Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 After dropping off Justin and Sadie, Dr. Gomez and Michael returned home with the squirrels to begin setting up the security system. Merle's climbing abilities came in handy for setting up sensors high on top of doors and windows. Of course, first he removed his George Washington outfit, which was quite cumbersome to climb in.

"What do these things do?" Merle wondered out loud as he attached a sensor high on a wall. "That one detects body heat. If a person or animal comes into the room, the sudden increase in infrared energy sets off the alarm," Dr. Gomez explained. "I have no idea what that means, but it sounds amazing," Merle said. "What about that one?" He pointed to another sensor on a window frame. "That's a magnetic sensor," Dr. Gomez replied. "When a door or window is opened, it interrupts the magnetic field and sends an electric signal to the alarm." "I'll take your word for it." Merle scratched his head. In the first century, the time period the squirrels had come from, infrared energy, magnetic fields, and electric signals had yet to be discovered. Dr. Gomez and Merle finished setting up the sensors, then set the alarm from a panel in the kitchen. "All done," Dr. Gomez said, dusting off his hands. Merle offered him a fist bump, which he'd learned how to do from Sadie.

A brain-piercing sound rang out from every corner of the house. Merle and Pearl covered their ears with their paws. "What is it?!!!" Pearl shouted. "A window-vibration sensor in Michael's room has been tripped!" Dr. Gomez yelled over the alarm. Dr. Gomez, Michael, and the squirrels ran toward the bedroom. Opening the door, they spotted two gray

squirrels standing on the windowsill: one was knocking on the closed window, and one was holding an acorn with a red bow on top. "Well, the system works!" Dr. Gomez said. "Thankfully, these little gift-carrying critters look pretty harmless." "Hello, neighbors," Bob the squirrel, speaking in squirrel, said as Michael slid the window open. "Mary and I would be delighted to have you over for dinner tonight." Mary nodded her head and smiled nervously. "How lovely!" Pearl yelled over the alarm, still ringing in the background. "Please, come in." Bob looked over his shoulder uneasily before completing his rehearsed line. "We have a special surprise for you. Please follow us." "What are they saying?" Michael asked. He and Dr. Gomez didn't understand squirrel. "They're inviting us over for dinner," Merle explained in a suspicious tone. A couple of days ago, he had gone out into the neighborhood to look for a tree home for himself and Pearl and had been met with less-than-welcoming attitudes from the neighborhood squirrels. He wondered why they would suddenly be so nice. "You all have a nice visit," Dr. Gomez said as he headed back toward the kitchen. "I need to reset the alarm and call Dr. Howard." "Dad! Wait!!!" Michael pleaded, following after him.

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