Flash floods and heavy rains are common occurrences in northern Illinois, and Avalon has had its fair share of torrential thunderstorms and rising water. Many of the residents still remember the floods of 1996, when the river spilled over sixteen-foot levees and flooded neighborhoods. The governor had declared the county a state disaster area and flood waters kept students out of school for two weeks. Now the rising water has the town concerned again. Heavy rains have been pushing water into all the neighboring counties and high winds have knocked down trees and tree limbs, causing many homes to be without power. Mark stares out the living room window. Rain is streaming down the window like a waterfall, completely obscuring his view of the yard or road. “God, what rotten luck.” Their follow-up meeting with Bruno Lemelin is scheduled for today. Mark sees Julia walk by with several plastic mixing bowls to put under leaks in the upstairs bathroom. He knows that Gracie is camped out in front of the TV, snuggled inside of a sleeping bag.
