Books shot off shelves and stacks of papers and cups of pens flew off the desk. Pete and Lorna toppled backward from their chairs, while Toby and Emily both pitched forward and hid under the desk as the light storm ravaged the office. With a loud crack the lightning fizzled out. Toby peered cautiously over the desk. The room was awash with scattered papers, but luckily nothing seemed damaged; it was just as though a gust of wind had blown through the house. Or a tornado had hit it, thought Toby darkly. Pete checked his clothing; they had all been struck by the lightning but he could see no physical marks. He looked up to see the others staring at him with wide grins. “Your hair!” giggled Emily. “It’s sticking up everywhere!” “My hair? You look pretty ridiculous too!” Everybody’s hair was standing on end, thin whispers of smoke rising from each of them. Pete had mysteriously managed to get black smudges across his cheeks. “What just happened?” he asked, standing up. Emily brushed away the cordless phone that had fallen on her.
