1-03 Mercy Watson to the Rescue

Chapter 3 BOOM! A hole opened under the Watsons' bed. CRACK! The Watsons'bed fell into the hole. Mr. Watson woke up. Mrs. Watson woke up. Mercy woke up, too. " What the—?" said Mr. Watson.

" Oink?" said Mercy. " It's an earthquake! " shouted Mrs. Watson. " It's the end of the world! " " Nonsense, " said Mr. Watson, but hedid not sound very sure. He sounded frightened. Mercy, however, was not frightened. Mercy was hungry. " Oink?" said Merey again. She moved to the end of the bed. BOOM! CRACK!

The bed fell a little farther into the hole in the floor. " Don't move, " shouted Mr. Watson. " Whatever you do, don't move! " Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson and Mercy held very still. Mrs. Watson started to cry. " I know exactly what we must do, " said Mr. Watson. " We must call the fire department. They will rescue us. " " But you said we should not move, " said Mrs. Watson. " How can we call the fire department if we cannot move?"

Mercy recalled her lovely toast-filled dream. She wondered if there was any toast in the kitchen. While Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson were arguing, Mercy hopped off the bed. BOOM! CRACK!

" Look! " said Mrs. Watson. " Mercy has escaped. " " She is going to find help, " said Mr. Watson. " She is going to alert the fire department. " Mercy left the bedroom at a gallop. She was in a hurry. She was on her way to the kitchen. She was looking for some toast.