Floods and Tears

Chapter 1

After a fun filled day at the theme park, everyone piled onto the minibus. The journey home was a stark contrast to the cacophonous journey that morning. Everyone had been excited about the theme park. It had been the talk of the house for weeks. A trip to the big theme park to mark the start of the summer holidays. Everyone had been chatting, singing songs, squabbling and generally in high spirits as the minibus had crawled along the motorway in the holiday traffic. One they had arrived in the car park, everyone had jumped off and raced towards the entrance. They couldn't get far as they didn't have their entrance tickets, which Mike waved triumphantly as he leisurely strolled towards the ticket barriers. 

The kids had been less than impressed to find that they were not allowed to go off alone. They were split into two groups. One supervised by Mike, the other by May-li. After much moaning and groaning, and a lecture from May-li on what to do if they got lost, the kids were finally allowed to head to the rides.

Six hours later and an exhausted bunch of kids and two even more exhausted care workers had climbed onto the bus to travel home. By the time the minibus turned onto the motorway silence had descended and most of the kids were asleep. Mike grinned as he surveyed the scene through the central mirror. 

May-Li take a look at this!  

There was no response from May-Li and a quick glance showed Mike why - she was fast asleep too. Finally the minibus drew up in front of Ashdene Ridge.

Right you horrible lot. Wakey wakey!

Everyone clambered off the bus yawning and grumbling.

Mike I feel sick moaned Floss clutching her tummy. Me too added Jay

Well that's serves you both right for eating so many sweets. If you're going to be sick please make sure it's in the toilet. Not the... flowerbeds... 

Mike words came to late as jay threw up.

In an attempt to prevent Floss joining in fertilizing the flowerbeds Mike sprinted up the drive and hurriedly unlocked the front door.

Come on everyone let's get inside. It's been a long day. What everyone needs is dinner and bed

I'll make pasta bake volunteered Charlie eagerly

How on earth do you have the energy asked Tyler yawning. 

Charlie shrugged and smiled

Everyone headed up the drive way to the front door. But they couldnt get inside. Mike was standing in the doorway staring dumbstruck at the scene that met his eyes. Everyone jostled to see what was going on.

There water gushing down the staircase and pouring through the light fixtures in the ceiling. The floor was under several inches of water. Mike stepped into the house,cold water immediately seeping into his shoes. He took a few steps into the hallway and looked around at the devestation.

Right everyone out! bellowed Mike. Wait in the garden please!

Everyone trooped out and headed around the back to the garden

Its like when Mo let the bath run over and water came through the ceiling on top of that nasty Branston couple but ten times worse said Floss laughing at the memory

Its definitely a lost worse than that responded Tyler grimly

Whats going to happen now, it'll take ages sort out the water damage. When we had a burst pipe at my grandad's house  it took weeks to dry everything out and replace the flooring. exclaimed Charlie nervously fiddling with the rings on her necklace.

I don't know, but Mike and May-Li will think of something responded Tyler firmly

You really think so? replied Sasha

Lets face it we will all be shipped off to other homes interjected Ryan, saying exactly what everyone feared

You don't know that retorted Jody. Maybe the damage isn't as bad as it looks

Yeah right.  exclaimed Ryan

Look, the one thing I do know is that Mike and May Li wouldn't let us be split up if they can help it said Tyler trying to keep up morale

I don't want to go to another home, I like it here protested Taz. I don't want to go when I just got used to it here

Don't worry, it'll be alright coaxed Tyler, although somehow he wasn't so sure

I'm starving. When are we going to get our tea? asked Floss who seemed to have made a speedy recovery from her sweet induced nausea

Floss! Groaned the group together

How can you think of you stomach at a time like this exclaimed Sasha

They sat in the garden glumly waiting for May-Li and Mike to appear, bracing themselves for what was going to happen next. It seemed like ages before Mike and May Li appeared. To everyone's surprise they had food with them, several carrier bags full of paper parcels that smelt of CHIPS!

Right everyone, we decided that first things first. Dinner! Announced May Li handing out parcels of chips to everyone.

Everyone sat around on the grass in the fading evening light and dug in hungrily but it wasn't long before sound of everyone munching chips was interrupted by the question everyone was thinking but no one wanted to ask