Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Officer Ditko sneezed. Sand flew out of his nose, spraying the front of his uniform. "See? It's everywhere," the policeman whined. Spider-Man patted him on the back. "I totally under-sand," Spidey said. Officer Stanley shook her head. "More importantly, we cannot find the Sandman anywhere. Believe me, we've looked."

She pointed to a dozen police officers. They were sifting through the sand that covered Ninety-sixth Street. She held up a shovel. "Back to work," she said. Officer Ditko sighed. He picked up a comb and fell to his knees. "If you see something, say something, okay, Spidey?" "Will do, Officer," Spider-Man said. "Don't worry. This guy doesn't sand a chance." Officer Ditko whimpered. "I'm too old for this_" "Psst!" Spider-Man looked behind him. He looked beside him. He looked below him. He was sure he heard something, but he saw nothing. "Psst!" He heard it again.

Was the sound coming from the trees? Spidey looked up. Sitting on a branch in the tree above, a grinning girl with full cheeks and really big front teeth waved. "Hi there!" she said. "It is great to meet you. Big fan. I totally love your vibe. Like the web-shooters. LOVE the puns. You fight all the best villains, and you do it with such style. I mean, for real, do you have a day job? Because if you wanted to perform at kids' birthday parties you would totally clean up." Spider-Man was confused. "And you are?"

Squirrel Girl smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Duh!" she said. "I'm Squirrel Girl!" "Squirrel Girl?" Spidey chuckled. "Like, you have the powers of a squirrel?" Squirrel Girl narrowed her eyes. She snapped a dead branch off the tree and did a double flip onto the sidewalk. Landing lightly on her feet, she said, "Along with the powers of a girl. You got a problem with that, bug-boy?" "I do not," Spider-Man replied. He held out his hand. Squirrel Girl gave him a high five. "So, SG, any chance you've seen a-" "Big guy made of sand?" Squirrel Girl asked eagerly. "You betcha. Follow me!"