Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8 "Fractions! That's what you call them." Pearl pushed together two halves of a walnut. "Two halves of a nut equal one whole nut." Using her paws and repeating what she was learning out loud helped Pearl remember it.

"Pearl!" Merle popped his head out of the vent into Michael's room. "AHHHHH!" yelled Pearl, startled. "Don't scare me like that!" "Don't scare YOU like that?! I'm the one who was almost bitten in half!" Merle crawled up out of the grate, Mr. Nemesis's loud meows echoing from the floor vent. "That's funny!" Pearl said. "I was just studying fractions." "Yeah— hilarious," Merle responded sarcastically. "How's the plan coming?" Pearl asked. "Did you find a place for us to live?" "Nope," Merle said. "Unless you count inside a cat's stomach." Just then, the door opened. Merle and Pearl were relieved to see that it was Michael, home from school. "Hey, guys, how was your day?" he asked. "MEOOOOOWWWWW!!!" Mr. Nemesis's voice rang out. Next came a shout from Jane: "MOOOOOM! Mr. Nemesis is stuck!" "Coming, sweetie!" called Mrs. Gomez. Michael shot Merle a questioning glance. Merle shrugged and smiled innocently.

"Well, Michael, are you ready to study for your math test?" Pearl asked. "I think I've got it figured out!" Michael sighed and dropped his backpack on the desk. "I guess so."