”
“Yeah Mrs. Walters’s science class is getting to be very challenging” said Margie.
“Well let’s hope it gets easier the next few weeks.”
“So Rob what are your feelings on the championship game against Steele?”
“I am just going to play my best and hope that we win. I am sure that the other guys feel the same way.”
“Yeah, I sure hope that Stivers brings home the championship instead of Steele I can imagine the look on each and every one of their faces. It will be so funny!”
“I know this is my first year but I’ll be glad to see the championship come to Stivers!” exclaimed Ruth.
“Well, I’ll see you guys tomorrow on the way to school.”
“Bye Margie” said Ruth and Rob.
As Ruth and Rob came inside they each did a few chores and they went to bed.
We finally made it just one more game. Rob thought over and over. All I need to do is do an amazing job and be on my game, he thought.
The next morning Rob and Ruth got up to their daily morning routines. Mom fixed breakfast; they got dressed and took off to school.
“Hi Rob, hi Ruth” Margie said as she met them at her house.
“Hey Margie” the others replied.
When they got to school they each went to their classes and proceeded on with the school day. At the end of the day Ruth and Margie headed home while Rob walked to his job. Rob is one of the clerks at Adamson’s Grocery Store on East 3rd St. His grandpa owns Adamson’s and someday Rob wants to take over the business. He also is hoping to get a raise this year. He only makes about two hundred dollars a year, and he hopes to make about three hundred this coming year. When Rob finally got to work, his grandpa was about to head home.
“I need you to close the store up tonight. I have to go home and take care of grandma. She is starting to get sick,” said Grandpa.
“It seems like the whole town is getting sick!” exclaimed Rob
“Why do you say that son?”
“Well Mitchell is sick, Grandma is sick and Mama is starting to get a cold.” “It must just be something going around the city.”
“Let’s hope so.” Rob said with a shaky voice.
After his shift Rob started his walk home but something caught his eye inside the window of Adamson’s.
“Could it be?” Rob thought.
It was a brand new basketball that had just came out. It’s the one that’s lighter and has small nubs on the hide so you can keep better control of your shot. There was only one problem - the price was marked at six dollars.
“I don’t have six dollars right now!” Rob thought to himself. “I guess I will have to wait until the end of the month when my paycheck comes.”
As Rob walked home he couldn’t stop thinking about the ball. When he walked through the door he went to tell Ruth about it.
“I don’t care about your stupid ball, Rob…” she snarled
“Well it’s not mine yet, and it’s certainly not stupid!” Rob said defensively.
“Well I still don’t care.”
“Okay, then I’ll just tell it to the guys tomorrow. They’ll care!”
Rob and Ruth walked to school with Margie as usual. When they reached school, Rob and Margie went on with their schedules. Ruth went on to Mrs. Jones’s science class and she met her friend Jane at the door.
“Hi Ruth” Jane said as she greeted Ruth at the door.
“Hi Jane” Ruth replied.
“Everyone get into your seats,” said Mrs. Jones.
“We will talk after class.” They both agreed.
After school Jane and Ruth walked back to Ruth’s house. When they got there they ate and then they went up to Ruth’s room.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow,” Jane said delightfully.
“Why do you say that?” asked Ruth
“I finally get a shot to make the freshman cheerleading team!”
“Oh, that’s right; I forgot that the tryouts were tomorrow.”
“Yeah they are. Do you think that I will make the team?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t you? You would be a great cheerleader.”
“Oh I don’t know. Sometimes I just get nervous about that kind of thing.”
“Don’t worry you will do fine”
“Thanks Ruth”
The girls went down stairs and started talking with the rest of the family.
“Where is grandpa?” Ruth asked
“He is probably at his house.” Mom replied
“I’ll call grandma just to make sure.” Said Ruth
“Okay”
“I just got off the phone with grandma and she said he is probably at the old Pub downtown.”
“I’ll go and get him,” said Rob
Rob started to walk to the old Pub. Once again he walked past Adamson’s and saw the basketball that he desperately wanted. When he got to the pub Grandpa was a little bit tipsy. Rob was very surprised. He had never seen his Grandpa like this.
“We were fighting the Confederates and there was one looking right at me. He was asking for it. So I shot him in the head and said, ‘Have a nice long rest!’” Grandpa rambled.
Rob noticed that Grandpa was rambling on about his service in the Civil war. So he took him home to Grandma and he walked back home.
“I just got back from the Pub and I found Grandpa there.” Rob told his grandma.
“What was he doing there?” grandma inquired.
“He was a little tipsy, and he was rambling on about his old war days.” Rob answered”
“I don’t like to see him like this.”
“I don’t either. Well I am going to bed. See you in the morning.” Rob said.
“Okay good night.”
The next morning, Rob and Ruth met Margie at her house and they walked to school. The twenty-minute walk was miserable because it was pouring down rain – and pretty darn cold too.
“This rain is relentless.” Margie complained
“Yeah, no kidding - I just hope it will slow down a little.” Rob said
“Yeah make that a third.” Ruth agreed
“Well I will see both of you after school.” Ruth said as she entered the front door to the school.
Chapter Two
“Hey Mama, I’m going over to the Brownly’s house now”.
“Alright Maggie, but be home in time for dinner.” “I’ll try. Bye!” “Bye Maggie.”
“Wow I sure am bored of playing these board games”, said Rob with a flat voice.
“I am too Rob, especially for the past three nights!” Maggie said.
“Maggie, at least we are not at our house playing with little Marie for three days, trust me. When I was sick at home, she got a little annoying”, Mitchel replied.
Rob had an idea…“Well, why don’t we all go downtown to Adamson’s?”
“Yes, that sounds like a good idea”, said Mitchel.
“I’ll go ask Mama right now…come on Ruth”, said Rob.
“Yes Rob, what do you need?” said the busy Mrs. Brownly.
“Ruth and I were wondering if we could go downtown to Adamson’s and see what’s new.”
“Rob, it is pouring down rain out there!” said Mrs. Brownly.
“I know Mama but we have been stuck inside for a long time, and we just want to get out of the house for a while.”
“I don’t know, Rob.”
“Please Mama? We will be home by dinner. I promise.”
“Well alright, Rob, but be careful, and take some umbrellas with you. Oh…and put your boots on too.
“Thanks Mama.”
“You’re welcome… and Ruth are you sure you want to go? You can stay home and help cook dinner. I could use the help you know.”
“Naw, I want to go with them.”
“Alright, you kids, have fun. Be careful…I love you.”
“Love you too, Mama” they both said.
They stepped outside into the pouring rain and opened their umbrellas.
“So, Maggie, how does your father feel about you being the new captain of the cheerleading team?” said Rob curiously.
“Just fine, Rob.”
“Really? I thought he would be angry.”
“No he’s not angry at all …because I haven’t told him yet.” Maggie exclaimed with a sly grin.
“Maggie! The city championship is coming up against Steele and you haven’t told him yet?”
“No”.
“Well, you need to tell him when we get home Meg” said Mitchel.
“Your brother is right Maggie” Ruth concurred.
They all stepped onto a streetcar.
“So, Ruth, are you coming to the championship game?” asked Maggie.
“Yes, of course…”
“Mitchell, maybe you and Ruth should go together, you know, as friends,” added Maggie.
“Yeah, maybe we should” said Mitchel.
“Rob, aren’t you nervous that the championship is coming up? And your team hasn’t be able to practice for a couple of days…right?” asked Maggie.
“No, not really Maggie because I have skill, and we all know that,” said Rob confidently.
“Yeah, yeah” said Maggie.
“Well aren’t you nervous that the biggest game of the season is coming up and you haven’t been able to practice your cheerleading either?” asked Rob.
“Oh, she has been practicing alright. Last night she made me move all the furniture in the living room so she could practice. And she still broke the lamp on her back springy-flippy thing” answered Mitchel.
“It is a back hand-spring, thank you very much. And I would have landed it, but someone was screaming to Marie in the other room and scared me” said Maggie somewhat defensively.
“You two need to stop fighting, geez I have never seen twins fight this much” said Rob.
“Well, we’re fighting because we have been stuck together for 3 whole days and no break at all…because of this rain.” said Mitchell complaining.
The four stepped off the streetcar and onto the drenched ground.
“It is just not fair how Mitchel can play sports and I can’t. My father is just too worried I will not learn how to be a proper lady…and you know what? I don’t care about propriety. I will just worry about my cheerleading, and my own future, and he can worry about his” said a feisty Maggie.
“Now calm down Maggie” said Rob.
“Okay let’s talk about something else,” Ruth added.
“Yeah, like my basketball career…” chuckled Rob.
“Ahh, come on, like that one time I took the ball and shot a perfect shot from the other side of the court only to make it at the clock!” said Rob excitedly.
“Ugh, not again,” they all moaned.
“Have I told this story before?” Rob answered with fake surprise.
“No, not at all. Just a few dozen times!” said Mitchel. They all laughed.
They all kept walking through the rain on their way to Adamson’s.
“Wow, I sure do wonder when this rain will let up” said Mitchel.
“Yeah, I know. Wouldn’t it be weird if we got flooded again like in 1866” said Rob.
“Well let’s hope not! You guys know how scared I am of drowning” said Maggie almost shaking.
“We sure do. Last summer, when it was so hot, you wouldn’t go near the water,” reminded Mitchel.
“Oh, and you won’t skate in the winter until it is below 10 degrees,” said Rob.
Maggie replied, almost in tears, “Well, sorry for being afraid of drowning! Let’s change the subject okay?”
The kids were now on the Third Street where Adamson’s was located. “Um…” said Ruth focusing on the street.
”What is it Ruth?” asked Rob.
“The street…look,” said Ruth nervously and pointed. “It has about an inch of water on it.”
“Ruth, it has been raining. What do you expect?” asked Rob sarcastically.
“Come on, we’re almost to Adamson’s. I want out of this rain. Let’s go!” said Mitchel.
The boys were talking while Maggie tried to reassure Ruth. “Look, we’ll go to Adamson’s and be safe and dry and looks at the new shoes they have on display”
“But…” said Ruth.
“What is it?” asked Maggie.
“The water seems like it getting deeper” said Ruth plaintively.
“It is ok; we’re almost there,” said Maggie.
“Okay if you say so”, Ruth stated fearfully.
The kids kept walking through the non-stop rain until Ruth said, “Maggie! Look the water it is about up to my ankles!” Ruth screamed.
“Gosh Ruth, mine to!” “Boys, we need to go home. ”Maggie ordered.
“What - why?” asked Rob.
“Yeah look how close we are!” Mitchel chimed.
“Yeah, but look at the water on the ground, it is about to our ankles. And it wasn’t like that before” Maggie protested.
“You girls just need to calm down!” said Rob.
Then Maggie stated flatly, “Well fine, but if you two won’t come back with us we’re going anyway.”
The two girls turned around and started walking back.
“It won’t be that fun without them, let’s go,” said Rob. “
Mitchel agreed.
The four started back to the Brownly’s home, looking for the nearest streetcar. “Well now what are we gonna do when we get back to the house?” asked Rob.
Then they heard church bells.
“Why are church bells ringing?” asked Rob.
“It’s Tuesday.” retorted Mitchel, looking confused.
“Is it some kind of holiday?” Rob asked anxiously.
“Yeah, let’s hope so” Maggie said.
Then, they heard the screams of people inside their houses telling them to come inside. They had heard them screaming about the levee.
“Did they just say the levee broke?” asked Mitchel nervously.
“I don’t know, let’s keep going” said Maggie. Then the kids heard a loud WHOOSH!
“What in the world was that?” yelled Rob.
“Maggie, I’m scared” said Ruth with tears welling up in her eyes.
The four turned around to see a huge wave of yellowish foamy water come toward them down Third Street.
“Run!!!” Maggie screamed.
The four kids turned and ran for their lives.
“Link arms when I say so!” Maggie ordered in her loudest voice.
They kept running and running. They saw people in their houses looking out their second story windows acting like they were watching a horror movie. The kids all turned and made it down to Fourth Street. Rob turned around to look and nearly tripped. Maggie caught him, set him aright, and kept going.
“The water is real close Maggie,” said Rob.
“How clo…”she was about to ask. She turned around and saw the water rushing right up to them. “Lock arms NOW!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. They all locked arms. It was Ruth on the far left, Rob next to Ruth on the right, then Maggie, and then Mitchel.
They were hit by the freezing water. They were bobbing up and down out of the water. The four would go under and come up for air, only to be swept back under the horrible water. The current was so strong and hit them so hard it broke the linkage between Maggie and Mitchel.
“Mitchell!!!” Maggie grabbed his hand and tried to hold on. They broke apart again and were separated.
“Maggie!” Mitchel screamed as he bobbed up above the torrent.”
“Mitchel!” Maggie cried while trying to break free of Rob’s grip.
“Let me go!” she screamed at Rob.
“No Maggie! I’m not gonna let you go!” Rob screamed. She kept trying to break free. She thought she was watching her twin brother start to die. She watched him drift away down an alley and hit a building, then smack into an hysterical horse. She knew he would die, she just knew it. “Let me go! We were brought into this world together and that is how we are gonna leave together!” Maggie was crying.
“If you go with him you will die…shouted Rob.
“I’m gonna drown anyway!” she screamed fighting back tears.
While still trying to break free from the grip, Maggie thought to herself - as she was envisioning her life passing through her racing thoughts
“My brother is dead. He is never coming back. I’m not a twin anymore! I can’t believe this is happening. Nothing matters anymore. My cheerleading doesn’t matter. Father is probably dead too; along with mother. I hate water! I hate floods, I hate Dayton, Ohio. That time mother let us go shopping by ourselves and we laughed so hard until we cried, because he knocked over the mannequin. That first time he made me go skating, the first day of school. Oh, gosh, no graduation! Now only me! What am I going to do!?”
They kept fighting the rushing under the water as it sucked them under; and then back up, and smacking into floating debris. They were all so exhausted. They heard the church bells, people screaming, wood planks breaking, and people yelling at them from their houses. Rob got caught on the floating sign of a building and got stuck. “Grab onto me!” he screamed. Maggie grabbed on to him, Ruth got swung around and hit a building but managed to cling to him. A man from the second story window saw them, reached out, pulled at them with all his might, one-by-one, and dragged them inside a building through the window.
Chapter Three
Anna Reinhardt thought about her childhood as she handed bowls of soup to a young girl and her mother. She looked around and noticed a lot of parents crying over their lost children. Anna thought…Oh, how awful! How awful it would be to lose your child! I don't know what I would do if I lost my son. He's all I have.
Anna lived with her father in Oakwood. She had lived with him all her life – all twenty seven years of it. She hadn't imagined ever leaving. Her father had always been the one person who helped her through her times of dark sadness. When Anna was thirteen, her mother caught a severe case of typhoid. Her mother’s suffering was short lived. Anna had always felt personally guilty about her mother’s death. She thought if she had spent more time with her that maybe she wouldn't have caught the disease. She never had a real reason for blaming herself, but thought that it was better to blame herself than to blame her mother. She had always planned on following in her mother's footsteps by becoming a very polite, loving wife and mother. She suffered a serious case of deep sadness through her late teen years and into early twenties. Since then, Anna constantly needed people around her. Her father helped her through it the whole time. Oh what a great man her father was! He never left her side if she needed him. He always enjoyed her in his home and she enjoyed being there. She didn't consider leaving her father’s home because she couldn’t imagine being without him.
Ever since her husband had been stationed in the Army, in Kentucky, she felt like she needed to stay extra busy. She donated to charities, helped out with community functions, and babysat. She also wanted to be the best mother to her son like her mother and father were to her.
This evening, as she looked around and saw crying young children in their frightened mothers’ arms, her thoughts drifted to her son - Thomas. But just as quickly, her focus drifted back to all the struggling souls she saw in front of her. She had to feed these helpless people before she could even think of going home.
Chapter Four
Soaking wet, nearly drowned and shivering, Maggie, Rob, and Ruth looked around for something to dry off with - quickly. Amazingly, they had been pulled into a linen supply store. There were towels and blankets everywhere. As they scrambled for the blankets and moved to sit together in a corner, a dog was lying on a blanket in the corner and sat up to look at them. The dog made a quiet whimper and the kids didn't even notice their rescuer behind them until he said, "Shh, shh. Quiet girl…" As they turned around, the man asked, “How are you kids? I'm Jack Burnside, owner of this here linen store."
“Well, Mr. Burnside, I'm Maggie, this is Rob, and this is Ruth,” said Maggie with a short cough. “We’re so grateful you saved us…you saved our lives!”
“This flood ain't doin' no good for any of us." Mr. Burnside said without much hesitation in his voice. In fact, he seemed rather calm.
A few silent seconds passed, and no one could think of anything to say.
"Is your dog pregnant Mr. Burnside?" asked Maggie. "Well that's a good eye you got there! Yep! Sure is! She's due any day now.
"Well thank you for allowing us to stay here. It's very generous of you. If there is any way we could show our gratitude, let me know." said Maggie as she started to pet Maybelle, the dog.
"Oh, you kids are fine here. Just get warm and rest. “By the way, why’s that girl just standing in the window and not talking?” asked Jack pointing to Ruth standing in the corner.
Chapter Five
"Wow, it's really coming down out there." Rob said, informing the others.
“I sure hope your dog, Maybelle, is alright, because she looks a little restless." Maggie stated.
Jack calmly replied, "Oh, she'll be fine. She's tough as nails. She once saved me from a fire back when I lived in Indiana. If she did that, she can make it through some high water."
As Maybelle started whining louder, Ruth backed away quickly. "What's wrong with her?" Rob asked.
"I think she's having her puppies!" Maggie said. Here comes the first puppy!" yelled Maggie, so loud now that the Maybelle started to cry. As the first puppy came into the world, the group looked at each other teary-eyed. It was certainly an emotional day.
As everyone sat there, watching the puppies sleep, all of the sudden, a voice came out of nowhere. "Hello? Is there anyone in there? Hello?" called the voice, faintly. The group all ran to the window in the front of the building facing Fourth Street and opened it. Looking down, Rob saw a man in a boat with a flat bottom.
"Hello sir! We're up here!" Rob called to the man. "Hello! I'm here to rescue you. I can help you to the boat! How many of you are up there? I'll take you to the National Cash Register Company to their relief station. There are food, dry clothes, water, and warm beds." called the man.
"I'm afraid we have a problem though. There are four of us, and my dog just had eleven puppies." called Jack. "Well we can try." yelled the man. "Put em' in a box or somethin' and send em' down. You're only about six feet up."
Stuffing blankets in a cardboard box, the group carefully wrapped the newborns in soft linen. As Rob held the box out in the cold, the man grabbed it and set it down next to him, making sure it was covered from the rain.
"Okay, I think you can just ease yourselves down into the boat. Let down the girls first." yelled the man. "Oh and by the way, my name's Teddy Reinhardt." he said. "Okay Mr. Reinhardt, here I come." called Maggie. As she jumped out the window wrapped in blankets, Teddy grabbed her and helped her in.
"My name's Maggie Weaver." she said. "Nice to meet you ma'm." Teddy said. "Here’s Ruth, coming down!" called Rob. "Okay, here comes the boy!" yelled Jack. After Rob jumped down, he caught a pile of blankets thrown down by Jack.
"I'm Rob Brown and I'd like to thank you very much for coming to our rescue sir." thanked Rob.
"It is my pleasure, boy!" answered Teddy. "I'm Teddy Reinhardt."
Jack Burnside looked around one final time to make sure they hadn't overlooked anything important. "Alright! Here I come with Maybelle! As Jack Jumped down, a big piece of lumber floated down the street and smacked into the boat, sending three puppies and Ruth flying out of the boat. As Ruth fell, she hit her head on wall with full force and dropped into the water. As she disappeared below the surface, Rob dove in behind her.
"No!" screamed Maggie, crying. The men held her back. Rob appeared at the surface gasping with Ruth over his shoulder. "Hur-ry!" Rob stuttered while plopping her in the boat. "I think she's uncon-scious." he said shaking violently. Rob was pulled into the boat and the rest was a blur.
Chapter Six
As the boat landed, Teddy ran into NCR holding Ruth in his arms. He yelled to the women working in medical care that she hit her head and went underwater. As the women took her, Teddy saw Jack give the puppies and Maybelle to two other nurses. Then he went and got Rob and Maggie out of the boat and introduced them to his daughter, Anna Reinhardt, who was working at the rescue center.
"Hello. Come with me please. I'll get you to dry clothes, warm food, and clean water." said Anna.
"Thank you." said Maggie in a quivering voice. Then she looked down the hallway where they were taking Ruth to the emergency area. Maggie burst into tears and hugged Rob who was watching as well. Anna looked on too.
"Oh, I'm sure your friend will be alright. She looks tough." she said sympathetically. "Here, come with me. I'll stay with you until you hear word that your friend is alright." Anna said. "Really, you don't have to." said Rob as he was clutching Maggie.
Chapter Seven
The initial shock was over with, but they knew Ruth was in serious trouble. She was still unconscious. After examining Ruth, the doctor came back out to talk to them. He did not have good news.
“After examining Ruth I have come to the conclusion that she has a serious head injury, along with a severe case of dysentery,” the doctor said softly. “She probably caught the disease from swallowing water after falling out of the boat. With Ruth being unconscious the only think we can do is give her medicine intravenously. She already has a high fever and is trying to vomit.”
When the horrible diagnosis was over with, the three went in to spend some time with Ruth. They wanted to comfort her because there was nothing more they could do.
Chapter Eight
Though unconscious, Ruth could still hear and feel the presence of her brother and her friend. Inside her thoughts, she knew she was not alone. It was a comfort.
Dysentery! What is this horrible disease? Couldn’t I have just died when I fell? I feel so sorry for my family. They have been so good to me. I’m sorry for Rob, especially. He has been my brother and my closest friend..
Maggie, I’m so sorry for Maggie. She is such a good friend – one of my only friends. She listened to me when I needed someone to talk to and talked when I needed to listen. I don’t think I could have lived without Maggie.
Mitchell was also a great friend. He always stood behind all of us. I hope Maggie, Rob, and Anna find him.
At least I got to the point where I was having fun at school. This year, I joined the high school drama club and I’m taking drawing class. I only wish I could have been more outgoing so I would have had more friends.
The future was looking bright for me. I wanted to become an artist and paint beautiful landscapes. Marriage and kids would have been nice, too. Maybe I could have married another artist. I wanted so badly to raise a family.
I heard the doctor say I’m probably going to die in a few days. All my dreams of the future are gone but I did have good friends, Rob and Maggie.
Chapter Nine
For two days, Anna, Rob, and Maggie had been exchanging stories about their lives and made small talk. Gradually, Ruth had been getting worse, so they passed the time at her side telling each other about friends, family, and sports.
“Wow, Rob what a great story!” Anna exclaimed, “I can’t believe you won the game at the last minute like that. You must be a very good center. Too bad the final game has been canceled.”
Maggie also had some sports stories. “I took up archery when I was 9. My dad doesn’t like it though. He thinks I should do ladylike things, “Maggie explained. I also became a cheerleader when I was in the ninth grade. I became captain of the squad just before Rob’s final basketball game, but I don’t think that matters much now.
“Our team won the semi-finals so we were going to get to play the finals,” Rob started to explain. “With the flood, the great game between Stivers and Steele won’t happen and I won’t get to play my last high school game and Maggie won’t get to cheer in hers.” But in light of what has happened, it seems a little silly.
When Maggie and Rob took a break from talking, Anna filled the space with stories of how her mother died and about her husband in the Army. The story that was most memorable for Rob and Maggie was the story of her son. Anna’s stories made him sound so sweet. It was a shame he was growing up with his father so far away.
The three new friends decided that they would have to get together after this whole thing was over – and maybe Ruth could recover.
Chapter Ten
“She’s in a better place now,” Maggie consoled.
“At least her suffering is over,” Anna added.
Rob sobbed. “I know, but I will miss her so much. Ruth was one of my best friends and someone I could trust.
Maggie responded, “Yes Rob, I’ll miss Ruth too but there is nothing more we can do for her now. We need to find our families now.”
After two days of suffering Ruth had slipped away. She never woke up from unconsciousness. She had been pasty in the face and clammy all over. Her lips were chapped and her fever was high the whole time. Also, the dysentery gave her horrible diarrhea and dehydrated her very quickly.
With Ruth resting in peace, Maggie’s thoughts turned to her brother. Who, as far as she knew, had not been found.
Chapter Eleven
“Anna! Rob! I have to find Mitchel!”
“Calm down Maggie, let’s go check other floors. Maybe he checked in through a different section.” Anna comforted. They went to another check-in hall and found the coordinator. She said, “A Mr. Weaver checked in about a day and a half ago. He was rescued from an office building by our rescue boats. You can go on to the men’s bedroom and ask the supervisor there.”
“Thank you,” Maggie said hurriedly as she ran for the steps.
Once Maggie, Rob and Anna were up the steps Rob asked the man at the door to speak to a Mr. Weaver.
Maggie was overjoyed. Not only was her brother here but her father was too. They talked about how Maggie, Rob, and Ruth were rescued and about Ruth’s tragic death.
They talked about what happen to Mitchel after he was washed a way. He was swept down a side street and ended up being washed right into a building. He was rescued by a boat 6 hours later.
Maggie headed up stairs to see her mother. Rob decided to see if his mother was there as well.
Chapter Twelve
“What! You’re telling me you don’t have a Mrs. Brownly checked in,” Rob hissed angrily.
“Sorry Sonny, I don’t have a Mr. Brownly either,” the coordinator said sympathetically.
Now knowing he was an orphan and without a sister Rob was in the grip of great sadness.
Chapter Thirteen
Meanwhile, Mrs. Weaver talked to the girls about her rescue and painfully told them about Mr. and Mrs. Brownly’s death. She said that the Brownly’s were out looking for them because of the rising water. They had walked just under half a block when a giant wave from a broken levee came down over them. Neither of them surfaced. Mrs. Weaver witnessed this while calling to the Brownlys from an upstairs window.
Epilogue
As a new member of the Weaver family Rob, donated much of his time to clean up Dayton - along with Mitchel, and Mr. Weaver. Rob and Mitchell helped with the horse stables and cleaned out buildings. Mr. Weaver helped by rebuilding doors and windows. Maggie and Mrs. Weaver fed many of the workers. Though they would mourn the loss of Ruth and Mr. and Mrs. Brownly forever, their lives had more meaning. Being survivors of the flood, they held the responsibility to make sure this sort of thing didn’t happen to anyone else in Dayton, again.
