Izzy McBride

Izzy McBride 

Escaping the Dust 

By Kyla Elliott 

Illustrated by Mira Jung

Izzy McBride: Escaping the Dust 

by Kyla Elliott 

of Longfellow Elementary School 

Illustrated by Mira Jung 

This book was the 2022 middle school division winner of the A Bushel 

of Stories writing contest. This contest was made possible by the Iowa 

Agriculture Literacy Foundation and the National Agriculture in the 

Classroom Organization. 

Special congratulations to second place middle school division A 

Bushel of Stories winner Rachael Weber and third place winner Karina 

Bloom. 

Special thanks to historians Leo Landis, Jennifer Cooley, Dr. Pamela 

Riney-Kehrberg, and Dan Jones for their work in consulting on the 

historical details of this piece.

Diary 

April 18th, 1935 

Just a couple days after the biggest dust storm I have ever seen. 

I, Izzy McBride, just got back from town. I live on a little farm 

in the country outside of Pampas, Texas in the Panhandle, with my 

family. My ma cooks and cleans around the house. My father ran 

the farm and made the money. About a year ago, my father got 

really sick with cancer and had to stop working. He passed about 

six months ago. Since my father’s been out of work, we haven’t 

been getting much money. Ma had to go out and get a job. Here in 

Gray County, the oil business is booming. Ma was able to get a job 

as a bookkeeper with one of the oil companies. While she works, I 

stay at home with my siblings, Ellie and Baby Frank. They mostly 

just complain and play. It’s not the best job in the world, but if it 

helps around the house then I won’t complain. 

Before Father got sick and money got low, life was really good. 

Father and I took care of the farm and harvesting. We planted 

our normal winter wheat, but because of all the storms that have 

been going on, all of our crops have gone to waste. It was not the 

best idea to plant this early. Father and I talked about it, and 

I regret doing it now because things probably would have been 

better if I waited to plant our crops. 

Over the past few days, I’ve noticed that baby Frank has been 

becoming very ill, quite like Father. It’s hard to provide for the 

family since money’s been low and it’s also been hard to get fresh 

food. For a while we butchered our animals, but they died from 

dust pneumonia. Our cellar stores from last year kept us through 

the winter but are starting to get lean. Luckily, our neighbor, 

Mr. Kinzel, gives us some food. That will be all for today, I have to 

rest. 

Sincerely, 

Izzy McBride

April 20th, 1935 

Just over a week ago, Ma ran through the door and announced, 

“I got my paycheck kids!” Ma earned $13. We spent a fair bit, 

though. We bought medication for Baby Frank, then we got milk, 

potted meat, and canned greens. We waited about two days for 

the medicine to help. 

Ma actually cried today, and she’s as tough as nails. I rarely see 

her cry. Baby Frank is too young to understand, but I knew Ellie 

understood. I could see the pain in her eyes. It was terrible, for 

a minute I thought the worst in the world. I never could have 

imagined all of this could happen, not to my family. But I chose not 

to cry. I decided to be the one and step up and help Ma. So wish 

me luck on finding work. 

April 22nd, 1935 

Sincerely, 


I’ve started taking laundry clients to earn extra money. I pick 

up their dirty clothes and return them clean and folded. I’m also 

able to mend clothes if folks need it. I’m glad I did this, because 

it makes me think of Father. He was such a hardworking man, 

and even in sickness he still worked. He was as brave as a lion and 

never gave up. Ma and Ellie have been super down lately, I try to 

cheer Ma up by saying that I’ll be earning money soon. Then we 

can get some more food for the cellar. Most of our food is canned 

and covered in dust. Things were the worst just over a week ago. 

The sky was black for hours, and we were terrified. It did not help 

Baby Frank’s condition.

Most of the house is covered in dust and so is the food. Since I 

haven’t started getting pay, we can’t buy supplies for a storm 

shelter or food. About a year ago, Father built a small shelter. 

It helped for a while but then the dust got too strong and it fell 

apart. Ever since then we haven’t had a shelter and our house 

isn’t very much. We’ve been using sheets against our windows to 

block out the dust from getting in. 

Sincerely, 


April 23rd, 1935 

I finally got paid from my first clients! Ma was so happy to see it. 

We went to the store and bought three items. Luckily, we were 

left with some extra, so I put the rest in my piggy bank. I went 

to do my chores, but dust blew in my eyes, and it felt like fire. Even 

now my eyes still hurt, and this happened about three hours ago. 

Earlier it looked like I was coughing up a dust storm because of all 

the dust that got up in my lungs. I could barely breathe. 

We had a wonderful meal. We devoured our food! After we were 

finished, I held my hand on my stomach and muttered, “Food ain’t 

never tasted so good.” Ma and Ellie agreed and baby Frank looked 

as if he was agreeing, too. At least we have food now. Over the 

past week we haven’t eaten much of anything so we look thin as 

a twig. We all ate our food so fast that I forgot what it tasted 

like. I have to get rest for tomorrow. Now that I am working, I 

have to get up at 6:30. Later! 

May 1st, 1935 

Sincerely, 


Today is Ellie and Ma’s birthday! Since I have money left over I’m 

gonna go out and buy them a present. For Ellie, I was thinking of 

buying her a doll. Ma’s present is gonna be a new cotton dress and 

some money. It’ll be good because she will be able to go out and get 

something for herself. 

Tomorrow, I get another paycheck. I am not going to tell Ma 

about it, only because I have a surprise for the family. I had to 

make up an excuse about why I couldn’t get their presents now. 

I said that I was too busy with the farm and work to do so. I 

didn’t really lie; it was hard to get their presents with me working 

and trying to start our farm back up. I got up earlier than I 

needed to and started to pick some things up around the farm. I

started with cleaning up debris from the storms. Storms have died 

down, and people are starting to buy more crops again and trying 

to help the animals they still have. 

But earlier today, just before work, I stopped at my neighbor’s 

house, Mr. Kinzel, and asked him if he could build me something. 

He started thinking like he was gonna say no then I shouted, “I’ll 

pay you for it!” He looked down at me and replied, “You got yourself 

a deal young lady.” He said it should be done in a week. I just hope 

that Ma or Ellie doesn’t catch him. I told him to come over the 

hours that Ma is out or sleeping, but it’s time for supper now. 

Sincerely, 


May 8th, 1935 

About two hours ago, Mr. K finished fixing our storm shelter. But 

more importantly, MA MET A MAN! His name is Mark. He makes 

a healthy income and he likes children. She invited him over for 

breakfast. He had short chestnut brown hair, with blue eyes, in a 

plaid shirt and overalls. He works at the oil company Ma works for. 

The first thing he said when he walked in was, “Howdy y’all!” 

They’ve been seeing each other for a couple weeks! I was shocked 

at first, but after taking it all in, I was better. 

After supper, I’m gonna show Ma the shelter. I think she’ll love 

it. It did cost me my paycheck and a bit more, but I think it was 

worth it. I’ll write back later and tell you how it went. 

May 8th, 1935 

Sincerely, 


I showed Ma the shelter and she loved it! Mark was there, too, 

and he looked at me and whispered, “That was a brilliant idea.” 

I bet Father would’ve really loved the shelter. He would’ve been 

proud. 

Today was a great day, Ma was praising me like a queen! That 

same night I gave Ellie her present. When Ellie opened hers she 

exclaimed, “Oh my! I love it, Izzy! Thank you!” 

When Ma opened her gift, she stared at it and whispered, “I love 

it.” 

We all hugged and they said their thank yous to me. This was a 

really good night. We even had enough leftovers for tomorrow’s 

supper. But now I have to get ready for bed. 

Sincerely, 


May 13th, 1935 

Two days ago, we had a dust storm, and we got to use the 

shelter. We used extra rags to seal cracks and the shelter held 

strong. We still got a bit dusty, but now we all are safer in the 

dust storms. 

Mark has been amazing! He comes over every day and he cooks, 

plays with the kids, and makes Ma so happy. Mark also helps me 

with making our farm better. It may not rain too much, but we 

can always work on making next year better. So hopefully sometime 

soon we can start growing crops! 

I’m glad I never gave up after my father passed, otherwise we 

wouldn’t be here today. I’ll write later! 

Sincerely, 


July 17th, 1935 

Mark had a very interesting idea about two weeks ago. He said 

that we should consider growing some crops this year. Especially 

because we’ve gotten a little rain. Ever since Father died, we never 

really took care of our crops. So we got out tools and we started 

working on cropland. Winter wheat is common to grow around here, 

so we will plan to start seeding that in September. 

Our goal this year for the farm is to get more of our animals back, 

like a cow, chickens, and horses. I really miss our horses because 

I miss riding and cleaning them. Another goal of ours is to plant a 

new crop that both of us have not done before. 

The farm has been looking a lot better and a lot greener. If the 

winter wheat does well in the fall and early spring and if weather 

patterns are good, we may also try planting cotton in April. Some 

people around here plant cotton, but not many. It takes a lot of 

hard work. 

Well I have to go do my chores! 

August 1st, 1935 

Sincerely, 


MA AND MARK ARE GETTING HITCHED! They just told me 

the news this morning. The other news is that we have to move. 

We leave next week. The dust is not good for baby Frank and Ma 

thinks he would get better if we moved. The plan is to sell what 

we can, pack what we need in Mark’s car, and travel North to 

Illinois. Since Mark’s parents and my grandparents live there, they 

decided to just get married there. Ma wasn’t too happy about 

it though because she wanted to have her sister there, but we 

haven’t seen or talked to her for a year.

Ma and Aunt Mary had a big argument about the death of their 

younger sibling. He died from dust pneumonia after he was caught 

in a dust storm. He lived near us but was out doing his chores. The 

wind was too strong for him to make it inside. We weren’t able to 

go out and get him, either. It’s not as if it was anyone’s fault, 

though. 

All I have to do now is tell my laundry folks that I won’t be able 

to take in their washing anymore, which won’t be easy. I hate 

telling people bad or sad news. 

Sincerely, 


August 9th, 1935 

Well, it’s our first day on the road now and it’s been odd. Mark has 

to find food for Ma to cook. Ma has to find a way to cook. I’ve been 

watching the kids but they’ve been whining and complaining all day 

and night. Luckily, we still have enough water. We didn’t bring too 

much food. But we’re somewhere in central Oklahoma now. 

I’ve been tracking where on the map we’re going. I saw on the 

map that we’re passing a train station. I know that there’s a 

post office near it, too. I think I’m gonna write a letter to Aunt 

Mary and tell her that we’re going to Illinois. It’s not okay that 

they never talk or visit. I bet Aunt Mary doesn’t even know that 

Ma had baby Frank. 

But anyways, we still have about three days left on the road and 

things just keep getting more difficult. And I still have to figure 

out what to write to Aunt Mary. Well I have to go, it’s almost 

sundown. 

Sincerely, 


We still have 

about three days 

left on the road

Dear Mary Lewis, 

Hello, you might not remember me but my name is Izzy McBride. My mother is 

Anna Lewis, your sister. She is getting married to a fine man. She was wondering if 

you would like to make an appearance at the wedding, it will be a small wedding 

with family only. But she doesn’t want to have the wedding without you there, so I 

hope you will be attending. 

The wedding will be a month from now on September 14th and I hope you’ll see 

her sooner. We will arrive in Effingham, Illinois in a couple days on August 12. By 

the time you get this note we may already be there. So if you would be so kind as to 

mend things with Ma and show up to the wedding if you’d like to. 

Please write back and send it to your parents’ house because I will be there once you 

receive this letter. Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely, 

your niece, Izzy McBride


Two days ago, I wrote to Mary, luckily without my mother 

catching me, I would be in a lot of trouble if she found out. 

Hopefully she sees it soon. 

Tomorrow, we should be there! I am just dying to see everyone. I 

haven’t seen much of our family in almost a decade. Last I saw 

our grandparents was when I was 4 years old for Christmas. Just 

after that was when we moved. I don’t remember much about 

Effingham, but I know it’s a nice place. 

Once the wedding is over, we’re gonna start building our own house 

in the country and start our own farm. Mark was talking about 

raising some different crops than we usually did, since the climate 

is different in south central Illinois. 

I will talk more about the house and farm situation tomorrow! 


Sincerely, 


We are finally in Illinois! We’re still in the car, which is just awful. 

Within the next hour, we should be there! I really hope that Mary 

got my letter. I’ve been very anxious to get to grandma and 

grandpa’s because that’s where I told her to send her letter if 

she decided to write back. 

Now we have a lot more planning since we are finally here. We have 

to plan the wedding details and the new house! 

It will be a small wedding with only a couple witnesses. We have to 

go pick out Ma’s dress! Lots of brides nowadays will just wear their 

nicest dress, but Ma decided on one new dress for herself. Living 

here is gonna be so fun, especially since we’re closer to family.

As I’ve been writing, for the past couple weeks all I talk about is 

either family or the house! I cannot wait to be in our new house. 

Once we settle into our grandparents’ house, they’re going to help 

us find a new house. We will rent or buy the place ourselves with 

the money from selling our home in Texas. Since we will be living 

in the country, we are going to have a nice farm. Land is more 

expensive up here, averaging about $72 per acre, so we’re going to 

start with about 30 acres. Mark and I are planting our own crops. 

But I’ll have to write back later. WE ARE HERE! 


Sincerely, 


Only two days in and everything has been crazy! When we first 

got here, we got unpacked then started talking about when Ma 

and Mark met. Then we got on the topic of the wedding, where 

it’s gonna be, who’s gonna be there, and when it is. Grandma and 

Grandpa offered to let them use their house for the wedding, and 

Grandma said she would make a cake for after! 

I finally got a letter back from Mary! She told me that she’s glad 

I reached out. She lives only an hour away in the country. She has 

a farm and loves harvesting. She told me a bit about herself in her 

letter. I think I will really like her. She also included in the letter 

that we can meet up on the 16th in town square at noon. So I will 

have to come up with an excuse to go there. 

Ma still has to find the perfect dress. The bridesmaids already 

have their dresses, but Ma is being a bit difficult about it. I 

realize this is her big day, but how hard is it to find a dress? 

There are lots of dresses in the shop. Well we are leaving now! 

Sincerely, 



Today is the day that I finally meet with my Aunt Mary. I’m a 

little nervous. I kept reading that note over and over, thinking 

of what could happen if I met her. Especially because if things go 

well, then she could come back into our life and could come to the 

wedding. Maybe once we move she can come over and help out with 

the farm and animals. 

After I meet with her, we are going to go back to the dress 

shop, so Ma can find the perfect dress. She has been looking 

in magazines and looking at the nicest shops, but never likes 

anything. She wants something very specific, just like her 

grandmother’s dress. We can’t find something similar to it, so we 

have been looking for a while. But planning the wedding has been 

really fun, with dress shopping and seeing all of our family again. 

Next week, I plan to meet with my aunt again so she could see the 

others and hopefully make up with them, especially Ma. But that 

will be all for the time being, bye! 


Sincerely, 


I met with my Aunt Mary and I love her! She was the best! 

We talked about what was currently going on in our lives and I 

explained the reason we moved. Then we started talking about 

crops and our animals on the farm and what she raises here. It 

turns out we grow some of the same crops, but since she has a 

bigger farm than we did, she grows a bit more. She grows corn, 

wheat, oats, and since she has a garden she grows sunflowers, 

roses, and irises. I love irises! They’re my favorite type of flower. 

It turns out that they’re her favorite, too! 

After talking for about two hours, right before I left, I gave her 

an invitation to the wedding. I told her if she wants to come, she’ll

have to talk to Ma and my grandparents first. I said my goodbye 

and went back to the house. About an hour after I arrived back 

at the house, we went to look at this gorgeous house in the 

country about eleven miles out of town. It was so beautiful and 

big! The woodwork in that house was beautiful. It was also the 

perfect size for us! It had a great big barn and 30 acres of land 

for growing crops and a garden. But I have to go and eat supper 

now! 

Sincerely, 



Today I’m meeting with my Aunt Mary again and this time she’s 

coming over to my grandparents’ house. Everyone is out right now 

buying groceries. So I thought it was the perfect time for her 

to come over and surprise everyone to apologize. I don’t know for 

sure how everyone will react, especially Ma. They haven’t seen each 

other for a while. 

But I hope they hurry up and invite her because the wedding is 

in less than a week. This might start another argument, but it’s 

worth the shot. So I will write back tomorrow after everything 

happens. 


Sincerely, 


This is amazing news! Ma and Aunt Mary made up and she is 

invited to the wedding! I had everyone sit down at the table so we 

could discuss why they have not talked in so long. But they would 

not say a single word. So I turned to Aunt Mary and was asking 

if she would like to say anything, and she did. She went on about 

how sorry she was and that she only felt guilty. Ma said the same 

thing, then we introduced Mark and Mary to each other. They all 

got caught up and discussed a lot about the wedding. It amazes 

me how fast they made up. They said that they both felt guilty 

about the accident. They were just mad at themselves, so they 

put it on others.

We went to look at a house a few days ago. We went again with 

Aunt Mary earlier today. WE GOT THE HOUSE! It was a good 

price and had everything we needed: a big farm, kitchen space, 

and in great condition. The farm belonged to an older couple my 

grandparents know. They wanted to move into town and needed a 

tenant farmer for their farm. It was a perfect match for us! 

I already have started packing. I am super excited to move! The 

farm is amazing! I will have to invite Aunt Mary over to help 

Mark and I. Then, after we are all moved in, we can start on the 

farm. We will have to buy seed, some cows, and horses. We might 

build a fence around some land to ride the horses and for animals 

to go into for a while. I will get to help Ma with her garden, 

then Mark and Mary with the farm. Ma and I will plant some 

sunflowers, peppers, and cucumbers for canning in the spring. 

But I have to go and discuss more about the wedding and our 

move. Bye! 

Sincerely, 


September 22nd, 1935 

I am ecstatic right now! Ma and Mark got married on the 14 th 

and we just finished moving in last night. We are starting to plan 

our wheat planting and are thinking about trying a new crop called 

soybeans. Our farm is amazing. After finishing the garden and 

getting some animals out here, it will be perfect. 

It seems like everybody up here grows corn! I don’t know much 

about corn, either, but I have a feeling I will learn. Thankfully, we 

were able to buy some new animals. We got cows, pigs, and chickens. 

But we also got a horse! I love horses, and it will be so helpful in 

working our fields until we can get a tractor.

I am super happy that we moved here. Now we have a great 

house and lots of family nearby. We can see a lot more family now. 

Everything is going super great now in the new house, Ellie is super 

happy that her room is a lot bigger than it was before, and that 

she doesn’t have to share a room with Baby Frank. We also have 

photos hanging up in the hall of Father so we will never forget 

him. I have learned so much from just this year. But it’s definitely 

better to never give up. If we gave up after my father died, Ma 

would have never met Mark and we would not have where we are 

now. Anyways, I have to go now and help Mark with the cattle! 

Sincerely, 


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Izzy McBride

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