Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10 With Michael and Merle now up 12–0, Justin was ready to call it quits. Sadie was more than happy to keep relaying the entire history of soccer to Merle, but not surprisingly, teaching while playing was not helping her team. "I give up!" Justin said, huffing and puffing. "You win, Michael and Merle. Good game." "I was just getting to the Middle Ages," Sadie complained. "Save it for the next time you're on Michael's team," Justin said. "You guys want to come back to my house for some lemonade?" Merle looked puzzled. "Lemonade?" "It's a drink made out of lemons," Michael explained. Merle's lips puckered, trying to imagine it. "Not just lemons," Michael said. "It's got sugar, too." Merle shrugged. "I'll give it a shot." He turned around, looking for Pearl. "Pearl! Time to go! Let's go get some lemon-made!" "Lemonade," Michael corrected. "Lemonade!" Merle called out. There was no answer.

"Where is she?" Sadie asked. Merle spotted a few acorns along the sidelines. "Maybe she's collecting acorns," he said. "This way!" He followed the line of uncollected nuts into the hedge. There was no sign of Pearl in the bushes. Merle and the kids looked all around the park and into the woods. "This is really odd," Merle said. "It isn't like Pearl at all to run off like that. It's a lot like me, but not like her." Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. Help

"Pearl!" Merle shouted. He and the kids raced back onto the field, toward Pearl's voice. "Look!!!" Justin pointed at the parking lot. Pearl turned and caught sight of them. "Help!!!" she called out again. Merle looked up and could hardly believe his eyes. There was Pearl, trapped in a cage, being lowered into the trunk of a white Toyota by the man in the suit and sunglasses!