Dedicated to my entire family, the UNCG writing coaches for helping me out and my dog, Blanca. Thanks for your support!

Chapter One

Watching 

          I watched the waves lap against the soft, golden sand from our lighthouse. Pink and blue clouds streaked across the sky. The sun hid under the horizon, heading to sleep. I still couldn’t believe my father let me sleep at this old, run down, lighthouse to watch the sea. I have always wanted to. I smiled at the thought. Then I remembered our deal. At 10:00, I had to come back down to sleep at home. It was 9:30 pm.   I sighed. So many people didn’t understand the struggle of living with overprotective parents. That is, except for my best friend, Emily. She was in a much worse situation. Her daddy was the towns’ detective, Detective Evan.

My focus snapped back to the ocean when I saw a ship pass. I squealed. Excitement like this never happened. There was only trauma  on the ocean when Father was up there. Ships never passed by, when I was on watch. But on Father’s night to watch, he’d stay all night, unlike me. But when the radio switched on, a rush I’d never felt poured through me. I leapt to switch the “communication” button on. The ship captain’s deep voice filled the room. 

“Tom! Tom!” He yelled. He thought I was Father! Should I tell him the truth-or pretend to be Father?  Well, if I did pretend, the system would mess up. It’d take hours to set it back on track.

“Sir, I’m his daughter. But I’m just as capable. Guaranteed.” I decided to tell him. I waited for him to ask me where Father (Tom) was. “Who cares? Girl, we’re losing connection. We can’t see the rocks-but we know they are close. Please shine the light our way. Now!” He yelled.

I did a double take. His booming voice took me out of my shock. 

         “Hurry!”

       I dashed over to the light, and it was rusted so I had to use most of might to turn it. Finally, I had turned it enough. It shone in front of the ship! They were only a few feet away from the rocks! Could they make a turn before hitting? That question was the only thing in my mind. Could they?  Would they? They drew closer. I shut my eyes. Finally, as I opened them, I saw the ship turn and float off the other direction. I almost crashed to the floor in relief. “Thank you, kiddo. The connection is back. I’ll let Tom know how brave you were tonight.” Captain said. I smiled from ear-to-ear.

“Thanks, sir.” I said, then realizing he turned his communication button off. I heard the door of the stairs creak open, then. Scrambling back, I asked “who is it?” 

 “Me, honey.” Father replied. I checked my watch. “It’s already 10:00?”I asked. “Yes, come down, if you will.  But-um. Good grief, girl. Have you been crawling on the floor?” Father questioned. “Yeah, in a way.” I wanted the captain to tell him about what I did. I’d been crawling on the floor because the radio rest on the floor-and it was quiet, so I had to lean close to it. That was why I had dirt on my night-wear. Together, Father and I climbed down the 200 stairs. Even going down was hard work. 

We reached our small, wide but not tall, bright yellow house. There was only one story, but it was perfect for the three of us. 

Suddenly, my dog called Hower darted out of the house, shocking us both. We both stumbled back.

"Hey, Hower!” I stopped to pet him as Father scolded him.

“No, bad dog! You’re supposed to be in your bed!”

Immediately, Hower hung his head. I glanced at Father and watched his face soften. 

“Aw, Father.” I pet Hower again and gave him a nudge to go inside. 

“Sh. Let’s not wake Mama.” Father advised.  Right after he said his advice, we heard Mama stomp down the hall. 

“Oh, no. I’m awake. Seriously, Tom? Could you be any less quiet?” Mama complained, rolling her eyes. 

“I’m so sorry, dear. We are. Aren’t we, Grace?” He asked, giving me the, “agree-with-me-or-else” look. 

“Yes. Very sorry,” I assured Mama. 

“Oh, lord! Grace! You're covered in dirt. Ugh! That means we have to wash you, again.” She informed me. I nodded and headed to the bathroom. 

After wiping the dirt off of me in the bath, I crawled into bed, pulling the covers on me. I loved our lighthouse. It wasn't brand new and shiny, like others, but it was ours. I had memorized all the lighthouses, and Cape Hatteras was definitely my favorite lighthouse. I loved watching Father stomp up all the stairs. I liked that one occasion when it was my birthday and a ship was sinking. Father let me come up there and help. I even didn’t mind watching him deal with problems from my view down below on the beach. The sweat streaming down his face as he made calls, pulling levers and slapping buttons on the built in table in our lighthouse. The way his hands moved so fast, turning up the volume on the radio. But, most of all,

I loved the light moving across the dark ocean at night, guiding ships to the bay. I dreamed of our beautiful lighthouse as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep that night.

  Chapter Two

Waiting

Strips of sunlight streamed in the room through the closed shutters. The smell of coffee and maple syrup drifted into the room. I slowly opened my eyes. Crawling out of bed, I strolled into the kitchen.  

“Hey, kiddo. Want some breakfast?” Father asked. 

“Sure.”

Mama slid a plate my way. I munched on my waffle and watched the news. The headline covered the screen and read: 

    EMERGENCY ALERT!!!

Citizens of this beach. A tsunami has been called by many earthquake experts. First an earthquake. Then a tsunami. Please report uphill after the quake!!!

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the television.  

“Nothing.” Mama replied.

“It doesn't look like nothing,” I pressed. Mama shot me a glare that said ‘conversation over’ so I did not reply. But, as I glanced at Father he looked like he was going to vomit and cry at the same time.  

“Tom?” Mama asked, following my gaze. 

“I-I gotta get up to the lighthouse and m-make a few calls.” He stuttered, sprinting out. Mama frowned and pulled his steaming toast over by the sink. 

“He didn’t even take a bite!” I exclaimed. I left my waffle, and ran to my bedroom window. Climbing on the window sill I watched him stomp up there and fumble with the radio buttons, making calls here and there. If only I could hear him.  

Thirty minutes after Father went up to the lighthouse, he and Warren, Father’s best friend, came back to our house. 

“Mrs. Kittle. Hello, it is so nice to see you.” Warren told Mama. 

“Oh, you too.” Mama said. 

“Grace!” Father shouted. I left my hole in the wall. The hole in the wall allows me to peer through and watch them without them knowing. I trudged down the two steps that lead to bedrooms.

“Hello, squirt.” Warren greeted.  

“Hey.” I waved to him.  

“Back to important news. Mrs. and miss. Kittle. I’m sure you’ve seen the news. I just wanted to say, that was real. A tsunami is being called for. So let me just make this short and true. There is going to be a tsunami.” Warren explained.  

“How long do we have after the earthquake?” Mama asked, squirming.

   “Almost five to 20 minutes after the quake. I’d suggest you to head high uphill; fast as you can!”  

“Why do we have to go so high uphill?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air. I don’t know what’s going on, I thought.How does Warren know about this?

“We’re not sure how big this wave is, but we need to brace ourselves for the worst. Meaning, treat it like it’s the tallest wave ever seen.” Warren replied.  

“How do you know all about this?” I asked.

“I just do a lot of reading,”  

What kind of reading do you have to do to know this stuff? I wondered. I thought Warren was just a regular guy, not some weather expert.

“But that’s all I know. Overall, I just hope y’all will be careful. And please thoroughly prepare.” Warren said, standing up and walking towards the door. 

“Thanks, Warren.” I said. 

“Yeah. For coming over.I’ll keep them safe,” Father said. Warren smiled and shut the door. 

“Okay. Now that you two understand the situation, I’m off to the hardware store to find protective material to cover our house.” Father informed.

       “Why? The tsunami will hit our house one way or another, Tom. It’s just common sense!” Mama exclaimed. By then, Father has gone. 

        I still couldn’t believe this was really happening. A tsunami had never been a threat to this beach before. Ever! 

       “I can’t believe this is happening. When is the earthquake?” I asked Mama. 

  “I don’t know. All we can do is wait.” 

Chapter Three

Earthquake 

Mama and I were washing the dishes together when a plate slid off the counter onto the floor and shattered. We gasped.  

   “Oh, gosh. Stay there, Grace. Let me go get the broom.” On Mama’s way to the storage closet, more plates fell and shattered or cracked. I put the rest in the sink, so they wouldn't fall off. What was causing these dishes to fall? Then, I knew. I knew when the earth shook. The bookshelf crashed. I yelped when a book hit my shoulder. The table fell. I knew it was the earthquake.  

“Grace! Get down and cover your head with your hands, now!” Mama shouted from the storage closet. I did as she said. Our big chair fell. I inched closer to it and slid under it, for protection. I winced when I heard Mama scream in the closet. Something must have fallen on her or close to

her. I thought about Daddy. My heart stopped beating for a second of fear for him. All those tools at the hardware store falling all at once. 

         I heard a whimper. I peeked outside of my little shelter of a chair. 

         “Hower! Come here, bud.” I yelled. Hower stood up and slowly walked towards me. He was too big to fit under the chair with me so I pulled half of him into the space left, while the other half was still facing the quake. Warren was right. This would be a killer tsunami. Tears streamed down my face as I thought about it. This earthquake was doing so much damage. A tsunami would make it so much worse. I heard my bed slide across my room. Thank goodness, I wasn’t in there right then. 

“Grace! Are you safe?!” Mama screamed. 

          “Yes! I’m safe. Are you ok? Why’d you scream?” I yelled.

          “I’m good. Some boxes fell. Have you heard Hower?” Mama asked. 

          “Yeah. We’re together, under a fallen chair.” I replied. 

 “Ok, good.” 

         We continued yelling through the loud rumble of the earth. As I watched a vase fall, I wondered if this would ever end. 

         Oh no, I thought as the china closet’s door opened. The china! Plates engraved with designs and painted with flowers slid and shattered on the floor. So did bowls and silverware. I screamed as loud as I could when more china fell. Why did the closet with shelves and china not lock? 

I did not know how long these lasted at all. I should have asked Warren about that. Warren! Was he safe?  

Suddenly, the door creaked open. Father walked in. How? How’d he get here? He immediately yelled our names.  

         “Father! Right here!” I said, hoarsely. He saw me with Hower. 

“Where’s your Mama?”

         “In the storage closet.”

“Oh my gosh.” 

       “She’s ok.” 

        Father ran to the storage closet. 

        “Caroline?” 

        “Tom! How did you get here?” Mama yelled. Father attempted to open the door to the closet but it was jammed. He waved and said something and ran off to his bedroom.

  I was pretty sure all the china was broken. The earth was still shaking. Shaking less hard than before but definitely shaking. My legs and knees had fallen asleep. So had Hower. Would this ever-EVER stop? Right after the thought that the Earth stopped shaking. It was still. Mama kicked the door opened. Father rushed into the room. I woke Hower up and crawled out from the chair. The earthquake was over.

Chapter Four

Tsunami escape

“Grace, come on!” yelled Father. Mama grabbed Father’s hand and grabbed mine and Father scooped up Hower and yanked me out of this house. I looked at the ocean. What in the

       The ocean had parted and retreated back, staying there, leaving us tons of sand we shouldn't have seen. That sand should have been covered with water.

       "Signs of tsunami!” Mama screamed.

“We’ve got to go uphill!” Father yelled. I looked up at the lighthouse. 

       “Come on, Grace.” Mama screamed. Right. The lighthouse wasn’t important. But...why was I less worried about our house-where we lived-than our lighthouse.

I mean, the lighthouse was close to the sea, but our house was only 20 feet from the lighthouse! 

          “Grace Rey Kittle! Come on. We need to get up this hill, unless you’re planning on body-surfing a tidal wave!” Father told me. “I have a better idea,” I said, the wind whipping my hair across my face. “Then going uphill for a tsunami?  No offense but I doubt it, honey.” Mama said. People screamed as they all ran uphill together. 

          “The lighthouse! They always say to go up high during a tsunami, so this is perfect!” I yelled over the howling wind. 

          “The lighthouse. Grace-were you even listening to Warren? Tsunamis happen in the water. Our lighthouse is basically in the water! If not, inches from it!” Mama said, looking at me like I was crazy. 

  “But it’s high!” I argued. 

          “Grace-so is the tsunami!” Mama remarked.

          “But-” 

  “Grace! Come on!” Mama screamed, swinging her head to look at me.