When Their Sacrificial Lamb Is Gone

"Where did Jewel run off to now? We're getting hit by a major hurricane tonight!" my mom, Lucinda Parker, said.

She paced back and forth through the living room.

It was already pitch-black outside. The wind sent a metal basin rolling across the yard, clanging against the base of the wall.

The town's emergency broadcast had already sounded three times.

"Red alert! Evacuate the entire town! Evacuation vehicles will arrive at the town entrance in 20 minutes!"

Mom whipped around to face me. She looked furious as she snapped, "You! Get out there and find Jewel!"

I looked out the window. The rain wasn't just falling—it was coming down in sheets.

The palm trees were nearly bent to the ground. The chicken coop by the wall had blown over, and several chickens flapped widely as they scrambled under the eaves.

"Mom, Jewel said she went to a friend's house. With the weather outside—"

Mom cut me off. "Like I care whose house she went to! Go get her now! If you can't find her, don't come home."

I instinctively looked at Dad sitting in the corner, who started to speak up. "The wind really is too strong. Maybe we should wait a little."

"Shut the hell up!" Mom barked, not even turning around. "If something happens to Jewel, can you take responsibility?"

Dad fell silent.

I slipped on my shoes, the soles already coming apart. The moment I opened the door, the wind nearly knocked me off my feet.

I felt my way along the wall, stumbling through water that was already ankle-deep.

I was about to head to the west side of town, where Jewel's friend lived, when a giggle came from behind me.

"Wow! The wind feels so good!"

I turned around. My sister, Jewel Skinner, came running out of the alley. Her wet hair was plastered to her face, and she looked thrilled.

At some point, Mom had already rushed to the door. She pulled Jewel into her arms and checked her from head to toe.

Mom's voice was full of relief and worry. "You're finally home! Are you soaked? Are you cold? Get inside and change before you catch a cold."

I stood in the pouring rain, soaked through and shivering in the wind, but Mom didn't even spare me a glance.

Just then, the evacuation vehicle arrived. Its headlights cut through the rain as the loudspeaker blared again and again.

"Everyone, get in now! Evacuate immediately!"

Mom wrapped Jewel in a blanket and put her in the back seat. I followed behind them and moved to step onto the running board.

"What are you doing?" Mom stopped me. "You know the rules. Jewel stayed out having fun and nearly didn't make it home tonight.

"Stay here. That'll teach her what it means to be afraid."

I froze.

Jewel panicked inside the vehicle. She pressed against the window and screamed, "Mom, no! Don't leave Alice here. Something bad will happen to her! The hurricane—"

"So now you're scared? Why didn't you think of that when you went out?" Mom cut her off sharply. "Alice is being punished because of you!"

Jewel shrank back, tears streaming down her face.

One of the other residents, unable to take it anymore, said, "Mrs. Skinner, this is a Category 5 hurricane. People could die! That old house of yours won't stand a chance."

Mom didn't budge as she turned and ran back inside. When she came out, she was carrying our dog, Goldie.

She put Goldie in the last empty seat, as if she had every right to. "Goldie's an animal. He doesn't know how to find shelter, so I have to take him too."

Then she looked at me and said, "Alice, you're a person. You know how to find somewhere to hide."

Dad sat in the front seat, looking as if he had something to say. But when Mom gave him a sideways look, he turned toward the window.

The doors to the vehicle closed.

Through the rain-streaked window, I saw Jewel pounding desperately on the glass, her mouth moving as she screamed something.

But the wind was too loud, and I couldn't hear her.

Mom held Jewel's head down so she couldn't look at me.

The engine started. The taillights left two red streaks through the downpour, growing farther and farther away.

Soon, they were out of sight.

As the lights of Larkton slowly went out, I was left standing alone in the storm.

Suddenly, someone shouted from the darkness.

"I've got a seat!"