The Birthday Flood: Part 3

By JOY WATSON, Illustrator ANNA-MARIA CRUM

After breakfast, Joseph and Anthony stood on the back veranda and watched the rain.

The stream that ran along beside the fence had become a rushing brown river. The lawn was completely covered now, and water was lapping at the door of the garden shed.

"I hope we get a real flood like you see on TV sometimes," Joseph said to Anthony.

"Joseph," his mother called, "get dressed. The stream will be over its banks soon, and we might get water inside the house. We'll have to raise things up so they don't get wet. You and Anthony will have to help."

"OK, what should we do?" asked Joseph.

"For a start, we'll pull out all the bottom drawers and put them up on the table. And the stuff on the floor of the pantry will need to go in boxes and be carried upstairs. We'll have to collect anything that's on the floor and could get ruined. But we'll need to hurry, OK?"

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $7.80

Age group: 9-10 years