BFF Time Travelers 3:The Great San Francisco Earthquake

A Loud Noise Under The Ground

Lucille opened her eyes. A church bell began to ring. Gong! Gong! Gong! Gong! Gong! "It rang five times,"said Kate. "That means it's five in the morning," said Mason. The early morning air felt fresh and cool. The time machine had landed next to a tree on the top of a hill. Painted wooden houses and gaslights lined a cobblestone street. A trolley moved along tracks up the street. It went down a hill and disappeared.Tall buildings towered further away.The sun was behind them,making pink and orange streaks in the blue sky. "It's beautiful here,"said Lucille. "Yes," said Kate. "Let's be tourists and enjoy the city," said Lucille.Then,she and her friends started down the hill and walked down the cobblestone street.The sun rose above the tall buildings.The light made everything look like it was made of gold;streetlamps,houses,windows,and the tall buildings."It's so peaceful,"said Kate. "Everyone must be still sleeping,"said Daniel.But,suddenly a loud rumbling noise came from under the ground.Kate stopped in her tracks,clinging onto Daniel."What was that?"she asked.The noise got louder.The earth started shaking.Church bells changed wildly.The whole street began moving.The cobblestone rolled like ocean waves.Bricks began falling off houses.Chimneys fell off houses.Gaslights toppled over."Get down!Cover your head!"shouted Lucille.Mason,Daniel,Kate,and Lucille crouched down.All around them was rumbling,clanging,and crashing.Then,the rumbling stopped.The four friends looked up.The air was filled with dust."That must have been an earthquake!"said Lucille."I think so,"said Kate.Lucille slowly stood up and brushed dust off her skirt,but the rumbling noise started again.Then the shaking began again,even harder than before.Lucille was hurled into the ground.She bounced on cobblestones."Kate!Daniel!Mason!"she cried.She tried to stand but fell down again.In the dusty air,Lucille could see the tall buildings swaying back and forth and roofs caving in.Bricks,glass,and concrete rained onto the street.It seemed like a long time until the earth stopped shaking.