PeeWee and Plush (9 page)

“So you made it here,” he said.

“Yes. I'm proud of the pups. They all pulled together,” I reported.

“Well, winter is a long time. I'm going to miss you,” Lexi said to me.

“And I'll miss you,” I replied. “But I hope you'll come by from time to time. You can tell me what's going on in the rest of the park.”

“I will. I will,” said Lexi. “
A nut is good but a good friend is better
.”

“Thanks, pal,” I said. “That's one of the best sayings your mother ever taught you.”

Lexi scratched himself and winked at me. “That's one saying my mother never knew. I made it up myself,” Lexi responded.

We parted and I went back inside. A small bat was flying around in the dark and I introduced myself.

“Do you eat insects?” he asked me.

“No,” I said, wondering if he was about to offer me one.

“Good, good,” the bat replied. “In that case, welcome to the rain forest.”

“Thanks,” I said to my first new friend in this area. Obviously, he was not as generous as my pal Lexi.

I returned to my family. They were all cuddled around one another inside the hollow log and already fast asleep. It had been a long and difficult day. No wonder they were all tired. I could hardly keep my eyes open either.

As I moved close to Plush and all our
little pups, I thought of Thomas Hood's poem. New and happier words came to me replacing the words I'd memorized.

Goodness, I thought to myself, I've become a poet too. I wondered if I could create some other poems during the long winter ahead. It could be a new activity as I watched my family grow and develop.

Plush turned over in her sleep and let out
a series of soft sounds. I recognized them as a melody from one of the operas we had heard during the summer. She was dreaming of her favorite music. Soon I'd be asleep and dreaming happy dreams too. What more could I wish for?

Johanna Hurwitz
was born and raised in New York City. A former children's librarian, she is now the award-winning author of many popular books for young readers, including
PeeWee's Tale; Lexi's Tale; Oh No, Noah!; Class Clown; Rip-Roaring Russell;
and
Baseball Fever
. The recipient of a number of child-chosen state awards, she visits schools around the country to speak to students, teachers and parents about reading and writing. She lives in both Great Neck, New York, and Wilmington, Vermont.

Patience Brewster
has illustrated more than thirty books, including
Bear's Christmas Surprise
by Elizabeth Winthrop and
Queen of May
by Steven Kroll. She lives in Skaneateles, New York.