The Birthday Flood: Part 4

By JOY WATSON, Illustrator ANNA-MARIA CRUM

"Will the water really come into the house, Mum?" asked Anthony, after they had been working for a while.

Mum straightened and looked around. "I honestly don't know. I hope not, but the water's getting pretty deep out there. Let's have a look."

They stood on the back veranda and peered into the rain. The driveway and paths had disappeared now, and the shed was surrounded by water. They couldn't even tell where the stream was, because the water had spread all the way across the backyard.

I wish I could swim in it, thought Joseph.

"We'll need to roll up some towels and put them along the bottoms of the doors to slow down the water." Mum was looking at the water lapping against the doorstep. "And then we'll ..." Her head jerked up. "What's that noise?"

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $7.80

Age group: 9-10 years