THE - Chapter 1 Rain, Rain, Go Away - Read on a rainy Joseph’s birthday

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Jiven

A rainy birthday turns into a fast-moving emergency for Joseph and his family as relentless downpour floods the backyard, threatens the shed, and erases paths and the stream behind the fence. Joseph worries about the planned picnic, but his mother organizes urgent preparations, moving drawers and storing items upstairs while they assess rising water depth. When a loud rumbling roar breaks through the storm, the family reacts immediately to get inside as danger escalates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages60

Reading Time1 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 1 Rain, Rain, Go Away

Chapter 2 A Close Call

Chapter 3 Safe Haven

Chapter 4 Frances Hatches a Plan

Chapter 5 A Cry for Help

Chapter 6 Scary Carey

Chapter 7 Near Disaster

Chapter 8 Rescued

Chapter 9 Safe and Sound

Chapter 10 Happy Birthday

# THE ## hday00DJoy Watson Written by Joy WatsonIllustrated by Anna-Maria Crum Chapter 1 Rain,Rain,Go Away5 Chapter 2 A Close Call10 Chapter 3 Safe Haven16 Chapter 4 Frances Hatches a Plan 22 Chapter 5 A Cry for Help25 Chapter 6 Scary Carey31 Chapter 7 Near Disaster36 Chapter 8 Rescued39 Chapter 9 Safe and Sound44 Chapter 10 Happy Birthday48 Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2012 http://archive.org/details/isbn 0769910602 “Oh no!It's still raining!”Joseph rubbedthe sleep from his eyes and thumped hispillow.“It's not fair!” It was Joseph's birthday and his familywas supposed to go to the riverside park fora picnic.Two days ago the rain had started. "It should stop by tomorrow,"his dad hadsaid last night as Joseph was going to bed. But now it was tomorrow,and it was stillraining-hard.Rain was drumming on theroof and gurgling down the drains.Rainwas hissing through the trees and drippingfrom the leaves.Rain,rain,rain… Joseph stomped into the kitchen,scowling.“Mom,it's still raining!” "Yes,it certainly is,"agreed his mother."You should have heard it last night!Justlook out the window.” The backyard was almost covered inwater."Wow!"Joseph said,then paused."But what about the picnic?"he wailed."Dad said it would be nice today." “Oh,Joseph,your father can't control theweather,"laughed Mom,giving him a hug."But we haven't forgotten.Happy birthday,my little eight-year-old!Now look,we can'thave a picnic in this weather,but we'll thinkof something else to do instead.In themeantime,how about some breakfast?” “I’m having cornflakes,"said Joseph'slittle brother,Anthony,who was already atthe table. "I’ll have the same,please,"Joseph said."Where's Dad?Is he still asleep?" “Goodness no!”said Mom."He wentout early to help the Masons move theiranimals in case there's a flood.Your sistershave gone with him.We'll give you yourpresents when they come back.” After breakfast Joseph and Anthony stoodon the back porch and watched the rain.Thestream that ran along beside the fence had become a rushing brown river.The lawn wascompletely covered now,and water waslapping at the door of the garden shed. “I hope we get a real flood like we see onTV sometimes,"Joseph said to Anthony. “Joseph,"his mother called,"please getdressed.The stream will be over its bankssoon,and we might get water in the house.We'll have to raise things up so they won'tget wet.I'll need you and Anthony to helpme out.” “Okay,what should we do?”Joseph asked. "For a start we'll pull out all the bottomdrawers and put them up on the table.Andthe stuff on the floor of the closets will needto go in boxes and be carried upstairs.We'llhave to move anything that's on the floorand that could get ruined.But we'll need tohurry,okay?” “Will the water really come in the house,Mom?”Anthony asked after they had beenworking for a while. Mom straightened and looked around."I honestly don't know.I hope not,but thewater's getting pretty deep out there.Let'stake a look.” They stood on the back porch and peeredinto the rain.The driveway and paths haddisappeared now,and the shed wassurrounded by water.They couldn't eventell where the stream was,because the waterhad spread all the way across the yard. I wish I could swim in it,Joseph thought. “We'll need to roll up some towels andput them along the bottoms of the doors toslow down the water."Mom was looking atthe water lapping against the doorstep.“And then we'll.…”Her head jerked up."What's that noise?" Above the pounding of the rain theycould hear a loud,rumbling roar. Mom looked up at the small risebordering the stream behind the house andscreamed,“Get inside!”She pushed theboys into the house and slammed the doorbehind them.

FAQs

Why is Joseph upset on his birthday?

It is still raining hard, so the riverside park picnic his family planned cannot happen.

What does Joseph’s mother ask him and Anthony to do?

She tells them to help move household items, pull out bottom drawers, box closet contents, and raise things to prevent damage from incoming water.

What signals that the situation becomes more dangerous?

A loud rumbling roar rises above the rain, prompting Joseph’s mother to shout, push the boys inside, and slam the door.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Jiven