Thursday, April 20, 1932
3:12 p.m.
It was 3:10; the first bell would ring in fifteen minutes. Miss Sheridan had her class put their books away. Before the bell rang, she told everyone to do a great job at the sports meet. Rachel went to her desk and took out an envelope for Jimmy. She handed it to him and said I thought you might like some more practice words for next week’s spelling bee. Jimmy smiled at her and said thank you, Miss Sheridan.
Betty had gotten up to the back of the room to sharpen pencils. Miss Sheridan said Betty finish up and take your seat. Before the words were out, a whoosh and rumble happened. The room completely changed; a sea of bricks and cement flew everywhere, and the glass broke. Screams and moaning were all Bettie heard. She tried to comprehend the situation, but she was in a state of shock. In front of her, were mangled bodies.
The walls of the school collapsed, and the roof fell in. The victims are all covered under a massive pile of brick and concrete. Betty saw Thomas and knew that he was dead. How was she standing straight up? The two pencils are still in her hands. Someone was screaming Ernest’s name. Bettie knew it was William, but she could not see him. Someone had her hand, but she could not remember who it was. Betty found she could not move.
The sound was loud and could be heard and felt for miles. It was as if a whole town simultaneously stopped and knew this day would be epic.
Parents rushed from around town to find their children. Oil field workers came they searched for survivors. Doctors rushed in from Hospitals.
