Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13 "Charlie!" Papa bellowed from the porch. "Come in!" Charlie rushed back up the steps, and Papa pulled him inside, closing the door tight. "It's salt water!" Charlie said breathlessly as water streamed down his face. Mama grabbed the blanket again and wrapped it around Charlie's shoulders.

"It's coming from the Gulf!" Charlie went on. "It's an overflow. An overflow reached all the way here!" Papa put his hand on Charlie's shoulder. "That's not possible," he said. "Papa! I'm telling you!" Charlie said. "I tasted the water! It's salty!" "Maybe the wind has carried some sea spray…" Papa said. Charlie stepped forward, "I saw Mr. Early this morning. He said that a bad hurricane hit here in 1837, before Galveston was even a city. What if that's happening again?" Papa was actually starting to look annoyed, which was rare. "Charlie," he said, clearly trying to keep his voice low. "Remember what Mr. Cline says about hurricanes. He's an expert. And Mr. Early…" "Mr. Early has become very confused, sweetheart," Mama said gently.

"So was Grandpa!" Charlie said. "But he never made anything up!" Charlie just realized this now. He explained it to Mama and Papa—how, yes, Grandpa was very confused in the months before he died. He didn't know where he was, or who was who. "But he remembered all the important things that happened to him," Charlie said, "especially memories from when he was a little boy. And all those stories about the Revolution." Just a week before he died, Grandpa had told Charlie his favorite story—from when he'd fought in the famous battle of San Jacinto. That was the battle that won the Revolution. It made Texas its own country for a few years until it became an American state in 1845. "He told me that story a million times…" Charlie remembered how Grandpa had described cannonballs and bullets flying through the air. "He always told it the exact same way—even that last time. Not one detail was missing!"

Charlie paused. Mama and Papa were just staring at him. How could Charlie make them understand? Because with each passing second, Charlie felt more and more certain. "This is a hurricane!" he cried. And as if the wind agreed with Charlie, a powerful gust shook the house. The walls trembled. And then… PLOOF. A big chunk of plaster fell from the sitting room ceiling and landed in a powdery clump on the floor. Papa ran over and stared at it. He looked from the plaster to Charlie to the window. Then back at the plaster again. The next thing Charlie knew, Papa was out the front door. "William!" Mama called after him, but Papa rushed down the porch steps. Mama and Charlie watched from the doorway as Papa waded into the

street—like Charlie had. He tasted the water—like Charlie had. He came back inside. Water streamed from his beard. Charlie took off his blanket and put it around Papa. It was very quiet for a moment—even the wind seemed to be holding its breath. And then Papa looked at Charlie. "This is different from 1886—from any storm I've seen," he said. "That water in the streets—it's not from the rain. It's from the Gulf. You're right, son. This could very well be a hurricane. I'm sorry I didn't believe you before." Charlie felt a strange mix of feelings. Relieved that Papa believed him. But also scared. Papa eyed the broken plaster from the ceiling again. "This house wasn't built for a hurricane," he said. "I know because I helped Grandpa build it." He took a breath. "We need to leave right away."

Mama nodded. "I'll get Lulu and pack some clothes." "Where will we go?" Charlie asked. Mama and Papa looked at each other, and Charlie could see they didn't have an answer. Then Mama glanced at the plate of gingersnaps on the coffee table. "I have an idea," she said. Fifteen minutes later, they were making their way along Avenue M, heading toward one of the biggest and sturdiest houses in Galveston. Normally the walk would take maybe fifteen minutes. But the weather was getting worse by the minute. It was dark and cold. The wind was fierce. The rain poured down. Water filled the streets and sloshed onto the sidewalks. They had to zigzag around fallen wires and branches that blocked their way. Mama had wrapped Lulu in blankets and held her tight