D - Doll #AtoZChallenge

My A to Z Challenge: Micro fiction, using 300 words or less, inspired by selected words along with a photo for inspiration. The words were chosen in reverse order from this lesson plan page.
(For example, for the letter A it was the 26th word on the list, for Z it was the 1st word on the list)

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"We've got to evacuate now," Roy shouted at his wife standing in the hallway staring at the family photos.

His youngest daughter, Sarah, tugged his sleeve. "Daddy, I need to get Delilah."

"Not now, honey. We have to go. Get in the car with Braxton and Emily." He moved towards his wife while pushing Sarah toward the front door. "Go!"

His wife sobbed. "I have so many memories here. My mom, my dad..."

"I know but you'll always have the memories. We have to hurry. Both the levees are gone." He tugged her arm. "Hurry! Everyone's in the car. I'll get the suitcases and be right behind in the Jeep. Just go!"

"Did someone get the pups?" She scanned the room, searching for their two dogs.

"I told Braxton to corral them. They're probably already in the car. Now, GO!" He headed up the stairs to get the last of the bags they had packed the night before.
Ugh
Five minutes later they were headed to safety. Due to the forecast for more rain, they had decided to stay with family in a neighboring community forty minutes away. They were less than ten minutes out when Emily asked her mom, "Is Sarah with Dad?"

"Are you sure she isn't hiding in the back? Check, Braxton."

The young boy crawled into the rear space behind his seat and shuffled through the bags and bedding tossed there. "Nope, not here."

She quickly called Roy on the two-way radio. "Damn her!" Roy did a u-turn and raced back to the house. "Stay here," he commanded as scrambled out, leaving the car running. "Sarah! Where are you? Sarah!"

"Daddy..." The rest was lost in the roar of the flood water.


When the search and rescue crews came, they found a tiny girl buried in mud, clutching what was left of her doll.