BFF Time Travelers 3:The Great San Francisco Earthquake

A Poem of Hope

A woman in a teal bathrobe was sitting on a crumbling stone wall.She was sobbing into her handkerchief.Two boys with dark brown hair sat next to her.The boys wore dusty,torn pajamas.They were both barefoot.The younger one was watching the other one write on a piece of wood with a chunk of coal.Kate pulled her friends over to the family."Hi,I'm Kate,"she said."I'm Peter,"said the youngest."He's my brother Alex.And she's our mom Julie."Peter pointed to the boy and the woman as she spoke.Julie tried to smile through her tears."Forgive me.I'm a little shaken up,"she said."So are we,"said Kate.sympathetically."The house caught fire,"said Peter."We escaped,but we lost most of our things,"said Alex."We lost our shoes,"said Peter.Kate,Mason,Lucille,and Daniel looked at Peter and Alex's feet.They were bleeding."You can have my boots.One of you can wear them,"said Kate."Take mine too,"said Lucille."We can't just take your boots,"said Alex."Then we'll lend them to you,"said Lucille."Thank you,thank you,"said Julie.She began crying again.Peter and Alex put on their new boots.Then Peter whispered something to Alex.Alex held out the piece of wood to Lucille,Kate,Daniel,and Mason."Here's something we can lend you,"he said.Lucille read a poem Alex had written on the piece of wood:There is no water and still less soap.We have no city,but lots of hope."It's a great gift.We needed some hope,"said Lucille."It's the only thing we can lend you,"said Alex."You should go to Golden Gate Park.That's what a reporter told us,"said Kate."Oh,so that's where you're going?"asked Julie.At last,she had stopped crying and looked stronger."We have to go home to our parents,"said Daniel."Will you be safe?"asked Julie."Yes.Once we're home we'll be safe,"said Lucille."Thanks for lending us your boots!You're good friends,"said Peter."You're good friends!,"said Kate."You've helped us more than you know,"said Daniel."Be careful!"said Julie."We will!"said Kate,Daniel,Mason,and Lucille.They waved as their new friends headed to the park.Lucille sighed."Ready?"she asked."Yeah.I guess we go the way we came,"said Kate.Lucille looked down the street.Smoke billowed up from the bottom of the hill."That might not be easy as it seems,"she said.