Another Update on My Fractured Arm

Instead of strips, I got pink. Oh well. But there is good bone formation. Yessssss! Don't you guys think that we need some rain? I do.

Update

My arm is doing better now. We might be able to get a hold on some x-rays, then I could probably load 'em up on here. My next appointment with the doc is on Monday. I'm really hoping that I can get a hard cast on then. How does pink and orange strips sound?

Great

I broke my arm on the fourth of July. And it had to be my left forearm. I write, throw, and eat with that arm. I broke both bones, but not all the way. The docs did have to reduce my arm. Don't worry, I was asleep. When I was awake, everything was dizzy, and I was confused.

Chapter Seven

Clara sat on her bunk. She was at the home now. Some of the other teens had tried talking to her. But she ignored them. Clara didn’t want to talk to them. Her parents were both dead. How could she have any hopes? Maybe by next year, she would be in an adopted family.

          Clara then thought of how Agnes had freely given her life for that baby and Jason. That baby and family had been strangers to them. But she had given her life, so that they could have their baby. Where was Agnes in the hurricane? She hadn’t talked to her during the whole trauma.

          Forget it. Agnes was still helping her. And if Mom was still alive, Agnes was probably helping her. But Agnes had said that she would lose two loved ones because of the hurricane. Then again Agnes could have meant that one would die and the other was somehow alive.

          Jason continued to bang on the door. Where was Clara? A note fell to the ground. “Oh no!” breathed Jason. He didn’t want to pick it up. He already knew what it said. Jason ran back to the car. He could barely turn the keys in the ignition. The little Pomeranian in the back whined.

          He almost went way over the speed limit. It seemed like forever, but he finally got to the children’s home. He ran to the front. The lady sitting there looked at him. “What’s that Pomeranian doing?” the lady asked. “I need to see Clara Wildewood,” said Jason. “Sit in this room,” said the lady. “I’ll get Clara,”

          Clara looked up. The door had opened to the dorm. “C’mon Clara; you have a visitor,” Clara got up. Her face was red from crying. “You need to wash up first,” said the lady. Clara walked into the Lady’s Room. But even water couldn’t take away the pained look on her face.

          “Hurricane Ike is almost nothing now,” said the lady. “Hurricane Ike took my parents,” said Clara. No more was said. They turned into the room. Clara ran to Jason. “Why didn’t you stop them? You said that you had everything under control!” Jason bowed his head. “It’s my birthday, my parents are gone, I end up in the children’s home, and you come in with a Pomeranian!”

          “This Pomeranian is for you,” said Jason. Clara looked at the light brown dog. She held it in her arms. “Thank You Jason; and I am sorry,” she said. “It’s okay,” said Jason. “I’m going to adopt you,” said Jason. “It’ll take a while, but maybe they will let me take you out of here,”

          Clara looked at Jason with surprise. He was going to adopt her? That was just crazy. How would that work? But she remembered Agnes’s message, “Go with the flow,” Okay Agnes, if that’s how it’s supposed to be. Thought Clara.

          Clara waited. Jason received his first pile of paperwork towards adopting Clara. He would be allowed to take Clara out in a few days, but she would be checked on often.

          Everything had turned out alright. Agnes had guided them through the whole hurricane. She was with them. Even right now, she was with Clara and Jason. Clara knew in her heart that Agnes would stay with them.

The End

Chapter Six

          The shelter worked really well. It was an old building that was on stilts. At least it looked old. Jason guessed that the hurricane would continue blowing through until about midnight that night. That would be in about six hours. Clara laid down on one of the beds in the building. She had to get some sleep.

          Clara awoke hours later. Jason was shaking her. “Get up!” he exclaimed. Clara looked out the window. It was all calm. Dawn hadn’t arrived. Lightning flashed in the distance. “Say goodbye to Hurricane Ike,” said Jason.

          Jason and Clara were soon running through the island. There was major flooding in some spots. Other spots, the water wasn’t deep. When they were next to the ferries, Clara saw a boat. “Over here!” she screamed.

          Hours later, Jason and Clara were on a plane back to Kansas. The truck had been washed away. The sun shone in the late afternoon hours. Fireworks were seen in the distance. It was July 3^rd.  And what an exciting, yet sad trip. Her parents wouldn’t be with her to celebrate her 13^th birthday.

          Jason left Clara at her house for the night. He would check on her in the morning. Clara walked into her room. Everything was so familiar. But there were so many things wrong. Her parents weren’t there. But they had only found Mr. Wildewood’s body. Her mom might still be alive; hanging on maybe just barely.

          The next morning, Clara decided that she couldn’t take it anymore. She picked up the phone. “Jason” she said. “Hi,” replied Jason. “I really can’t take this,” said Clara. “What about the bills?” she asked. “It’ll be O.k.,” said Jason. “I have everything under control,”

          The door bell rang. Clara hung up the phone and walked over to the door. Great. It was the police. She opened the door. “Yes,” she said. The chubby police officer cleared his throat. “You are officially an orphan now. One parent has been found dead and the other is missing. Now it is off to the children’s home. You have twenty minutes to get into fresh clothes.”

          Clara began to shake violently. She could barely walk up the stairs. Great way to spend her birthday. In about ten minutes, she was ready. Clara walked out the door. The police officer escorted her into the car. Clara took one last looked around her neighborhood. Then Agnes’s voice was heard. “Don’t worry. Just go with the flow,”

          Clara climbed into the car. “So,” said the cop. “What happened?” Clara thought for a second. What had exactly happened? “We went on a chase with my deceased sister’s best friend, Jason, down in Corpus Christi. We went into Port Aransas, and that was where the real trouble started. The storm surge hit, and washed us apart. Jason was able to climb into a ferry, and found my Dad’s body. Mom was never found. I ended up on the same ferry that Jason was on. That was how we found each other. Then when the hurricane was over, we were rescued and came back here,”

          There was a long period of silence. A tear trickled down the cop’s cheek. “All kids,” he finally said, “that I pick up to take to the children’s home have a story. But I have never heard a sadder story then yours. You didn’t do anything, neither did your parents,” he finished. “Oh by the way,” said Clara,” Today is my birthday,” 

Chapter Five

          The wind blew so hard, that it hurt to face it. Every building on the island was empty. Jason groaned. “We should’ve bought the truck,” he said. The others nodded. “Or just stay on Corpus Christi,” suggested Clara. Jason pulled out the barometer.  The barometer read 29.50 in. It was falling speedily.

          Clara looked around the abandoned island. She spotted a small building with the door swinging open and close. “This way!” she yelled over the wind. The small group fought their way towards the building.

          But just as Clara reached the door, a terrific roar was heard. All looked to the right. A towering fifteen foot wave was looming closer fast! Before the group had time to think, the wave crashed over them. Clara was pressed to the ground. She bobbed to the surface seconds later. No one was in sight.

          Clara tried to tread the water. But she soon found that the water was carrying her. All she had to do was stay calm. She found it hard though. Clara wondered where Jason and her parents were. What two would she lose during this hurricane?

          Jason was washed out into the bay. He saw the ferries. He might be able to climb up the sides. He swam with the waves, using all of his strength. Jason finally touched the side. With great force, he swung his body up and over. He rested on the deck, breathing heavily. Another wave washed over minutes later. When everything cleared, Jason saw the body of Mr. Wildewood.

          Mrs. Wildewood found herself clinging to a palm tree. The waves thrashed about her. Her heart cried out to her husband, child, and friend. She was moving farther away from land. Her hopes for survival were weakening.

          Clara was soon gently slammed into a boat. Or was it a boat? She hoisted herself up. She didn’t have quite the strength. Just then, the water rose suddenly. She was now a few inches from the top. Clara breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was out of the water.

          Jason shook with fear. Who knows what had happened to the others. Could they have possibly drowned too? He shook his head. Clara was too young to die; like Agnes. He had to find them. He ran around to the other side of the deck.

          Clara looked up. In the faintly rising dawn, she was barely able to make out the figure. Something told her who it was. “Jason!” she screamed. The figure ran towards her. “Are you alright?” asked Jason as he knelt next to her. Clara nodded. “Where are the others?” she asked.

          Jason bowed his head. “I haven’t seen your mother; but I have seen your father. He’s dead Clara,” Clara couldn’t believe it. “We still have to find Mom,” she sobbed. “She can’t die,” Jason hugged her. “I know,” he said, “but for now, we need to survive,” Clara nodded. “Yes,” she said.

          Jason found a little room on the ferry. Inside were lifejackets! Both hurried to put them on. Suddenly, all was quiet. The ferry stopped rocking, and the thunder was silenced. Sunlight streamed in from under the door. Jason turned and opened the door.

          The whole world was in such peace. The dark clouds surrounding them weren’t dark. They were white; pure white.  “It won’t last long,” said Jason, “It’s the eye. We have enough time to find a substantial shelter and food,”

          The other side of the hurricane struck two and a half hours later. The winds were blowing in the other direction now. Mrs. Wildewood was still hanging onto the tree. But she was out of the hurricane. Every now and then, she saw someone else in the water; dead. Fortunately, none of them were from her party.

          Mrs. Wildewood finally saw a sight that meant rest. A tropical island. It looked deserted. At least she would be on land. Now all she had to do was get onto the island. Mrs. Wildewood jumped off the tree and began to swim for the shore. 

Chapter Four

In Wichita, they stopped in Wichita for lunch. Mr. and Mrs. Wildewood went inside, but Jason and Clara stayed in the truck. “Did you hear it?” asked Clara. Jason nodded. “Who could it be?” wondered Clara. Jason shrugged. “We’ll find out sooner or later,” Both of them climbed out of the truck, and inside McDonalds.

          Within thirty minutes, it would be time to get back on the road. That was just enough time for them to eat a quick lunch, and for Jason to check the hurricane; Hurricane Ike. So far, he was strengthening up steadily. Clara watched it intently. That voice whispered in her ear again!

          “It will stay at a Category Four, but it will almost hit Category Five. You will lose two people that are close to you, no matter what you do,” Then, the voice stopped. But Clara suddenly realized who it was. It was Agnes! Her head spun. She couldn’t stand straight. Clara collapsed to the ground.

          Jason heard something thump onto the ground behind him. He looked down and saw Clara lying there, as pale as snow. He bent down. “Clara,” he said, “wake -up!” Mrs. Wildewood watched nervously. She was shaking. Clara’s eyes opened. “Wh…wh…what happened?” she asked. “You fainted,” said Jason.

          Clara sat in the truck, drinking some water. “Feeling better?” asked her obviously concerned mother. Clara nodded. They had just passed over the Kansas-Oklahoma border. It was about three in the afternoon. She pulled out a book, and started reading.

          It was ten at night, and they were about an hour away from Corpus Christi. Hurricane Ike was approaching rapidly. Clara could see the occasional glow from the hurricane. She began to get excited. This was going to be probably the most adventurous time in the summer. But she remembered Agnes’s warning.

          An hour later, they ran into a stream of traffic going to the other direction; back north. The highway going southbound was completely open. No one would go towards the hurricane. The lightning bolts were seen over the ocean. Clara put on her backpack. They would be getting out soon.
          When they got to the ferry leading over to Port Aransas, all of the ferries were being closed down. One last one was going over to the other side to be rigged down. Mr. Wildewood asked if they could take the truck over with them. The ferry man shook his head. “With this wind; it’ll be dangerous. Ya’ll could leave your truck on this side and aboard the ferry on foot,”

          It was their only choice. Corpus Christi wasn’t the best place to watch a hurricane. They had to be right on the ocean. The four fought their way onto the ferry against the driving wind. The rain was beginning to fall in a light mist. The ferry made its way ever so slowly out to the bay. A wave occasionally splashed over the side. The ferry docked onto the other side. They waved their thanks to the ferry man, and headed for the beach.