Lydia threw her hands up and shook her head. She didn’t know what the volunteer firefighters were thinking or how they planned to control a massive fire. “Guess they gotta try something to stop the fire from spreading, but you’re right; it doesn’t sound like what they’re doing is being very effective.”
How many catastrophes would they have to endure in the hotel before the end of this? “Can see why you guys moved to the RVs,” she said. Only then did she realize she was crushing the pack of cigarettes in her fist. Well, that was one way to quit. The cigarettes inside were broken and unusable. She crunched up the pack even more and threw them in the direction of the trash bin.
“Under the bed,” she pointed to the king sized bed she shared with Ana. The backpacks didn’t and wouldn’t hold all their belongings, essentials and important things only. The purpose for which was in case something like this happened and they needed to leave in a rush. Anything they left behind could be replaced.
Nodding her head, she was in the hall before Deb finished speaking. Checking her siblings’ rooms didn’t take long. Everyone was off doing various other things. Lydia just had to hope they weren’t trying to get through the mess downstairs, or return to their rooms while (if, if, if) the fire was raging. She debated long enough to decide against gathering everything’s things - she didn’t have the hands to carry everything herself. Practicality won out and she abandoned the rooms for the hall, where Deb was waiting with the three kids.
Ana alternated between giving uncertain looks to Deb to listening to Lily’s story. Mari huddled close to them, her shoulder bumping against Deb’s in the teenage version of wanting comfort without holding someone’s hand. She clutched her bag and Ana’s.
Lydia shoved her arms through the straps of her own backpack, hiking it onto her back before scooping Ana into her arms. “Let’s get out while everyone else is scrambling to pack all their shit,” she said, the expletive slipping out without her realizing. She gave their room one last glance to make sure they weren’t leaving anything important, then nodded for Deb to lead the way. Her hand rested on Mari’s shoulder to help her navigate through the crowded hallway.