Chapter 5

April 10, 2022 at 6:00 pm

The noise was incredibly loud and Joshua couldn't help but flinch. Milford and Bessie looked at him and they looked around them. Suddenly, their great-nephew had this strange look in his eyes. Without any explanation, Joshua raced away from them and what was left of their house.

Stephanie, Amanda, Robbie, and Samantha were wondering what was taking Joshua so long. Robbie decided he'd better go in and help. He was beginning to climb through the hole in the wall when Milford and Bessie rounded the corner. They had used the front door.

Stephanie raced over to them and gave them a big hug. They had been lucky that the house hadn't collapsed on them. It was then she noticed Joshua wasn't with them.

"Where is Joshua?" She asked.

"He flinched, looked at us funny, and ran away." Bessie told her.

"Oh God." Were the only words that escaped her lips. She knew it could mean only one thing. His father was in trouble.

Joshua arrived at Pixel's house, or rather what was left of it, within seconds of leaving Uncle Milford and Aunt Bessie. He stood in udder horror at the site in front of him. Then Joshua heard someone moaning. Whirling around, the sixteen year old found Pixel lying on the ground. One of his arms had the bone sticking out of it and blood seeped onto the ground.

"Pixel! Where is my father?" Joshua asked.

"He's in there." Pixel barely got out. He was in a lot of pain. The deafening silence inside Joshua's head made him oblivious to what the Gizmo Guy was going through. Immediately, the sixteen year old turned his attention to the ruins of Pixel's house. His father was in there somewhere and he had to find him.

The group left Milford's house and headed for Town Hall. No doubt people were beginning to gather there for some sort of instruction as to what to do next. They arrived there to find Trixie running the show and Stingy trying to help her. Surprisingly, the Town Hall seemed to be unscathed by the twister that had shot through LazyTown. That is part of the mystery with tornados. Some houses can be completely destroyed and others untouched. People from all over town had gathered and most seemed to be in shock at what just happened. Some were in complete denial. Trixie walked over from her command post to her friends.

"I was just informed that the National Guard is on its way. Where are Sportacus and Joshua?" She asked. Stephanie's face fell.

"We don't know. How long until the Guard gets here?" Robbie responded.

"Hopefully within the hour. That is if the roads are in good shape. Unfortunately, the new Mayor is missing and I've been trying to get people organized but I just don't seem to be getting through to them." Trixie explained.

"I'll need your help but maybe I can wrangle this people back together." Milford said. He walked over to Stingy and grabbed the megaphone.

"People of LazyTown, listen to me! We need you to get yourselves together! Organize! The National Guard will be here soon!" At this, the crowd immediately turned to the ex-Mayor and listened.

"Wow! You still know how to work the crowd." Stingy smiled.

"I may be old but I'm not that old." Milford smiled back. Into the megaphone, he shouted,

"I need you to break up into groups of twenty!" The crowd did as they were told. Stingy walked over to each group and gave them a number.

"Group 1 go to LazyAcres and see if there are any people in what is left of the mobile homes! Group 2 cover the apartment complex! Group 3 go to the shops in town! Group 4, half of you, go into Town Hall and see if you can dig anything up that might help us! Group 5 stay here and wait for further instruction!" Milford finished. The groups had their assignments and left the Town Hall.

"Robbie I want you to take fifteen people and go see if the road is clear for the Guard. Amanda and Samantha take the other five and the rest of Group 4, and help the wounded as best you can. Bessie see if you can help the other half of Group 4." Milford handed out the assignments.

Joshua lifted heavy pieces of Pixel's home. He had to find his father. Under the broken walls, beams, windows, and everything else, there was a very slim chance his father was still alive but Joshua didn't care. He had to find him.

To Be Continued…