5 A Cry for Help

5 A Cry for Help "Did you say somethine, Violet?" her mom asked from the front seat. "Uh, no," Violet replied. Aunt Anne pulled the car into a parking lot.

They all walked out to the sidewalk. A long line of people waited outside Caldwell's Hardware.

At the end of the line, Violet spotted her friend Brittany Brightman. Brittany looked nice, as always. She wore an orange headband in her dark braided hair. A necklace with a tiny letter B dangling from it hung around her neck.

They got in line behind Brittany and her dad. "What's going on?" Aunt Anne asked Mr. Brightman. "I have a leaky faucet," he replied. "It seems like everybody in town does. Kind of weird, isn't it?" Leon nudged Violet. She knew he was thinking the same thing. The water sprite was very busy! "There's nothing to do but wait," Violet's mom said cheerfully. "Great, Leon muttered. "We'll be here all day." Violet sighed. She knew he was right.

Brittany tapped her dad's arm. "Can Violet, Leon, and I go to the pet store instead of waiting in line?" she asked. Violet liked to visit Miller's Pet Shop. It had lots of colorful fish, beautiful birds, and lizards that looked like tiny dinosaurs. Violet looked at her Mom. "Please? It's right next door." Violet's mom turned to Aunt Anne. "It is next door," she said. "And I know the owner, Joe Miller. They'll be all right in there." Aunt Anne nodded. "Fine with me."

"Thanks!" Violet cried. She and Leon followed Brittany into the store. The store was empty, except for Mr. Miller. He was filling the birds' water dishes. Violet noticed that his faucet was leaking, too. "Hi, Mr. Miller, Violet said. "Our parents said we could look around while they wait in line at the hardware store."