4. Whip Whap Willie

4 Whip Whap Willie "I call this meeting of the Beaver Scouts to order," barked Miss Blake. "We begin and end each meeting with the Beaver Growl." What? Cows moo. Ducks quack. Pigs oink. Beavers... "What sound does a beaver make?"

Ryan whispered. "Beats me," I whispered back. "I didn't even know they made sounds." Miss Blake got down on her hands and knees and started to scurry around on the floor, making weird noises. "Get on the ground!" she barked. "Growl like a busy beaver!" We all got down on the floor and growled. "Okay," Miss Blake said as she jumped up. "It's time for the official Beaver Scout promise. It's very simple. Three little words."

Miss Blake held up her right hand, closed her eyes, and announced, "Do your duty." We all giggled because Miss Blake said "duty," which sounds just like "doody." It's okay to say "duty," but we're not allowed to say "doody." Nobody knows why. They should really have two different-sounding words for those things. It would make life a lot easier. Next, Miss Blake handed each of us the Beaver Scout Handbook.* "I want you to take this home and memorize it word for word," she barked. "This book could save your life one day." Books? Ugh. Books are boring. I don't even know why you're reading this one. I leafed through the handbook. It had

lots of activities in it—making campfires, tying knots, studying insects, learning about astronomy, tracking weather, boating and canoeing, spelunking... Spelunking? "What's spelunking?" I asked. "Spelunking is exploring caves," said Little Miss I-Know-Everything. That's a weird word. Why don't they just call it exploring caves? Why did they need to invent some dumb word that nobody knows? "As you master activities in your handbook, you earn awards," barked Miss Blake. "First you get a sticker just for trying a new activity." "I love stickers!" shouted Andrea. "Then, as you get better, you'll earn a decal," said Miss Blake, showing us a page in the handbook that had pictures

of decals. "Decals are cool!" said Emily. "After that, you'll earn a ribbon," said Miss Blake. "I like ribbons!" said Alexia. "Then you can earn a badge," said Miss Blake. "I've always wanted a badge!" said Ryan. "Then you'll earn a belt loop," said Miss Blake. Belt loops are metal loops that you put on your belt, so they have the perfect name. "Then you'll earn a certificate," said Miss Blake. "I can put that on my wall!" said Neil. "Then you'll earn a medallion," said Miss Blake.

"I can hang that around my neck!" said Michael. "Then you'll earn a plaque," said Miss Blake. "I have that on my teeth!" I said. "Not that kind of plaque, dumbhead!" said Andrea. "Oh snap!" said Ryan. All that stuff sounded like a bunch of junk to me. I'd rather win nothing, stay home, and play video games. "Finally," said Miss Blake, "I will award the trophy for the Busy Beaver of the Year." She showed us a picture of a big trophy. "Ooooh," we all oohed. The whole time, Andrea was taking notes in a notebook. She carries a notebook everywhere. Andrea loves winning stuff. She doesn't even care