Nuclear Winter Whiteout by Bobby Akart (books for 8th graders .txt) 📕

his throat and swallowed hard. He whispered his response. “Hospital. Colorado.”

Dr. Forrest stepped in and looked toward one of the nurses. “Let’s get him some ice chips.”

Dr. Brady continued. “I’m sorry I asked you to speak, but it was important for us to confirm that you are aware of your surroundings and that you can comprehend the information we are about to give you.”

Tucker’s eyes darted around the room, and he became slightly agitated. He mouthed the words Mom, Dad.

Dr. Brady held his hand up and smiled. “They’re alive, son. Let us explain. Don’t talk so you can save your strength. Sheriff, would you briefly relay what you and your deputies found.”

Sheriff Mobley related the discovery of their bodies yesterday and how they’d brought the three of them to the hospital. He stopped short of discussing Tucker’s parents’ medical conditions. Dr. Brady took over from there.

“You did an excellent job protecting your mother from the cold. She’s still sleeping in the room next door to us. Tucker, hypothermia takes a terrible toll on a body’s organs and brain. It’s been in your best interest, as well as your parents’, that we didn’t wake you unless absolutely necessary.”

Tucker responded with an imperceptible nod. His eyes began to droop as drowsiness came over him, caused in part by the medications he’d been taking in addition to the trauma his body had endured.

Sheriff Mobley noticed the two doctors exchange a long glance. He knew what they were thinking. The kid was awake. Do they broadside him with his father’s true condition and then pressure Tucker for an answer on the proposed amputation while he was awake?

Dr. Forrest spoke up. “Tucker, your father’s condition is much worse because he was partially exposed to the frigid air. The sheriff tells us he made an unbelievable effort to shield himself from a sudden flash freeze that swept over your vehicle as well as your dad. For that reason, we have to monitor him very closely for issues that you and your mom were fortunate to avoid.”

Tucker comprehended what he was being told, but his eyes studied the faces of the doctors to determine if he was getting the complete story. He pointed toward the white plastic cup of ice chips being held by his nurse. He took a few in his mouth and allowed them to melt. He ate several more over the objection of Dr. Brady, but they seemed to help with the soreness.

“See him.” Two simple words conveying a request that was not so simple to fulfill. Then he fell asleep.

Chapter Fourteen

Friday, November 1

Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center

La Junta, Colorado

Tucker slowly sipped the warm chicken broth provided him by the nurses. He was slowly regaining his strength with more rest. He was frustrated with himself for falling asleep before gaining approval to see his dad. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out before the nurses and Dr. Brady had awakened him.

Now that he was able to speak with only a minor twinge of pain in his throat, he planned on pressuring his doctor to allow him to see his parents. He was thrilled when Dr. Brady didn’t object, although he had no idea there was an ulterior motive for his acquiescence.

Tucker was athletic and young. His body had been able to withstand the extreme cold that had encircled him and his mother that night. It had been a rash decision his mom made that almost killed them. Yet he understood why she did it.

They’d been sitting in the front seat of the Bronco when the first massive wind gust swept over them. Lacey shrieked as the truck shook and then was forced several yards down the highway. Then came another, this time sustained. It inched the truck forward, causing them to wonder if they were on the leading edge of a tornado.

Both of them frantically assessed their options. His mom wanted to search for Owen. Tucker argued that they should stay in the truck for safety. She became distraught and impulsive as she began to put on every item of clothing within her grasp that she could wear in order to search for her husband.

Tucker tried to calm his mother, but the flash freeze did that for him. For several moments, neither of them were able to speak, fear stealing their voices. Ice crystals began to form on the windows until soon, they were unable to see outside. Not that it mattered. The blowing snow and ash created whiteout conditions that reduced visibility to zero.

To Tucker, it appeared that the old truck was contracting. It was if a massive set of icy-cold hands had wrapped their frigid fingers around Black & Blue. It creaked and cracked and allowed the brutal cold inside.

Then, without warning, Lacey pulled the door handle on the passenger door and flung her shoulder against it. It broke the seal of ice and flew completely open with the assistance of the wind.

“I have to find your dad,” she said as she swung her body around to exit the truck. She made it three steps before being knocked into the snow-filled ditch adjacent to the highway. Tucker couldn’t get his door open, so he scrambled across the seats to help his mother. He was shocked to see how quickly she’d been affected by the subzero temperatures.

She was incoherent as he lifted her under her armpits to drag her back to the truck. The two-door Bronco was difficult to climb into on a good day, much less in epic blizzard conditions.

After a minute of additional exposure to the flash freeze anomaly, Tucker was able to position his mother in the back seat, and then he climbed in next to her. He pulled every available blanket, sleeping bag, and jacket from the cargo compartment and covered them, providing just enough space for the two of them to breathe.

Then he held his mother. He closed his eyes and concentrated in an attempt to will his body heat into hers. He ignored his