Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 "Merle! Merle!" Pearl shouted into the geraniums. "Are you okay?!" Merle popped his head out of the leaves. "Now that I'm out of that vest, I'm fine," he said. Pearl looked down at her vest. "Mine's kind of growing on me... it goes nicely with my pearls, don't you think?" Merle looked down the street and stiffened. "I think we need to run!" Ruben was headed toward them on foot. He, in turn, was being chased by the disgruntled motorist he'd rear-ended.

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After a few blocks of running, climbing, and jumping, the squirrels felt pretty sure they had lost Ruben. "Where to now?" Merle wondered, catching his breath. "You tell me!" Pearl replied. "This is your town." "It's completely different! I have no idea where we are!" Merle said. "And we left the map in the car." "Shalom!" a voice squeaked out in squirrel from a nearby tree. Merle and Pearl turned and looked up to see an elderly Persian squirrel, also known as the Caucasian squirrel, the same species as Merle and Pearl. Shalom is a greeting in Hebrew (and squirrel) that means "peace." "You look lost. Tourists?"

"Shalom, brother!" Merle replied. "It's been a while since I've been here. I'm a little turned around. Maybe you could point us toward the synagogue?" In the first century, most villages in Israel had a synagogue, a Jewish place of worship, in the heart of the town. Merle figured he might be able to get his bearings if he found a familiar landmark. "Which one? There are tons of them," the friendly squirrel replied. "Plus, you're in the wrong part of town for that. This is the Latin quarter— you're more likely to find a church here. There's actually a really famous one a few blocks up. You can't miss it." The squirrel pointed down the street. Not having any better ideas, Merle and Pearl thanked the helpful local and the three squirrels all said "Shalom!" again to each other. Then Merle and Pearl headed in the recommended direction. Sure enough, three blocks down, they came upon a large, beautiful church. "Basilica of the Annunciation," Pearl read on a plaque near the door. Merle shrugged. "Let's check it out." The two squirrels scurried up the wall and into an open window.