Ya could tell Momma was a good organizer. She jumped right in, and began givin' instructions. She sent us down the street ta use our new mind-readin' abilities ta find people who needed help but couldn't call out. In the meanwhile she went around organizin' the adults. It ain't just kids that get all discombobulated, grownups gotta get snapped out of it too.

We each took different sides of the street ta cover more ground. Freck mind-spoke ta ,me, "I hear somethin' comin' from the Smith house. Do ya think I should go in and find out what it is?"

"Maybe not yet Freck. Momma might want an adult ta go with you."

I was right. Momma overheard us, "Please do not go do that without supervision. Floors could give way, walls could crumble, and furniture might fall on you. Any misstep could make matters worse for someone we are attempting to help.

"I have contacted your daddies and they tell me that most of the men are already on their way back to their homes. Those who are not, are attending to injured fellow workers. Some small fires have started downtown. Men and women including Emma Anderton are scrambling to extinguish them before they get out of control. The women are gathering all the children together. They can keep a better watch on the group than on individuals. Some are staying with the kids to keep them safe, occupied, and away from danger. The rest are gathering needed supplies to bandage and comfort the injured. A few of us are working to close the gas lines going into the houses.

"Oh Wishes, here comes your daddy now. I will have him help with the gas line shut offs. You two continue your searching and report back, but remember do not under any circumstances enter a home alone."

We did as we was tol' and didn't go inside any houses. Momma was right. Some looked so unstable that a gust of wind might bring 'em crashin' down. Most of the yards were a big mess with branches, holes, and berms that weren't there before. The sidewalk was as broken up as the road. We had ta pick our way carefully through all the debris just to go from house ta house.

We listened with our ears and minds. Freck said, "I sure hope we don't miss anyone. If they're unconscious we won't pick up any thoughts, like when Ren was hurt in the cave. If we don't find them, they're gonna have to do a house-by-house search. By the looks of some these places a poke with a stick would take 'em down."

"Better not get tied in knots over that Freck. We don't know if anyone is missin'—yet."

Freck agreed, "Meantime do ya wanna go back and report on the Smith house? We know someone needs help inside. I'll stay here and keep listenin' in case there's anythin' more."

"Good thinkin' Freck. I'll go back and tell 'em."

We could've communicated the situation telepathically, but the only ones who could hear us would be Momma and Daddy. It would be quicker, but would raise eyebrows if folks realized what was really goin' on. Instead I got within shoutin' distance and yelled, "SOMEONE NEEDS HELP AT THE SMITH'S!"

Everyone, in what I decided to call Elm Street command central, heard me. Two men, Mister White, and Mister Davis looked up and then went inta their garages. They came out with ropes and flashlights.

Mister Davis was a farmer and musta come direct from the fields. He was wearin' striped overalls, and a red plaid shirt. Mister White was an accountant who worked for the bank. He left his suit jacket and tie at home, but still had on his shiny black shoes. They headed painstakingly over the ripped up road ta the Smith house. Freck was waitin' outside. They roped up cave explorer style. After a short discussion Freck went in first. That was prob'ly 'cuz she was the lightest and they could pull her up if'n a floor should collapse. The first man followed, then the second. I held my breath hopin' ever'thing was okay. In a few minutes Mister Davis came out carryin' Grandma Smith in his big farmer arms. She was conscious and waved to let ever'one know she was okay. Freck mind-spoke ta me, "She tripped on a step and twisted her ankle. She couldn't call out on account of a bad cold. Please get a couple of blankets. One for her ta sit on and one ta wrap around her,"

Momma was instructin' ever'body ta do a head count to make sure no one was missin'. Elm Street was pretty lucky. Other than Grandma Smith's twisted ankle, we had bumps, cuts, and scrapes, but nothin' serious. Even still, it was decided no one should sleep indoors. Those with campin' tents set them up on any flat spot they could find. Those without, used their clotheslines and sheets. The kids were thrilled. Ta them it was an adventure. Ta the parents, not so much.

Momma said that we was needed ta patrol other streets. I saw a person die that day. We went one street over to Palm. Mizzus Grayson was in charge of Palm Street control central. Momma asked if they needed our help. They didn't. So we moved on.

The next street was Fir. There are quite a few retired folks who live on Fir Street. No one had taken charge as far as I could tell. The people I saw looked really disoriented. One old man, who had managed to get himself half-way dressed, was stumblin' 'round with one shoe on, and the other in his hand. I asked him if he needed help. "Are ya Robbie?" He coughed. I shook my head no. "Do ya knows where Robbie is?"

"No I don't, but if ya would set down for a spell, I would be happy ta look for him. Tell me sir, what does he look like?"

"I don't rightly recall." He looked down at his feet. "And I cain't remember where I put my t'other shoe."

Momma crossed the street ta join us. She slid his shoe outta hand and said, "Why here it is."

He said, "I'm mighty grateful mam."

Momma smiled and helped him put on his shoe. She could have said that he was an old fool and pointed out that the shoe was in his hand the whole time, but she didn't. She didn't belittle him or cause him embarrassment. She chose kindness. That made me proud.

In a calamity people draw closer t'gather. It's instinct, I suppose. Those who are able to help, do. Those who need help discover that it arrives unexpectedly. It ain't just familiar people. Strangers appear. People you don't even know will risk their lives ta save ya. In emergencies selfishness disappears. Why does it take a tragedy ta bring out the best in people? Why I wouldn't be surprised if that mean 'ol bully, Butch Tiegs, was helpin' out.

Freck and I worked our way down Fir. We came across the big, white, low-income apartment buildin' filled with old folks, and immigrants. The entire front fell off. You could see straight inta the rooms. People was trapped. The doors ta their rooms was smashed by floors above makin' it impossible ta exit inta a hall. The only way out was through the missin' front. One guy on the third floor was lying on his belly lookin' down at the rubble. Freck called out, "Sir, it ain't safe ta get too close to the edge!"

"Que?" He responded.

I recognized the Spanish word for "what" but I don't speak the language.

"Se habla inglés?" Freck doesn't speak Spanish either. She learned the phrase for, do you speak english, from TV.

He shook his head no. We had to resort to hand motions. With our palms forward we waved our fingers in a way we hoped would communicate move back. He got it and moved away from the edge. Whoo.

I mentally called out to Momma, "We are at the apartment buildin'. Folks cain't get their doors open. The whole front of the building broke away. I'm afraid that some dazed old person will walk right off the edge. We need men with ladders and ropes. We also need an interpreter, 'cuz some don't even speak English.

Momma joined us. I didn't know it, but she speaks fluent Spanish. That was good, but what was even better is she's able ta telepathically warn people in every language.

Gee once told us that the next level of mind speakin' is ta communicate in the universal language. It exists deep inside everyone. When we learn how to access it we can mind-speak to anyone, even visitors from other worlds.

Right when it appeared that Momma had everyone convinced to stay back, somethin' fell off the wall inside an old woman's apartment. The sudden noise scared her calico cat. It bolted. The old lady in a pink bathrobe and slippers tried to stop it. The cat dropped over the edge. For a moment it looked like the lady caught herself by grabbin' a piece of wall. She was teeterin'. The chunk of wall came off in her hand and she plunged four stories straight down onta rubble.

We moved as fast as we could ta get ta her. When we got there she didn't appear conscious. There was a trickle of blood runnin' outta one corner of her mouth. Momma checked her pulse. The lady's eyes fluttered. She gasped out a dying request, "Find .  .  .  Sweetums .  .  ."

Momma checked her pulse again, and sadly shook her head to confirm what we already knew. She was gone. Seein' someone die right in front of ya rips yer heart out.  

We didn't hafta look for Sweetums. The cat survived the fall. It did have a noticeable limp, though. Sweetums hobbled over ta her momma and curled up on her lifeless chest.

I didn't know why I was cryin'. Was it just 'cuz I witnessed someone dyin'?Maybe it was 'cuz of Sweetums. Or maybe it was 'cuz of the overwhelmin' disaster. Pert near everythin' was wrecked.

Momma stood, held me in her arms, and rocked a little. "It will be okay Wishes. There is plenty to cry about. Take a moment and let it out." So I did.

When the tears slowed Momma said, "If you are ready, there are still many who really need our help."

Freck found a blanket, and a sheet. Some Burns neighbors arrived. They moved her away from the wreckage onta the grass. Freck already spread the blanket. With proper dignity, they laid her down and covered her with the sheet. Sweetums, as if guardin' her, perched on her sheet coveredchest. She hissed if anyone got close.

◽️◽️◽️

Mizzus Anderton and Beau Motley showed up with a group of printrs, firemen, and Main Street business people. I guessed the fires was out. They brought ladders and plenty of ropes with 'em. The fire truck would have been helpful, but the streets was so broken up it was useless. They did have one of those tarp things with a black bullseye spot in the middle ta catch people who fell, or jumped from high places.

Momma asked about the injured in town. She was told that they were bein' cared for by people with as much medical trainin' as they could round up. Those was able ta move on their own, or be moved with help, was taken ta the Town Hall park. The large areas of lawns were much safer than stayin' near ta crumblin' structures. Students were instructed to keep far away from the schools. Teachers gathered groups of youngsters and led them ta the park. Older students were recruited ta help wherever they could.

Since the apartment buildin' was now in good hands, we continued our search to locate other injured people. Mind readin' ain't easy. 'Specially when there's some distance from the subject. Thoughts go out in waves like radio signals. If'n there was only one broadcast tower in the area, listenin' would be a piece 'o cake. Unlike radio every single mind's a tower. Signals buckshot ever'wheres. We have ta sort through tons of mental chatter b'fore we can hone in on one.

The only other with this ability was Momma, or so we thought.