10. Explanation of the lesson "Old Man River"

The stage is very dim. Amy, Betty, and Rose are sitting around a table. While Amy and Rose are knitting, Betty is looking at pictures in the magazine.
 
Rose wanted some light, as it was getting dark on the rainy days early. She asked Amy if she can raise the curtain a bit. Amy agreed and said that maybe they need to switch on the light as well. Rose went near the window and saw outside. She could see the rains were heavy, and that the backyard has become a small lake. Amy also went near Rose and was astonished at the view. She said that it was the third day since it started raining and did not stop at all. When Betty heard Rose and Amy, she joined them and went near the window, keeping her magazine aside. Betty was happy to see so much water she said its more than a lake. It was looking like a sea. Betty heard the radio that morning, and it was announced that the river is overflowing, and it is a flood situation. But Betty could not understand much. Amy could understand that and said the river is above the white line, which means the danger zone on the bank of the Thomson Bridge. She said that it might have covered the fields on the south and the highway. Rose added her theory, saying that the snow is melting in the northern part of the state. Amy, Rose, and Betty go back to the table and talk to each other. Rose was a bit tensed and was hoping that there should not be a flood there. Suddenly they hear someone coming and trying to breathe slowly. They all look in that direction, who that was?
 
Jim Hall entered the room, and he was wearing a shining wet coat and arain helmet. He dragged the helmet as he was breathing heavily. He saw the girls and said that it was a cloudburst out there. He removed his rubber boots and said that he had run every step to get to this place from the school. He declared that the river was rising fast and the Brunett Dam had broken an hour ago. He said that others say the situation is bad. Jim asks Amy where her mother was?

 

 

Amy said that her mother had taken Dick to the dentist and that she was going to stop at Mrs. Brant's place for a recipe before coming back. She said that her mother would be home soon. Next, Jim asked about Amy's father. Amy said that he had gone to Chicago for some business. Amy was amazed at why Jim was asking so many questions. Jim was about to say something, and the phone rang. Amy answered the phone. Everyone could hear her voice to whomsoever she was talking. Amy was talking to her mother. Her tone was serious. She said that Jim Hall and Rose were there at the house. She will tell something to someone and kept the phone. Amy said that her mother could not come home as the bridge between here and the town was full of water. Amy instructed Rose, saying her mother wanted Rose to call her mother and tell that she will spend the night at Amy's place.
 
Rose was more than eager to tell her mother that she will stay at Amy's place and goes to the room, which has the phone. Amy said to Betty that together they could fill all the tubs, bowls, buckets. So, that they would not run out of fresh water. It is even possible that the freshwater supply might get cut off from the town, or it might become unsafe to drink. Amy told Jim that her mother expects him to stay and help them.

Jim was ready to help them. He said that was the reason he came there. Jim asked Amy to keep the Lantern prepared, and before he could say more, Betty said that she had a flashlight and some candles. Rose was still trying to call her mother. She was irritated because she was trying to reach the Main 3022 line, but she was not able to get through. Rose was scared and said that the line was dead. There was not even a buzzing sound on the line.
 
Jim understood everything he said maybe the line is down due to flood situation. He tried to prepare the girls for the worst. Jim told them to get everything whatever is needed. He asked Betty to take care of candles, lamps, lanterns, and flashlights. Next, he tells Rose to fill the tubs and buckets. Amy and Jim needed to look for some food, bedsheets, and coats. He even wants to take out the first-aid kit. Jim asked everyone to hurry up, so Rose and Betty went to take care of the chores. Jim tells Amy that it was a grave situation. He didn't want to scare Amy, but Amy's house is directly in line with the river. If the dam is underwater, then it means that they cannot go out on the main road and that they are cut off from the southern side already. Both Jim and Amy go near the window and see.

 

 

Amy exclaimed to Jim that the water was up around the garage already. She said that she thought it was just another pool which forms due to incessant rains in the garden, but it's the river which has swelled up till here. She calls it the old man river which has come almost near the door. Both tremble a bit, and Amy told Jim that she was frightened. Jim consoled her by putting his hand around the shoulder. He said that they been through many incidents which had come and gone. He reminds her of even the school fire. He says the foremost thing is not to let others know that they are frightened.
 
He wanted Amy to get all the things like bedsheets, lanterns, coats, food, and water in one place. Jim was a part of the Junior Red Cross emergency squad during the war. So, he knows certain things. Jim said that it was a disappointment that Amy's house was a bungalow instead of a two-storied house. He said they all could climb to the roof if needed.

Amy asked Jim how fast is the river rising? Jim replies saying he had no idea and it might stop before entering the bungalow. He said that if the rain stops, he would climb the roof and call out for help. The rescuers might send a boat or something like that to rescue them.