"Come one, Freddy. I'll help you to the house."  

Tootz and Jimmy ran ahead of the two children.  

Freddy staggered out of the barn, still leaning on Emmy.   She had her arm around him, holding him up.  

Freddy's ma ran across the yard.   She knelt down and grabbed Freddy under his arms.   He collapsed against her shoulder.  

Emmy's mama ran up and bent over to look at Emmy.  

"Are you all right?   What happened?"  

"Freddy and I were playing in the hay loft and..."  

"I told you not to go there!" said Mrs. Zimmerman.  

"I know."   Emmy looked at Mama.   "I'm sorry."  

"What happened?"  

"Freddy fell out of the loft and unto a pile of straw.   It wasn't very high and he landed hard and hit his head."  

"I'm sorry, Ma," whispered Freddy.  

His ma smoothed his wet hair back from his forehead.   She turned him gently around.  

"You've got a knot the size of an orange on the back of your head."  

"Ow!   Don't touch it.   It hurts!"  

"Young man, you're lucky that's all that's hurting you.   It's a wonder you didn't break your arm or leg!"  

Emmy's ma spoke up.   "Margie, we'd better get in the house.   It sounds like there is a storm coming up."  

The four of them walked back into the house.   Tootz and Jimmy went back into the barn to get out of the rain.