Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13 "Hrrrgh!" PLOP! Merle slung a greasy brown paper bag onto the windowsill of Ms. McKay's classroom. Fortunately for Merle, the kids were reading their English assignment and Ms. McKay was grading tests, so nobody saw the squirrel making his way back into the room. He slid quietly back into Michael's backpack. "I said just a few!" Pearl whispered as she noticed the size of the bag Merle was carrying. "Sorry! I couldn't help myself. There were so many lost and lonely nuggets."

"They smell," Pearl complained. "I know. Isn't it wonderful?" Merle took a big breath of deep-fried goodness. "Okay, class. I have your tests for you," Ms. McKay said. "Some of you did very well. Congratulations! Some of you... well, we still have some work to do." Merle and Pearl peeked their heads out of the backpack just in time to see Ms. McKay set Michael's graded test facedown on his desk. Michael looked down at the squirrels with a grimace before reaching to turn it over. "Well, here goes..." he whispered. There's nothing that takes your breath away like getting a cold bucket of water dumped on your head, except for maybe seeing a big, red F on your math test. "What?!!!" Michael exclaimed, just as the bell rang and the kids gathered their things to leave for the day. "Ohhhhh... Wow..." Justin said as he stood up and glanced at Michael's grade. "Sorry, dude." "What did you get?" Michael wondered, hoping he was not alone in his grief. "I did... okay," Justin said apologetically. "Let me see!" Michael demanded.

Justin reluctantly showed Michael his test. A big, fat A with a smiley face covered the top. "What?!!! No fair!" Michael griped. "Michael, can I see you at my desk, please?" asked Ms. McKay. Michael sighed and stuffed his test in his backpack— covering Merle and Pearl— before zipping it closed and heading to the front of the class. "Yes, ma'am?" Michael answered sheepishly as he approached Ms. McKay's desk. His teacher gave him a stern look. "I know you can do better than this." "Yes, ma'am," Michael agreed halfheartedly. Ms. McKay folded her hands on top of her desk and leaned forward. "I'm going to make you a deal."

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