Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 "It's so green here! Look at all the trees!" Pearl marveled, her head poking out of Michael's backpack as she and Merle rode along on Michael and Justin's walk to school. Sadie was riding the bus. Edgar never messed with her. "Is it always this green?" "Not in the winter," Michael replied.

"Squirrel!" Merle shouted, pointing at a neighborhood squirrel perched on a branch of a walnut tree. "Good morning, brother!" The tree squirrel did not answer, but he seemed to understand Merle. He waved his paw as if to say hello and swiped his tail at a large walnut sitting on the branch next to him. The walnut flew off the branch and into Merle's paws. "Thank you, kind squirrel!" Merle said. "I think I could really grow to like this place," Pearl said as she and Merle dropped down into the backpack to enjoy the walnut. "It's so pretty, and everyone is so nice!" "Well, well, well, if it isn't the monkey bar brothers!" a familiar voice called out from the street. Michael and Justin looked up to see the school bus approaching them, with Edgar's head sticking out of one of the windows. "I hope you had fun hanging out!" Edgar's two minions stuck their heads out of the window next to him, and they all laughed hysterically as the bus zipped by Michael and Justin and turned into the school parking lot. "HAHAHAHAHA! Fourth graders rule!!!!!"

"Not everyone is so nice," Michael said to Pearl. He turned to Justin. "With keeping the squirrels hidden all weekend, I forgot about our plan." "Just drop it, Michael," Justin said. "You've got more important things to worry about— like making sure Mr. P. doesn't find the squirrels." As the principal of Walnut Creek Elementary School, Mr. P. ran a tight ship, and he definitely didn't allow kids to bring their pets to school. "Remember when Marlowe brought her ferret?" "Oh yeah." Michael smiled, remembering how Abbott the ferret had hidden Mr. P.'s car keys. "That was awesome." "Yeah, it was awesome, but Marlowe got a month of detention." "Don't worry. Nobody's gonna find the squirrels. Right, guys?" Michael called to Merle and Pearl, hidden snugly in his backpack.

"Nrppp," Merle said, his mouth stuffed with walnut. The boys arrived at school and headed to their classroom. "We'll talk at lunch, Justin," Michael said. We've got payback to plan!"