got the National Snooper. Did you know that the English royal family are really descendants of Martians? And that Elvis has been reincarnated as a hound dog?â
Emmy grinned.
âI got stock tips from the New York Drone, and I was very interested in Psychology Piffle. But my favorite was Nummi Gourmet. Those pictures of chocolate mousseâ mmmm âand toast points â¦
âSpeaking of whichââ The Ratâs tone sharpened. âWhat was it you said about sausages?â
âIâll see what I can bring back from breakfast. But Iâve got to hurry. And youâd better keep out of sight.â
Â
The Rat sat on Emmyâs dresser and licked the last bit of breakfast sausage off his paws. âExcellent flavor,â he remarked. âBut a little heavy on the lint. Did you have to put them in your pocket?â
âYes,â said Emmy briefly, stuffing her homework into her backpack. It hadnât been easy, sneaking them off her plate under the watchful eye of Mrs. Brecksniffânot to mention the cat, Muffy, who had a strong liking for sausages and a very persistent meow.
âWerenât there any peanut-butter cups?â
âFor breakfast ?â
âWhy not?â The Rat skipped nimbly onto Emmyâs arm and ran over her shoulder. Emmy felt a littlethump and a rummaging sort of feeling inside the pack on her back. âJust drop me off outside, will you?â
Emmy shut the bedroom door behind her. âYou think youâll have better luck with the squirrels in my yard?â
âI couldnât have worse,â the Rat said grumpily. âThat squirrel yesterday was an absolute moron. And the chipmunks werenât much better. I could barely understand them, and they certainly didnât understand me. â A little worry crept into the Ratâs voice. âPerhaps I havenât been educated properly. Maybe Teacherâs Tattle was rightâAmerican schools should offer more languages.â
Emmy started down the stairs as the Rat burst out again, fretfully. âHow can I be a star, a high-achieving rat, when Iâve never even studied Rodentese?â
Emmy shrugged. âNobody expects you to be anything more than an ordinary rat, as far as I know.â
The Rat gave an incredulous snort. âAnd are you content to be just an ordinary girl?â
Emmy trailed her hand along the smooth wood of the banister, wishing she dared slide down it. If shewere an ordinary girl, she would. If she were an ordinary girl, sheâd have parents at home and cake on her birthday.
âI wouldnât mind being ordinary,â Emmy said.
âAnd that,â said the Rat darkly, âis yet another flaw in the American school system. Low expectations. Leadingâyourself as a prime exampleâto drab, ordinary children. Oh, the shame â¦â
Emmy took the last four steps in one leap and landed in the kitchen with a bounce that shook the Rat into silence.
âIs this my lunch, Maggie? Are there any peanut-butter cups?â
â Peanut-butter cups? â Miss Barmy appeared in the doorway, abruptly reaching for the bag. âIâve told you before, I wonât have this child poisoning herself with sugar! Now, what happened to those tofu muffins?â She rummaged in the refrigerator as she spoke, pulling out bran bars. â This is the food a growing child needs.â
Maggie glanced pityingly at Emmy as Miss Barmy repacked the lunch bag with a great noise of crinkling paper. The Rat poked his head out to see thecommotion, uttered a distressed squeak, and fell back in again.
Emmy felt something brush against her leg. It was the cat.
âOh, go away, you,â Emmy muttered. Muffy, staring earnestly at the backpack, began to meow.
âThere!â Miss Barmy held out the lunch sack. âWhy, whatever is the matter with that cat? It seems to be staring at yourââ
âMiss Barmy!â Emmy