Monday, December 25, 2017

I

raced with them across the bridge, a thin cardboard slab that shucked and jived as we went. Cats that lined the bridge quickly ran back the other way and when we all made it to the other side we couldn't believe that we made it past without falling drunkenly to their deaths.

Quickly we ran through the rising smoke, holding our breaths, covering our eyes. In clear spots we shouted Craig's name. We tumbled down some charbroiled steps to the fourth floor, and while I searched, Jack and George raided the kitchen looking for food— They found the refrigerator and all the cupboards were empty. Someone had already taken all the food and ran!

Travis, Brett and I searched each room for Craig but failed to find him. The building groaned and the fire thinned the walls as its layers peeled and then went up in blazing sparks.

Travis said, "Hurry out before the building collapses!" I screamed out in defiance and ran for the stairs. The boys ran after me. I descended to the first floor that was swamped in murky water. I trudged not too far from the stairs to find an open door to the garage. All the boys arrived behind me and in our astonishment a shining field of silver light flickered in.

A van floated in the water with an empty hitch behind it, which revealed the boat we'd been looking for had already been taken. Empty jugs of Marine Grade Oil and waterproof Marine Grease floated by the hitch. There was no longer a boat to save us.

Where Craig and the boat went were both mysteries now. . . But one in the same. We retreated from the burning building before it collapsed completely. No food, no boat and no Craig to make feeling alone in this endless sea any better. We hoped with all our hearts that somebody saw the smoke stack coming from the house. Once it collapsed, our SOS was gone.