Hunter Moran Digs Deep by Patricia Reilly Giff Page A

as Mom marches straight to William’s bedroom and throws open the door.
    On the walls are green mountains. A painted toucan flies toward the ceiling. A lion peers out from behind a tree, and a small deer drinks at a pond on the far wall.
    â€œGorgeous,” Sister Appolonia says. “The winner!”
    â€œRight,” say the others.
    â€œWow,” I tell Zack.
    They troop downstairs again, and just before they leave, I hand Mrs. Wu the painting of Soup Bone for the library.
    William’s right. She’s thrilled. “What a family,” she says.
    â€œDon’t forget Sarah Yulefski,” I tell her. “She helped find the painting.”
    â€œForget Sarah?” Mrs. Wu says. “Never.”
    Sister Appolonia unwraps the package under her arm. It’s a medal on a pointed stick. She jams the point into the front lawn. “Here’s to Wildlife!” she says.
    They leave and we all stand there grinning at each other. “I guess it’s time to pick up all the leaves,” I say.
    Pop looks around. “They can wait. Right now we should celebrate.”
    So that’s what we do. We march inside and sit at the kitchen table while Mom cooks up a pile of cookies. They’re a little burned around the edges, but not bad.
    Not bad at all.