I flicked on the power switch out of habit, but the bulb overhead remained dark. The sparse light from the living room windows did little to illuminate the small pantry closet. I pulled cans from the shelves to read their labels in the hall light. "I have Spaghetti-Os," I called as I stepped back into the living room.

The two boys on the couch groaned and sank deeper into the cushions, staring at the black screen of the television set. "Not again," Noah whined, crossing his arms.

"We had those last night," Tim agreed.

"I want pizza," Noah said.

"That sounds delicious," Henry piped up, drawing the boy's attention. "However, with the river flooded we have no power in the house and I doubt the pizza parlor does."

"I kno-ow," Noah said, drawing out the last word to share his exasperation. Henry and I looked at each other. I wanted to smile, but the situation was wearing on me as much as the boys.

"I can make soup," I added, wondering if I had a can of soup stashed somewhere. I was certain there had to be some chicken noodle somewhere...

The boys said nothing. Tim put a pillow over his head and fell over dramatically. I left the room before I started to cry. Five days without electricity, two of them with the nonstop rainstorm that lead to the river flooding. All of the houses in the small town were built for such an instance, of course, but being prepared for the situation and being in the situation were two different things. Only Henry insisting we keep plenty of canned foods and bottled water had kept us fed and hydrated, but food wasn't the only concern.

Henry came up behind me, putting his arms around me in a backward hug. "The water's going down," he reminded me gently. "The city knows how to handle it. They'll turn the pumps on soon and in a month we'll be laughing about this."

I wiped at a tear that had escaped and sniffled only once before I leaned back against him. "I just wish there was something we could do for the boys," I admitted. "I feel so helpless with them right now."

Henry kissed the top of my head and I couldn't help but think of my unwashed hair. "I have an idea."

I picked up the can opener from the counter as he left the dark kitchen. Moments later, I heard shouts of joy and the sound of footsteps as the boys ran past the kitchen. Henry followed close behind them. I abandoned the can of Spaghetti-Os on the counter and wandered out, just as the boys re-emerged from their rooms in their swim trunks and sandals. "What are you going to do?" I asked, as Henry emerged in a similar get-up with the boy's worn soccer ball in hand.

"We're going to play soccer," Henry called over his shoulder and opened the front door.

The flood waters covered the first step of our porch, but it had receded. Yesterday it had been near the top stop. "Those trees are the goal for Tim," Henry instructed. "And that bush over there is the goal for Noah. Got it?"

The boys waded into the muddy water. The mom in me wanted to call out a warning about the dangers of the flood waters, but the grins on their faces stopped me. I stood on the top step and watched, eyes brimming with tears as their wide grins were accompanied by shouts and whoops as Henry stood between them and they began splashing the water in their attempts to get the ball toward their assigned goals.

Henry was right, I thought. There would be an end to it, and in time I would look back at this moment and smile .