8. Swooping

8 Swooping The children ran! They ran everywhere, I tell you! They ran to and fro! And up and down! And back and forth! And here and there! Also, Roger ran sideways. And Lennie ran in a circle. I watched them very fascinated. Some of the children were tackling and scuffling. Sheldon went through a shrub. That's when Lucille's daddy blew his whistle again.

TWEET! TWEET! TWEET! "Everyone come back here right now!" he shouted real mad. Everyone came back. Sheldon had a stick in his ear. He sputtered and stuttered and pointed at May. "She pushed me! She pushed me! May pushed me through a bush!" May stamped her foot. "No, I did not, Sheldon! I did not push you! You pushed yourself!" she said. She turned and looked at the daddy. "It was the darnedest thing you ever saw," she said. "He shoved himself right through that shrub." The daddy stood there a real long time. Then he walked to a picnic bench. And he sat down real slow. And he hit himself in the head. I went over and tapped on him.

"I would just like to point out that the bunny did not run," I said. "The bunny was the only one who walked." May overheard me. "That's because the bunny can't run or the bunny falls down," she called. "The bunny should not get credit for that!" The daddy hit himself in the head again. I walked back to Herbert. He looked kind of worried. "The daddy is coming unglued," he said. I nodded. "Yes," I said. "The daddy is going to need backup, I believe." Backup is the grown-up word for the police might need to come, possibly. And guess what? Me and Herb were not the only ones thinking that, either. 'Cause just then, Lucille's nanna hollered out real loud. "Enough!" she hollered. "I have had

enough of this nonsense with you children!" Then she cupped her hands around her mouth. And she shouted out a brand-new rule. It was called, If there's any more running or fighting, she is going to call the cops. All of the children did a loud gulp. I looked at Herbert. "That new rule seems a little harsh," I said. Only guess what else? The new rule worked, I think. 'Cause pretty soon, the nanna started the egg hunt again. And this time, no one ran at all! No one even walked, hardly. Instead, we all behaved like little ladies and gentlemen. And we hunted for eggs very polite. May stuck to Sheldon like glue. I tried to stick to him, too. But my giant feet could not keep up that good.

May kept on grouching. "You're not going to get the golden egg before I do, Sheldon. Even if you know where it is, I'll still beat you to it," she said. "I'm all over you like flies on egg salad." Sheldon rolled his eyes. "But I don't know where the golden egg is, May," he said. "I've already told you that. I don't know anything at all." I cupped my mitts around my mouth. "I believe you, Sheldon! I believe you don't know anything at all!" I shouted. "I've never thought you've known anything at all!" After that, I hurried to catch up to him. 'Cause I definitely thought he knew something, of course. Sheldon turned to wait for me. Then, all of a sudden, he glanced down at the ground. And he did a loud gasp. "I SEE ONE! I SEE ONE! I SEE ONE!" he shouted.

May and I turned to look. There was a bright green egg under the bushes. Sheldon clapped and laughed. Then he hurried over to pick it up. But… WHOOSH! SWOOP! SCOOP!