A Day Without Technology(I)

5 A Day Without Technology (I) When Joan Wilton looked out the window, all she saw was the ice from the freezing rain slowly building up on everything. The tree branches were all bent with a beautiful layer of heavy ice wrapped around them. The thermometer should have been well below zero, but the cold of winter had not arrived in Canada as it usually does by this time of year. For two days, the Wiltons had been listening to radio reports about the build-up of ice and the dangers it might cause if it continued. Already, the trees were heavy with the load of ice they were bearing. On some trees, the branches were so heavy that they touched the ground and threatened to break off. It was a beautiful winter scene, but it was very dangerous. Joan Wilton's two young children, Rob and Tammy, had not gone to school that morning. The roads were covered with a one-inch layer of ice, making driving dangerous. Everything was coming to a halt. Their father had called that morning to tell them that he had arrived safely at work, but that the roads were now closed and he might not be able to get home that evening.

Suddenly, there was a crashing sound outside. Then, another. Mrs. Wilton looked out the window in time to see the giant maple tree in the front yard come falling down. At the same time, the television flickered and went dead. She called her children, who were playing video games in the next room. They came running into the kitchen complaining that the power had failed. They all stood listening as branches crashed to the ground outside. Mrs. Wilton tried the telephone. She wanted to call her husband to see if the power was out in the city, but when she picked up the phone, there was nothing but silence at the other end. She didn't panic, but she knew that it was going to be a long and strange day. She knew that they must take care of each other and wait to see how things would turn out. The best thing they could do was to remain calm and stay safe.