Клемен Д.Б. Джина (Clemen Gina D. B.)Chapter one
The Earthquake
Portola Point, California, is a lovely town on the Pacific Coast, north of Los Angeles. It got its name from Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish explorer who explored the Pacific Coast in the 18th century. When he came to southern California, several peaceful American Indian peoples lived there. One of these was the Chumash people. During the 19th century the Spanish and American settlers took the land away from them and built roads, towns and cities. The last members of the Chumash went to live on a small reservation near Portola Point.
Bill and Michelle Martin and their family arrived at Portola Point in March. They came from Montego Bay, Florida. Bill was a tall, handsome boy of seventeen with brown hair and blue eyes. Basketball was his sport and he played on the Portola High team. He loved science and wanted to become a biologist.
His sister, Michelle, was a pretty girl of sixteen, with red hair and blue eyes. She played volleyball on the school team and wanted to become a journalist.
Their father worked for an airline and in March he was transferred from Miami international Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.
It was hard for Bill and Michelle to leave their friends at Montego Bay, but they often sent them emails and called them. They liked their new school, Portola High, and made friends there.
Our story begins in July, a hot, sunny month in southern California. School was over, and Bill and Michelle were enjoying their summer vacation in their new home.
"Well, today's the big day!" said Bill. "July third!"
"Yeah, in two hours we'll see Nick again!" said Michelle happily.
"What time is his plane landing?" asked Mrs Martin, a friendly woman of about forty.
"At a quarter past eleven," said Bill.
"The guest room is ready for him, and I hope you have a great vacation together," said Mrs Martin. "It's almost time to drive to the airport."
Nick Chan was one of Bill's best friends at Montego Bay, and he was coming to spend the month of July with the Martins. Nick was a Chinese-American boy of seventeen and a good basketball player. He loved animals and wanted to become a vet.