Dad was gone, and the bathroom door was open. There was no creaking roof, and no blasting wind. Finally the cyclone was over. ‘Peanut?’ I whispered, creeping down to the kitchen. ‘Peanut, are you here?’ Dad was looking out the back door, but he swung around when he heard me. ‘Good morning, sleepy head,’ he said. ‘How are you this morning? One heck of a night, wasn’t it?’ I yawned and rubbed my eyes. ‘Have you seen Peanut?’ I asked. Dad came over to give me a hug. ‘No, not yet. I was just checking out the damage. Doesn’t look too bad out there, to be honest. Not after all that racket last night.’ He held me at arm’s length. ‘I’m so glad you’re here with me,’ he said, looking at me kindly. ‘Shall we go check the house for your chick? I’m sure the little critter’s here somewhere.’ My grin was so wide it hurt my cheeks. ‘Yeah, okay. Thanks, Dad.’ We found Peanut jabbing at the cane rubbish basket in Grandad Barney’s bedroom.
