Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 Merle stood over the drone, which rested, lifeless, on Michael's bed. "I think I broke it." "You ran it into too many things," Pearl sighed. "Just four!" Merle fretted. "Michael told you not to run it into anything."

"He told me to try not to run it into anything, which is exactly what I did." Just then, the door opened. Merle turned, looking nervous and guilty, like a dog who had gotten into the garbage while his owner was out. "Hey, guys! What's up?" Michael asked. "Not the drone," Pearl said. Merle jabbed her in the side with his elbow. Michael inspected the drone and fiddled with the remote. "Hmm," he said. "Must be out of battery." Michael spent the next ten minutes explaining to the squirrels what electricity is and how batteries store a charge until it is all used up. "I'm sure Edgar has the charger. He'll recharge the drone when I give it back."

Merle wasn't sure he totally understood the explanation but was relieved that he hadn't broken the drone. "Well, it was fun while it lasted," he sighed. "It's for the best, dear," Pearl consoled him. "There's no telling what kind of trouble you could have gotten into."