11 FINALLY!

FINALLY! CHAPTER 11 "Psssssst!" My eyes sprang open. What was that weird noise? I turned my head and almost crashed into my mom's face. I jumped.

My mom laughed. "Sorry to startle you, sweetie!" She lifted a hand to show me a fully packed backpack. "I told your dad we had cabin fever and needed to go for an early morning hike." I had to squint because it was so bright in my room. Wait a second! Bright! Sun! "It's sunny!" I exclaimed. "Yep." Mom nodded. "The news said that all the snow should melt this afternoon. That wild storm

has finally passed, and it's going to warm up today." I listened as I shoved on my snow gear. "But this morning it's 31 degrees out," Mom continued. "Do you remember what that means?" I nodded. "Water has a freezing point of 32 degrees. Since 31 degrees is below that, everything will be frozen. But once it's above 32 degrees, the water won't stay frozen... so the ice and snow will melt?" Mom smiled. "You got it! It's supposed to be 55 by this afternoon, so it will seem downright hot!" We paused briefly in the kitchen where I grabbed a piece of buttered toast my mom had made for breakfast on the go. Sassafras filled his cheeks with cat food and then waited patiently to be outfitted with his cat snowshoes.

This time a prancing Sassafras led the way. I tried to calm my hammering heart. I really hoped the plants would be OK. And the caterflies and their eggs were safe! I slowed down as the catnip plants came into view. Oh no. All the catnip plants around the cave entrance had wilted. Several of the leaves were brown. What had I done?

A tear rolled down my cheek. What would the caterflies do? Their babies needed to eat the host plant—and lots of it—as soon as they hatched. Only a few plants were left. Would their baby caterpillars starve because of my mistake? Mom came over and put a hand under my chin. She tilted my face up to hers. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. But first, let's find the caterflies!"

I wiped the snow off a nearby rock with my glove, and Sassafras sat down and waited. He kept glancing at the catnip, but he knew we needed to save it for the caterflies. I was proud of him—it must have been like sitting in a candy shop and not eating any of the candy! The three of us looked around, but there was no sign of the caterflies. I was terrified to walk closer to the cave—what if I accidentally stepped on one? Sassafras sniffed the air and let out a loud "Meeeeooooowwww."