Showdown in Crittertown by Justine Fontes Page B

Javier repeated, “Petitions.”
    â€œYes!” Tanya exclaimed. “Let’s start tomorrow!”
    Andy said, “Maybe other classes can help, too. We’re not the only ones who want to save our school.”
    â€œGood thinking!” Wyatt agreed.
    So we wrote a letter and a petition. Until Bill said, “This is too much like schoolwork. Last one to the playground is a rotten egg!” Then he took off running.
    Jane scooped up Grayson, Nilla, and me into her hat and ran to the schoolyard. We bounced around wildly until she reached the swings.

    Nilla was still puzzling over what rotten eggs had to do with running when Jane started swinging. Then we all forgot about everything, shouting, “This is fun!”

Chapter 2   Mess-Up at the Meeting
    Mrs. Olson liked the idea of the letters and a petition. She sent Andy to Principal Clark’s office to ask about involving the other classes.
    Tanya said, “Maybe the junior high and high school kids can help, too!”
    Mrs. Olson smiled. “Please raise your hand, Tanya. But yes, that’s a good idea. After all, lots of those students graduated from here.”
    Before the school day was over, teachers and students all over Crittertown were behind the campaign. We heard this from Chitchat, one of the red squirrels who lived near the school.
    Grayson thought he was “an awful gossip.” But I didn’t mind the squirrel’s chatter. Chitchat always knew what was going on, and he’d become a very useful member of the Critter Post. I could always count on him to carry a message. After all, gossip is all about carrying messages!
    â€œThey’ll talk about the letters and petitions at the meeting tonight,” Chitchat reported. “I heard that straight from the school secretary.”
    â€œWe should go to that town council meeting, too!” Grayson squeaked.
    I shuddered at the thought of all those humans and cars gathered at the school. We hadn’t set one paw inside Crittertown Elementary since Principal Clark called the exterminator and destroyed our dream of living there.
    Grayson went on. “It’s the only way to find out what we’re really up against.”
    I said, “You’re just curious about human government—and you’re always looking for any chance to get out of the basement.”
    Grayson grinned. “You know me so well.”
    Nilla squeaked, “Learning all we can will help us solve the problem.”
    I sighed. Two against one meant I would not be spending a nice, quiet evening under the post office.
    Buttercup agreed to be our taxi to and from the meeting. As usual, Brownback wanted us to keep him informed. So I wore out my paw taking notes.
    The grown-ups argued over which repairs were really necessary. They argued over whether it would be better to build a new school. And they argued over whose turn it was to talk.
    Just when I thought I couldn’t stand any more, the grown-ups stopped for “refreshments.”
    Nilla nudged me, “That’s food, right?”
    I nodded. Food might mean… Many busy hands lifted the lids off plastic containers and pulled back shiny plastic wrap. Suddenly the room filled with that most delicious smell: cheese!
    Nilla grabbed my tail just in time. I almost rushed out among all those people!
    I whispered, “Thanks.”
    We watched humans consume cookies and cheese. “Drop crumbs!” I urged silently. But they usually chomped the pieces of cheese in one big bite.
    Leave leftovers! I thought. But I feared they would eat the whole feast right down to the paper doilies.
    Slowly, oh so slowly, the meeting started breaking up. People drifted into the lobby. Some said their good-byes. Others continued talk-talk-talking.
    Suddenly, the voices grew louder. Grayson’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “It’s a fight! I wonder if they’re going to bite or scratch each other.”
    Nilla