"What does it feel like?" Robbie asked. He looked down at his feet, as if expecting an earthquake at any minute.

"Sometimes they're very small, they feel like a big truck rumbling by. Sometimes, they can be very large. The Northridge Earthquake happened near here. It was so large that buildings came down and people were hurt."

Julia looked alarmed. "This won't happen while we're here, will it?"

"I hope not," Uncle James said. "But let me show you how I'm prepared."

The twins followed behind, like ducklings waddling after their mother. Uncle James said his house was bolted to the foundation so it wouldn't slide off during an earthquake. Then he showed how he'd strapped his water heater to the wall so it would not fall over and start a fire.

And there was more.

"See how I attached these heavy cabinets to the wall? That way, they won't tip over during an earthquake and fall on someone," he said. "I'm very careful about where I put furniture. I don't have heavy plants or mirrors over the bed, for example."

"Good thinking," said Robbie. "That way, stuff won't fall on you when you're sleeping."
"Exactly," said Uncle James.

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