Twister on Tuesday

dugout and sucked everything out, even the rug.
    They all stared in shock at the empty space.
    Then Miss Neely smiled.
    â€œWell, at least we are all safe,” she said.
    They stepped out of the hut. The air was thick with dust and bits of grass.
    The twister had cut a wide path of dirt and destruction across the prairie. It was still whirling away on the horizon.

    Everyone watched silently as the twister became long and thin, like a piece of rope. Then it vanished completely.
    Miss Neely turned to Jack and Annie.
    â€œYou saved our lives,” she said.
    â€œThank you!” said Will.
    â€œThank you!” said Kate, hugging Annie.
    â€œJeb actually opened the cellar door,” said Jack.
    â€œYes! Thank you, too, Jeb!” said Miss Neely.
    The older boy only scowled.
    â€œI hope you can get a new school,” said Annie.
    â€œWe will,” said Miss Neely. “Just as we planted our fields again after the grasshopper attack, we’ll build our school again after the twister. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
    Jack thought Miss Neely was one of the bravest people he’d ever met.
    â€œYou’re a good teacher,” he said shyly.
    â€œI love teaching,” she said. “It’s a job that lasts forever. Whatever you teach children today travels with them far into the future.”
    â€œThat’s true!” said Annie.
    Jack smiled.
    â€œWell, we better leave—again,” he said.
    â€œBye!” Everyone waved, except Jeb.
    Jack and Annie started across the prairie, back toward the tree house.
    They hadn’t gone far when Jack heard someone shout his name. He turned around.
    It was Jeb.
    â€œWait!” the older boy yelled. He had a fierce look on his face. He started running toward them.
    â€œOh no,” Jack breathed. Did Jeb still want to fight?
    â€œLeave us alone!” Annie said angrily.
    â€œShh, Annie,” said Jack. “Let’s see what he wants.”
    When Jeb got close to them, he stopped. He looked right at Jack.
    â€œWhy did you come back?” he asked.
    â€œWe wanted to tell you about the storm cellar,” said Jack.
    â€œHow did you know about that cellar?” Jeb said.
    Jack pulled their research book out of his leather bag.
    â€œWe read about it in this book,” he said.
    Jeb stared at the book. Then he sighed.

    â€œI aim to read someday, too,” he said. “That looks like a good book.”
    Jack didn’t know what to say. He was still afraid of making Jeb mad. So he just nodded.
    â€œMy ma and pa were too poor to go to school,” said Jeb. “They want me to go. But I’m getting started mighty late.”
    â€œIt’s not too late,” said Jack.
    â€œIt’s
never
too late,” said Annie.
    Jeb narrowed his eyes.
    â€œIf you ever come back through here … ,” he said.
    â€œYes … ?” Jack asked carefully. Was Jeb about to threaten him again?
    â€œMaybe I’ll be able to read that book of yours,” Jeb said.
    Jack sighed and smiled.
    â€œI know you will,” he said.
    Jeb smiled back. He had a nice smile.
    â€œThanks for coming back to rescue us,” he said to both Jack and Annie. “Too bad you can’t stay. I reckon we’d all be good friends if you did.”
    â€œI reckon we would,” said Annie.
    Jeb nodded. Then he turned and ran back to join the others.
    Suddenly, the sun broke through the clouds. The wildflowers danced in a gentle breeze.
    â€œReady?” said Annie.
    Jack just stood there, staring at the sunlit prairie.
    â€œ
Jack?
Ready to go?” Annie asked.
    In that moment, Jack actually hated to leave. But he nodded slowly and said, “Let’s go.”
    He and Annie took off through the bright, sparkling grass. They ran to the small grove of trees near the creek.
    They climbed up the rope ladder and scrambled into the tree house.
    Annie picked up their Pennsylvania book.
    â€œI wish we could go there,” she said.
    This time the wind did
not
start to blow.
    The tree house simply started to spin on its own.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

Jack opened his eyes.
    Morning light filled the tree house.
    He and Annie were wearing their own clothes again.
    â€œHome,” said Annie, smiling.
    Jack looked out the window.
    He saw their nice, cozy house in the distance, their lawn, their sidewalk, their paved