Janet Hardy in Hollywood. Wheeler Ruthe S.
going to start with a count and I want all of you to beat your feet in time with me. That’ll jar your whole body and warm you up a little.”
Jim started counting and soon the whole group was stamping their feet methodically.
Even Janet had not realized how cold she was. Her feet had felt a little numb, but under the steady pounding against the floor they started to tingle, then burn with an intensity that brought tears to her eyes where they froze on her lashes.
“I’m nearly frozen,” chattered Margie, huddling closer to Janet. “If it wasn’t for your coat I’d be like an icicle by this time.”
They kept up the motion with their feet for at least five minutes, and Jim called a halt then.
“Everyone feel a little warmer?” he asked.
“My hands are still cold,” said one of the girls, but Janet was too stiff to turn around and see who was speaking.
“Then here’s an arm drill for everyone,” said Jim, starting to swing his arms in cadence.
When that exercise was completed, most of them could feel their bodies aglow as the blood raced through their veins.
Ed started to tell funny stories and though he did his best, their own situation was so tragic that nothing appeared humorous. But he kept them interested, which was the main thing.
Helen was the first to break the now monotonous flow of Ed’s words.
“Stop, Ed,” she said, her voice low and tense. “Shake Miss Bruder, quick!”
Ed turned suddenly to the teacher, who had been sitting back of him. Her head had fallen forward on her chest and her arms hung limp.
The husky senior picked her up and brought her back under the light, the rest crowding around him.
Then Janet took charge. Miss Bruder’s eyes were closed, but she was breathing slowly.
“I believe she’s half frozen. She was sitting where a constant knife of air was coming in around the door,” whispered Jim. “Get busy and massage her.”
Janet, with Helen helping her, stripped off Miss Bruder’s thin gloves. Her hands were pitifully white.
Ed scooped up a handful of snow where it had sifted in around the door and used it to rub Miss Bruder’s hands while Janet and Helen massaged the upper part of her body and her face.
It was five minutes before the teacher responded to their frantic efforts. Then her eyes opened and she tried to smile.
“I must have dozed for a moment,” she whispered.
“Don’t talk,” said Helen. “Rest now.”
“Is everyone all right?” insisted the teacher.
“Everybody’s here,” replied Jim, who was keeping a close eye on Bernice, who seemed the most susceptible to the cold.
Ed pulled Janet to the rear of the bus.
“This thing is getting serious,” he whispered. “Some of the girls won’t be able to stand it until morning unless we’re able to keep them warmer. Jim and I have sheepskins. We’ll put them down on the floor and you girls get down and lie on them. Huddle together and cover up with your own coats. Your body heat should keep you warm and we’ll be moving around and talking to you so none of you will get too drowsy from the cold.”
“But you can’t do that. You and Jim will freeze,” protested Janet.
“Freeze? I guess not. We’re too tough for that. Besides, I’ve got all kinds of clothes on under this sheepskin.”
Janet finally agreed to the plan and Ed explained it briefly. Miss Bruder hesitated, but the others overruled her.
Jim and Ed placed their heavy canvas, sheep-lined coats on the floor and the girls laid down on them like ten pins, huddling together and putting their own coats over them.
“Get just as close as you can so you’ll keep each other warm,” counseled Jim, who, minus his heavy coat, was busy swinging his arms and legs.
In less than five minutes the girls were ready to admit that the plan was an excellent one, for they were quite comfortable under the mound of coats and Janet made them keep up a constant flow of conversation, calling to each girl every few minutes. Up in the front of the bus they could hear the boys moving steadily and stamping their feet.
How long they had been under the pile of coats Janet couldn’t guess, but suddenly there was a wild pounding on the door of the bus. She managed to get her head out from under the coats in time to see Jim open the door.
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