The third graders were restless.
They wanted to be playing outdoors, not sitting in the classroom.
Mr. Higgins stood in front of the class.
"What happens in spring?" he asked.
"We plan for summer vacation!" said Katie.
"True," said Mr. Higgins.
"But it's not time for that yet, Katie.
Who has another answer?"
"Flowers bloom!" said Laura.
"Birds build nests!" said Joy.
"Good," said Mr. Higgins. "What about the weather?"
"Sunny and warm," Katie said, looking out the window with longing.
"But sometimes it can be stormy," said Luke.
"Twisters!" said Carlos Ramirez.
He lived two houses down from Luke.
"That's right," said Mr. Higgins.
"Twisters, or tornadoes, often strike in the spring.
Who can explain what a tornado is?"
Carlos spoke up again.
"It's a strong wind that spins around and around.
It's shaped like a funnel, and it hangs down from a storm cloud.
A tornado can carry off a cow or a school bus.
It can even lift a house up in the air!"
"Tornadoes are very dangerous," agreed Mr. Higgins.
"That's why every spring we prepare.
We practice what to do if a tornado comes."
"Are we going to have a tornado drill?" Katie asked hopefully.
"Yes, Katie. Later," said Mr. Higgins.
"Now who remembers what the tornado alarm sounds like?"
"Three siren blasts!" said Luke.
"Yes," said Mr. Higgins.
"Then we all get in line, and I lead the way to the basement."
"And when we get there, we take cover!" said Katie.
"HA! That's the best part!"
"Thank you, Katie," said Mr. Higgins.
"Now who wants to demonstrate the take-cover position?"
"I do!" cried Katie.
"Please settle down, Katie," said Mr. Higgins, frowning a little.
"Carlos, why don't you show us?"
Carlos walked to the front of the class.
He knelt on the floor and put his arms and hands over his head.
"Perfect!" said Mr. Higgins.
The third graders cheered.
Carlos grinned and returned to his desk.
"We're ready for the drill!" said Mr. Higgins.
"Now get out your math homework."
Everybody groaned.
After math came social studies and then lunch.
When the children returned from the lunchroom, it was time for art.
"Let's work on our tornado posters," announced Mr. Higgins.
"Katie, please pass out the magic markers."
Katie grabbed the coffee can filled with markers when suddenly—weeee-uuuuu, weeee-uuuuu, weeee-uuuuu.
Katie jumped and the markers flew into the air.
"Tornado drill!" shouted Luke.
The speaker on the wall crackled and hissed.
Then Ms. Olson's voice filled the room.
"Students!" the principal reminded them.
"Go immediately to the basement."
Everyone moved toward the door except Katie.
She was picking up markers.
"Get in line, Katie," Joy said.
"I am," Katie snapped back.
She hated it when Joy told her what to do.
The third graders followed Mr. Higgins.
They went down the stairs to the basement.
Other students entered the basement from all directions.
"Everybody down!" Mr. Higgins called as soon as everyone was standing by the wall.
All the children dropped to the floor in the take-cover position.
Ms. Olson held up her stopwatch and gave it a click.
"Two minutes exactly," she said. "Good work, everyone!"
Back in the classroom, Mr. Higgins passed out a paper to each student.
"We'll finish our posters later.
This is a list of things you can do at home to get ready for tornado season," he said.
"You should each organize a Family Tornado Safety Team."
"Cool," said Luke.
"The Ramirez Tornado Safety Team!" said Carlos.
"The Donovan Tornado Safety Team!" said Katie.
She scribbled something on a piece of notebook paper and then passed it to Joy.
Joy frowned. She could already guess what her sister's note said: I'll be captain!