Katie and Joy hurried home from school and parked their bikes by the front porch.
"Grandpa!" they called.
"I'm here in the backyard," they heard him shout.
"Come on, Katie," said Joy, and they ran toward the backyard.
Grandpa was building a coop with a fence around it.
A pile of lumber lay on the ground.
Joy opened the gate to the coop, and all six chickens ran out.
"Hi, chickens!" she said.
"Guess what, Grandpa!" said Katie.
"It's tornado season, and we have to prepare!"
"Good idea," said Grandpa.
"I'm captain of the team," said Katie.
Grandpa raised his eyebrows. "The team?"
"The Donovan Tornado Safety Team," said Katie.
"We're having a meeting tonight.
Hey! I better get ready."
Joy was still hanging around the chicken coop when Dad came home from work.
"Hi, guys. Nice chicken coop!" Dad said.
"What's Katie so busy doing in the house?"
"Hi, Dad," said Joy.
"Oh, Katie is busy being team captain."
She poked her toe around the pile of wood.
"What are you going to do with this extra wood, Grandpa?"
"I don't know," said Grandpa, scratching his chin.
"Well," said Dad.
"If I were eight years old, I know what I'd do.
I'd build a tree house."
"A tree house?" said Joy. "Hmm . . ."
She looked at her father.
"Do you think I could build a tree house?"
"Well, sure," said Dad. "With a little help you could."
"So we could be a team?" asked Joy.
"You'll need some sturdy boards for the floor," said Grandpa.
"I could get some tin for the roof at the recycling center," added Dad.
Joy threw her arms around Dad.
"This is going to be fun!" she said.
"I'm going to draw a picture of our tree house.
I can already imagine it!"
After dinner Joy worked on her drawing in the living room.
Grandpa sat across from her and studied his garden plan.
"They say to watch the new oak leaves in the spring," he said.
"When they get as big as a squirrel's ear, it's time to plant corn.
Have you been watering your watermelon seeds, Joy?"
"Of course, Grandpa," Joy answered, smiling.
Then Katie marched into the room.
"Let's start the meeting!"
She wore a baseball cap with the word "CAPTAIN" written on the front.
"Tornado season is here!" she announced.
"The Donovan Tornado Safety Team must get ready!"
She looked down at her notebook.
"First, let's pick our shelter.
It should be someplace below the ground."
"I guess we should use the cellar," said Grandpa.
"Just like we always have."
"Good thinking," said Katie. "That was easy!
Next, we need a radio and a flashlight."
"I'll take care of those," offered Dad.
"We also need a first aid kit," said Katie.
"Mom, would you help with that?"
"Aye, Captain."
"Mom," groaned Katie.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Mom said, laughing.
"We'll also need some blankets and pillows," explained Katie.
"I'll be in charge of them too," said Mom.
"And Joy, we'll need bottled water and snacks."
Joy jumped up. "Okay, I'll do it now.
Come on, Dad. It's time to plan our tree house!"
"Wait a minute," said Katie. "This meeting is not over."
Joy sat back down, rolling her eyes.
Katie was being bossy again.
"A tree house?" thought Katie.
She put her hand on her forehead and closed her eyes.
"I'm getting a brilliant idea."
Her eyes flew open.
"Yes!" she shouted.
"The Donovan Tornado Safety Team needs a tree house!
It will be a weather lookout station!"
She turned to her sister. "Build it!"
Joy gave Katie a quick salute.
"Aye, Captain!" she said, laughing.
Katie might be bossy at times.
But she could be funny too!