Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6 "Rankwoo, Mrses Grmuus! Eeees err erwishes," Justin mumbled as he crammed another chocolate chip cookie into his mouth. He and Sadie had dropped by Michael's house after school, and they were seated at the kitchen table along with Michael's mom and his little sister, Jane.

"What was that, Justin?" Mrs. Gomez asked. "He said, 'Thank you, Mrs. Gomez, these are delicious,'" Sadie translated, peeking up from her laptop. "How can you understand that?" Mrs. Gomez wondered. "I guess I'm just used to Justin talking with his mouth full," Sadie quipped while scanning a website. "Oh wow, it says here that Persian squirrels, also known as Caucasian squirrels, are native to northern Israel." Sadie turned her laptop around for the others to see.

"They look like Merle and Pearl!" Jane said excitedly, holding on to her pet cat, Mr. Nemesis, who she had dressed up like a ballerina. "That's because Merle and Pearl are Persian squirrels— that's their species," Sadie kindly informed Jane. "I miss them," Jane said sadly. "Meooowww," Mr. Nemesis replied, which in cat meant, "I miss them too." Not because there was any fondness between Mr. Nemesis and the squirrels; he had tried to eat them on several occasions, and Merle had once left Mr. Nemesis stranded on a tree branch, hanging by a single claw. He missed them because he remembered that when Merle and Pearl were around, Jane dressed them up in ridiculous outfits, not him. "If they are an endangered species in that part of the world, maybe Michael and Dr. Gomez should be looking for them not just at museums, but at zoos and universities, too."

"Aaas a gooo poin," Justin agreed, munching away on another cookie. "Come again?" Mrs. Gomez asked. "He said, 'That's a good point,'" Sadie interpreted. "Thanks, Justin." "Urrr elcum," muttered Justin.