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Chapter 30
Mabuiltthefireupwiththelasttwigsandcookedthebaconandmadegravy.Pahadbroughtstorebread.Mascowledwhenshesawit.«Wegotanymoneylef’?»
«Nope,"saidPa.«Butwewassohungry.»
«An’yougotstorebread,"Masaidaccusingly.
«Well,wewasawfulhungry.Workedallnightlong.»
Masighed.«Nowwhatwegonnado?»
Astheyate,thewatercreptupandup.AlgulpedhisfoodandheandPabuilttheplatform.Fivefeetwide,sixfeetlong,fourfeetabovethefloor.Andthewatercrepttotheedgeofthedoorway,seemedtohesitatealongtime,andthenmovedslowlyinwardoverthefloor.Andoutsidetherainbeganagain,asithadbefore,bigheavydropssplashingonthewater,poundinghollowlyontheroof.
Alsaid,«Comeonnow,let’sgetthemattressesup.Let’sputtheblanketsup,sotheydon’tgitwet.»Theypiledtheirpossessionsupontheplatform,andthewatercreptoverthefloor.PaandMa,AlandUncleJohn,eachatacorner,liftedRoseofSharon’smattress,withthegirlonit,andputitontopofthepile.
Andthegirlprotested,«Icanwalk.I’mawright.»Andthewatercreptoverthefloor,athinfilmofit.RoseofSharonwhisperedtoMa,andMaputherhandundertheblanketandfeltherbreastandnodded.
Intheotherendoftheboxcar,theWainwrightswerepounding,buildingaplatformforthemselves.Therainthickened,andthenpassedaway.
Malookeddownatherfeet.Thewaterwashalfaninchdeeponthecarfloorbynow.«You,Ruthie—Winfiel’!»shecalleddistractedly.
