Revolutionary War on Wednesday

Annie. “For the sake of the
future
children of America, sir.”
    As the wet snow hissed about them, George Washington stared a long moment at Jack and Annie.
    Finally, he put a hand on each of their shoulders.
    â€œI do not know who you are,” he said. “I do not know how you know what you know. But I believe you. For your sake, and for the future children of America, we
will
march on.”
    â€œYay!” cried Annie.
    â€œYay,” said Jack softly. He sighed with relief and put away the captain’s letter.
    â€œNow get back in the boat,” said George Washington. “You must leave the fighting to us. To me and my men.”
    Jack felt very grateful to George Washington and his whole army. They were risking their lives for all of America’s children, past and future. He could barely speak.
    â€œThank you, sir,” said Annie.
    â€œThank you both for telling me to listen to my own advice,” said George Washington. He called to the rowers waiting in the boat. “Take good care of these two.”
    George Washington climbed onto his horse. He looked down at Jack and Annie.
    â€œMerry Christmas,” he said.
    Then the commander-in-chief rode away into the stormy darkness.

“All aboard!” one of the rowers called.
    Jack and Annie hurried down the steep riverbank. They climbed back into the boat.
    The crew pushed away from the shore. The boat started back through the icy, churning waters of the Delaware River.
    Jack was freezing in the sleet and snow. But he didn’t worry about that now. He was thinking instead about how they had helped George Washington. He was thinking about how they had helped keep history on its course.
    Jack felt great.
    When they got to the riverbank, Jack and Annie jumped out of the boat.
    â€œThanks!” Jack yelled to the rowers.
    With the wind at their backs, Jack and Annie took off through the blizzard. They ran down the icy bank of the Delaware River.
    Thunder rumbled in the snowy sky.
    Lightning zigzagged over the woods.
    â€œHow will we find the tree house?” cried Annie.
    â€œI don’t know!” said Jack. “But don’t worry! We’ll find it!”
    He felt very confident now, after meeting George Washington. After being
thanked
by George Washington!
    He and Annie ran on through the rain and the snow and the sleet.
    They ran along the riverbank—until a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky. Then Jack saw it!
    The tree house was directly to their left, high in a tall tree covered with snow.

    â€œOver there!” he shouted.
    Jack and Annie ran toward the edge of the woods.
    In the dark, Jack looked up, searching for the tree house.
    Lightning lit the woods again. Jack saw the rope ladder flapping wildly in the wind.
    He grabbed it.
    â€œAnnie!” he called.
    â€œHere!” she said.
    â€œLet’s go!” he said.
    They climbed up the swaying ladder and scrambled into the tree house. They were soaking wet and covered with slush and snow.
    Annie grabbed the Pennsylvania book.
    â€œI wish we could go there!” she shouted.
    The wind blew even harder.
    The tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

Gray early light spilled into the tree house.
    Birds sounded in the woods.
    The summer wind felt warm and gentle. Jack and Annie were wearing their nice, dry clothes again.
    â€œOh, man,” said Jack. “It’s good to be home.”
    â€œYeah,” said Annie, sighing, “back in this peaceful place.”
    Jack pulled the captain’s letter out of his pack. He turned it over. It was addressed to:
    Molly and Ben Sanders

Apple Tree Farm

Frog Creek, Pennsylvania
    â€œMolly and Ben lived on a farm near these woods over two hundred years ago,” said Jack.
    Annie gently touched the letter.
    â€œYour dad is going to make it home, kids. He misses you,” Annie whispered, as if she could send comforting words back through time.

    Jack carefully placed the special writing from the Revolutionary War next to the writing from the Civil War.
    â€œLook,” said Annie. She picked up a note lying in the corner. It said simply:
Come back on Tuesday
.
    â€œAnother message from Morgan,” said Annie.
    Jack smiled.
    He pulled on his pack.
    â€œSee you on Tuesday, tree house,” he said.
    He started down the rope ladder. Annie followed.
    In the early daylight, they ran through the Frog