Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 Merle and Pearl had never roller-skated before, for two reasons: (1) skates don't come in squirrel size and (2) skates weren't even invented until the 1700s. However, riding in the backpack of someone wearing roller skates can be just as much fun. "Wheeeee!" Merle yelled as Michael made his way around the rink, loud pop music blaring, Justin and Sadie close behind. "This is amazing!" "Merle, get down— someone's going to see you!" Pearl pulled Merle back down into Michael's backpack. "I wanna skate!" Merle said. "I wanna skate like the wind!"

"They don't make skates in your size," Pearl reminded him. "I'll make my own!" Merle responded. "Wheels for your feet! Why didn't I think of that?! Brilliant!" The music changed to a slow ballad as a voice rang over the loudspeaker: "Okay, grab your sweetie. It's time for a couples' skate..." Pearl noticed Sadie glancing over at Michael with a shy smile. "Oh man!" Michael complained. "Not couples' skate!" "Time for Skee-Ball!" Justin said. Sadie shrugged and followed the boys off the rink and onto the carpeted floor. Pearl couldn't help but think that Sadie looked a little disappointed.

"I'll make a pair of skates for you, too," Merle offered. "Thank you, dear." Pearl squeezed his paw. Merle thought Skee-Ball looked almost as fun as skating and begged the kids to let him try. To prevent other skaters from seeing Merle, Michael, Justin, and Sadie circled around the foot of the game to form a squirrel-obscuring human shield. "Hrrrgh!!!" Merle grunted as he rolled the wooden ball up the track— and right into the gutter. However, after a few tries, he got the hang of it and started racking

up points. By the time the couples' skate had ended and the kids were ready to return to skating, Merle had cashed out 150 tickets. "What are these for?" Merle asked. "You trade them in for toys," Michael told him. "This is the happiest place on earth." Merle wiped a tear of joy from his eye.

该页暂无翻译