Twister on Tuesday

breath.
    The sky
did
look weird—really weird.

The black clouds had taken on an odd greenish color. They all seemed to be going in different directions.
    â€œDo you think it’s a grasshopper attack?” Annie asked nervously.
    â€œNo, I think it’s some more weird weather, like that hailstorm,” said Jack. “Let’s go before it gets worse.”
    As they started back to the tree house, the wind picked up.
    Jack and Annie looked over their shoulders. The greenish clouds had dipped down close to the prairie.
    â€œI feel like something awful is about to happen,” said Annie.
    â€œHurry!” said Jack. “Run!”
    He and Annie started running through the grass. When they got to the ladder of the tree house, they looked back.
    In the distance, twisting black clouds had dropped out of the storm clouds. They were swirling into a funnel shape.
    The dark funnel started twisting across the prairie.
    Jack’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
    â€œIt’s a twister!” he said.
    â€œOh no!” cried Annie.
    The twister was whirling and tearing across the grass.

    â€œLet’s get out of here!” said Jack. He grabbed the rope ladder and started up.
    â€œWait!” said Annie. “We have to help Miss Neely and the other kids!”
    â€œThey have a storm cellar!” Jack said. “That’s what our book said!”
    â€œYeah, but it’s only their first day in the dugout! They might not know about it!” said Annie. “There was a rug on the floor!”
    Annie is right
, Jack thought.
    He looked up at the tree house. All they had to do was climb up and leave, and
they’d
be safe.
    But what about Miss Neely? What about Will and Kate and Jeb?
    â€œOkay!” said Jack. He jumped down from the ladder. “Let’s go back!”
    He and Annie started running back toward the schoolhouse.
    They ran as fast as they could across the prairie.
    The roaring sound of the twister followed them.
    Suddenly, the wind threw them to the ground!
    Jack clutched the tall grass, trying to stand. When he got up, he grabbed Annie’s hand. He pulled her up, too.
    With all his might, Jack held on to Annie and pulled her along.
    The roaring twister came closer and closer.
    The wind ripped up grass and earth around them. The roar grew deafening.
    Jack and Annie could barely stay on their feet. Finally, they reached the dugout.
    They tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
    They banged on the door with their fists.
    â€œLet us in!” Annie shouted.
    No one opened the door.
    â€œThey can’t hear us!” yelled Jack.
    But the sound of the twister drowned out his voice.

Suddenly, the schoolhouse door blew off its hinges! It went flying through the air!
    Jack grabbed Annie and pulled her into the dugout.
    Inside, the benches were overturned. The room was a mess.
    Miss Neely and the three kids were pressed against the dirt wall. Kate and Will screamed as the winds whipped around the room.
    Miss Neely hugged Kate. Jeb held on to Will.
    â€œGet in the cellar!” Jack yelled.
    â€œWhat cellar?” shouted Miss Neely.
    Together, Jack and Annie pulled the rug off the floor and uncovered the cellar door.

    They grabbed the door and tried to open it, but the wind was blowing too hard.
    Suddenly, Jeb was beside them. He pulled the door open. A ladder led down into the cellar.
    One by one, Will, Kate, Miss Neely, and Annie went down the ladder.
    Jack waited for Jeb to go down.
    â€œGo! Go!” Jeb shouted.
    Jack climbed down into the cellar.
    Jeb came last. He closed the door behind him, leaving everyone in total darkness.
    The twister roared fiercely above them. It sounded like a train barreling right through the schoolhouse!
    As the twister roared and howled, Jack couldn’t think. He couldn’t feel. He was totally swept up in the howl of the wind.
    Then, just as Jack felt he would disappear in the roar of the twister, the noise died down.
    And then it was silent.
    No one spoke for a moment in the blackness. Then Annie broke the silence.
    â€œAre we still alive?” she whispered.
    Everyone laughed.
    â€œYes, I think we are,” said Miss Neely.

Jeb pushed open the cellar door. Daylight streamed in. He looked out.
    â€œAll clear,” he said.
    Jeb crawled out of the cellar. Jack followed him, then Annie, Will, Kate, and Miss Neely.
    The sky was gray above them. The twister had torn the roof off the