Dinosaur Blackout by Judith Silverthorne

didn’t have a phone, so they couldn’t simply call.
    Daniel returned the grooming tools to the barn and hurried to the house.
    “Dad?” he called.
    “In the dining room, son,” Dad answered.
    Daniel rushed in. “Do you think we should go over to the Nelwins and see if they’re okay?”
    Dad thought about it for a moment. “Maybe we should, but I hate to interfere in someone else’s business, when we’re not asked. There isn’t really any good reason to go over.”
    “How about a purely social call? We could take some fresh cookies I baked this morning,” Mom suggested from the doorway, where she held a squirming Cheryl wrapped in a fluffy blue towel after her nightly bath. “You and I could go and chat with Horace...tell him how well his sons are doing, that kind of thing.”
    Dad shrugged. “Sure, if you want to.”
    “Yes, I do. I agree with Daniel and something tells me we should check it out.” She handed Cheryl over to Daniel. “How about you finish drying her off and get her into bed?”
    Daniel sighed. He wanted to go with his parents, but he knew there was no point in arguing.
    “Book,” said Cheryl.
    Daniel smiled. “Yes, I’ll read to you. Come on.” He carried her upstairs.
    From the window in Cheryl’s room, he watched his parents get into their car. Mom had her nursing bag in her hand. She often carried it with her, but Daniel was surprised she’d take it when they were only going a mile and a half away. Maybe she thought something had happened as well. Or maybe she was just being prepared.
    By the time Daniel finished reading Cheryl her book three times and she’d settled down to sleep, he heard Mom and Dad returning. Quietly, he left his sister’s room and slid down the banister in time to meet them at the kitchen door.
    “Well?”
    “There wasn’t anyone home,” said Mom, seeming even more puzzled than before.
    “We drove around the yard, but there weren’t any lights on anywhere,” said Dad.
    Mom said, “I wouldn’t let your father get out of the car with all those vicious dogs.”
    “The family was probably out somewhere,” suggested Dad. “We have no business nosing into their affairs.”
    “You’re right, Ed,” Mom said, “but still I wonder if they’re okay.”
    “Hard to say,” said Dad, heading back to the dining room. “Well, I have to get back to my paperwork. The bank is expecting a financial report by Tuesday.”
    “Thanks for going anyway, Dad, Mom,” Daniel said, although he was disappointed with the outcome.
    Getting ready for bed, his thoughts turned to the things they’d need for the journey to dinosaur time. They were only going for five minutes, tops, but he wanted to be able to take advantage of every opportunity. Dr. Roost would have her digital camera, but he’d take his as a backup.
    He fell asleep still making plans.

Chapter Six

    A fter chores and breakfast the next morning, Daniel headed back to his room, where he grabbed his prehistoric photographs of Stygimoloch and some reference books. Next he went to his secret hiding place under the shelf in the bottom of his closet. He removed the elastic-bound notebook he’d used during his last visit to the past and turned to the page where the prehistoric leaf lay preserved. He breathed slowly and avoided direct contact with it – one slip and he’d be flung totally unprepared into the perilous world of the dinosaurs. Then he gently turned to the last page, where he found the tiny branch he’d carved off an ancient tree in the past still inside its plastic bag. Securing the elastic bands around the notebook once again, he slipped it into a large Ziploc bag and tucked it into his backpack.
    By the time he gathered his research and made it downstairs, he found Ole Pederson’s truck running outside the back door with Pederson and Dr. Roost already seated inside. Daniel smiled to himself at how eager they were to work on the project.
    “I’d better double-check with Mom that it’s all