8 Lighting the Way

8 LIGHTING THE WAY "Oh, my, you've saved them all?" said Rose. "They saved themselves," said Mother Mary Joseph. "They all worked hard to make their way here. And they're still being brave and strong. Even some with injuries are trying to help others." "Of course," said Rose, smiling. "Texans are at their best when things look the worst." "That's true. Come with me," said Mother Mary Joseph. "I'll take you to the supplies in the front. We can find dry clothes for the baby there." "Oh, thank you," Rose said. "And dry clothes for Jack and Annie, too, please."

"Oh, no, we're fine," said Jack. "We want to help, too," Annie said to Mother Mary Joseph. "What can we do?" The nun smiled. "Perhaps you could try cheering up some of the smaller children," she said. "They are all very frightened by the storm." "Okay, we're pretty good at cheering people up," said Annie. "Wonderful," said Mother Mary Joseph. Then she turned to Rose. "Come, dear. Let's find something dry for your beautiful child." "Thank you," said Rose. Carrying Lily, she followed Mother Mary Joseph to the front of the auditorium. "Where to?" Jack said to Annie. "I guess we should just wander around and see who needs us," said Annie. She led the way down a crowded aisle to a far corner of the auditorium. There, some nuns were taking care of the injured. A woman with her arm in a sling was

trying to calm her fussy baby. Annie knelt beside her. "Can I sing to your baby?" she asked the injured mother. "Maybe that will calm him down." "Oh, yes, please," the woman said. Annie picked up the baby and rocked him. She sang: Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Papa's going to buy you a mockingbird. The baby smiled at her. Annie kept singing. If that mockingbird don't sing, Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring. Jack heard a faint cry from nearby. "Rose?" As Annie kept singing, Jack looked around at all the injured people. Who said "Rose"? he wondered.

The cry came again, louder than the first one. "Rose!" Jack saw a young man lying on a blanket. His arms were bandaged. His leg was in a splint. Jack's heart pounded. He hurried over to the man and knelt down. "Are you looking for Rose?" he asked. "Rose—she's singing—Lily," the man said. "Are you Lucas?" said Jack. "Yes…," the man said weakly. "Oh, wow—hold on!" said Jack. "I'll be right back!" Jack hurried to Annie. She had rocked the baby to sleep but was still singing softly. "I found Rose's husband!" Jack said. "See the man over there with a hurt leg? He heard you singing that song. I heard him call 'Rose'!" "Oh! Oh!" said Annie. "Get Rose! Bring her here!"

Jack hurried to the front of the auditorium. He found Rose with Lily and Mother Mary Joseph. "Rose! We found Lucas!" Jack said. "Ohh!" Rose cried out. She and Mother Mary Joseph followed Jack through the auditorium to the corner with all the wounded people. Annie was sitting beside Lucas now. His eyes were closed. "Lucas!" Clutching Lily, Rose fell to her knees. She touched the man's bruised face. Lily started to cry. Lucas opened his eyes. He smiled, and in a whispery voice, he sang: Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Papa's going to buy you a mockingbird.

Lily stopped crying. She reached out to Lucas. He took her tiny hand and kissed it. "Pa-pa!" the baby said, and she laughed. "Oh, Lucas!" said Rose. She was laughing and crying at the same time. Lucas reached out to her. Rose took his hand and pressed it against her wet cheek. "I was so worried about you," she said. "I'll be fine…," said Lucas. "Darling, our house is gone. We've lost