FIRE 

By Tessa Harvey

    Polly Stanton, Ellie's teacher and Mrs. Colleen Bird, the school counselor were taking the five Roberts children. They had both talked with the principal and felt that as the children's mother was still in hospital and now little Joey, it was better if they were taken home.
    The children were puzzled but quite happy with the arrangement, except for Buddy who felt anxious for some reason. The older kids were trying hard to keep up with bed-making. Many neighbours had donated food, so fixing meals was relatively easy. They looked after the small flock of brown and white hens and tried to keep up with dishes. But mornings were hard.
    He wondered if dad had complained they were not doing enough to help. In reality they were all really tired and worried about their mother and dad's increasingly odd behaviour.
    Not for an instant had they thought Joe would be sick. They ran into the house, calling for him, thinking he was hiding as he often did.

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