Tap, tap, rattle, rattle. I was tossing and turning in bed trying to get to sleep when I heard rattling and tapping noises. I thought that is was my dad because he constantly rattles the windows by snoring. Then Mother Nature gave me a wakeup call… at 12.02 at night!!! (Way past my bedtime). I heard rumbling noises as my bunk started shaking “Shoot the cat!” I shouted “IT'S AN EARTHQUAKE!!!”
The shaking continued as I half expected the house to fall down on us as my sister Emma, my little and big brothers Paul and Marc and my Mum ran downstairs to the doorway while my dad and I ran to my room's doorway. I suddenly felt sick as the shaking and rolling continued for about 5 minutes, my Mum not making it any better by shouting out to see if we were alright. The rolling stopped and my dad and I ran downstairs and asked “are you alright”, then I noticed Marc, he looked on the verge of tears as he cuddled his favourite soft toy ‘Red draggie’ (A red dragon soft toy) I asked if he was feeling good and he answered “Yes,”. While all this was happening mum was checking GeoNet seeing how strong the earthquake was and where it was “Gosh! A 7.8 that is whopping big one,” “Actually I think it's the biggest one in a few years,” my big brother Paul replied in a scientific voice. “Uhhh guys can we focus on the task at hand” Emma said “Yeah for once I agree with Emma, where are we going to get some light” I wondered suddenly realising that there WAS no light! “Hey what about FOOD” Marc said emphasising the last word. “Okay guys get shoes and a jacket and let's go outside,” Mum said. So we all went and got shoes and a jacket then I realised that I wasn’t wearing my glasses so I walked upstairs to get them and also something I hadn’t used in a long time, my soft toy dog (Which when I was little I called Doggie) and cuddled it to my chest feeling its soft fur brushing against my face. “Pippa where are you” my Mum called up and I ran downstairs still clutching my toy.