“Christine! Are you all right?” Vivian asked as she hurriedly put on her shoes and ran downstairs.
Christine bolted from the guest room barefoot and nearly collided into Vivian at the bottom of the stairs.
“You all right?” Vivian asked.
“Y-y-yeah, Viv,” Christine said. “Just sh-sh-shaken up pretty g-g-good.”
They held hands tightly and embraced. This time, Christine welcomed the hug.
“You sure?” Vivian said.
Christine shook her head. “No, b-b-but I’ll be all right, Viv. It’s a f-f-first for me, that’s all.”
Christine held out her shaking hands.
Vivian looked down and noticed Christine was barefoot.
“You need to put your shoes on,” Vivian said, “so that you won’t step on broken glass.”
Christine went to the guest room and quickly put on her shoes, then returned to where Vivian stood. They looked around the living room with foreboding disquietude.
“The power is most likely out,” Vivian said, “and the phones may be down for a while. I’m going to check around, shut off the gas, and make sure everything is okay. Be prepared for aftershocks.”
“I’m going with you,” Christine said. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“I don’t blame you. We need to get in touch with Blaine as soon as possible and let him know we’re okay. I’m sure he’ll hear about the earthquake.”
The house vibrated again with slightly less intensity as windows rattled, walls shook, and other objects moved.
Christine screamed.
“Oh, no,” Vivian said with a gasp. “Here we go again.”
Throughout the day, Vivian and Christine listened to radio reports.
“A little while ago, there was a magnitude five-point-three aftershock that rolled through the San Fernando Valley,” a reporter said. “Cal-Tech says the preliminary reading of the main shock was at least magnitude six-point-eight. That one struck at 6:11 a.m. and lasted for thirty-seven seconds. There are no reports of casualties or injuries at this time. We are receiving reports of extensive damage, most of which is centered in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. There is damage at the beaches, too. Beach homes were shaken off foundations. Some damage has been reported in Orange County. Though at this time, seismologists are still trying to pinpoint the epicenter and from which fault the quake occurred . . .”