Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 "I'm sooooo hooooot!" Merle groaned as he and Pearl huddled under the tiny bit of shade cast by the umbrella. He'd had his fill of not sinking and now was hoping for some relief from the sun. "It doesn't help that we're both covered in fur and hugging," Pearl responded. "We have to get out of this sun! Why aren't there any trees around here?" Merle complained. "My guess is because it's the desert." Merle spotted a rocky cliffside along the shoreline. "Let's head over there," he suggested. "Maybe we can find some better shade. Maybe even a cave!"

Leaving their raft behind, the two picked up their beach chair and umbrella and headed for the cliffs, their stiff, salt-covered fur crackling as they walked. Before long, they spotted an opening in the rocks with a large, beautiful pool of shade underneath. The squirrels ran toward it and collapsed on the cool, sandy ground. Pearl, the more sensible of the two, suggested they wait in the shade until nightfall and then look for a town or a camel caravan. "Good idea." Then Merle realized something. "Hey... I've never been in a cave!" "Don't get any ideas," Pearl warned. "There are only two types of squirrels: tree squirrels and ground squirrels—"

"—and if God wanted you to mess around in caves, he would have made you a bat," Merle continued. "My dad always told me the same thing. 'Never go into a cave!' he said." "That's great advice, Merle." Pearl tried to brush some of the salt off her fur. "Remember what Paul said? 'Honor your father and your mother.'" "Moses said it first. Besides, I'm a full-grown squirrel!" Merle said. "Actually, God said it first, and you're never too old for good advice." Pearl shook her finger at him. "But it looks so interesting and cool— like temperature cool— back there, Pearl. Let's just go have a quick look." Without waiting for an answer, Merle crept further inside the mouth of the cave.