Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 Mrs. Gomez sat down on the living room couch. Michael sat next to her, and Merle and Pearl climbed out of Michael's backpack and perched on the ottoman while Pearl caught her up on the squirrels' adventures. "Oh, my." Mrs. Gomez sighed. She turned to Michael. "You smuggled live animals out of a foreign country?" "They weren't alive! Or at least I didn't think they were at the time," Michael answered. "So you thought you were bringing DEAD animals home?" "Um... yes?"

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"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" Mrs. Gomez demanded. "Because... they were cool? They didn't stink or anything." Michael's mom shook her head in disbelief. "If I might add—" Merle interrupted— "we're very glad he did." "Yes, we are," added Pearl. "Very thankful." "And on top of it all, THEY TALK!" Mrs. Gomez cried. "Not only that, but we're over 2,000 years old!" Merle pointed out proudly. "Merle!" Pearl jabbed him with an elbow. "Oh, my..." Mrs. Gomez repeated. She buried her face in her hands. "That's why you can't tell Dad," Michael pleaded. "If he finds out, he might think he has no choice but to return Merle and Pearl to the Dead Sea." "We don't want to go back!" Merle begged. "It's too dry, too hot, and waaaaay too salty!" "We're not even from there!" Pearl put in. Mrs. Gomez sat in silence for a few moments. "I dunno," she finally said. "I don't feel right about not telling your father about this."

"Mom!" Michael protested. "Please?!" "But it doesn't have to be right now. Dad is sleeping, and he needs to go in to work this weekend. I suppose it can wait until tomorrow night." "But, Mom—" "In the meantime," Mrs. Gomez continued, "I will help make Merle and Pearl feel at home and keep them safe from the cat. Have you met Mr. Nemesis yet?" she asked the squirrels. "HAVE we?!" Pearl answered. "I don't think that cat likes us very much." Merle sniffed. "Well, the feeling is mutual!"