Gator on the Loose! by Sue Stauffacher Read Free Book Online Page A

Zeke and Zack didn’t like this part of the plan. They felt very protective of their belts with the Wild 4-Ever buckles they had earned after two years in their 4-H Club.
    “She’s going to beat it into the laundry basket,” Zack said. “I’m horrified.”
    “No, she’s going to buckle it in,” Zeke said. “Does alligator slime come off leather?”
    Keisha glanced out the window. The bushes were still rustling. The alligator was coming closer.
    “Pay attention!” she whispered. “I’m not going to do either one of those things. Before Razi gets tired of those sheets upstairs, we have to get this done. I can’t explain it all now, but if you want to be heroes, you’ll pay attention.”
    Both Daddy and Mr. Sanders told the children that in times of crisis, heroes calmed down and worked together.
    “I thought heroes calmed down and assessed the situation,” Zeke said, taking off his belt.
    “Well, yes, but I’ve already done that. In just a minute, I’m going to run outside and stand behind that horse chestnut tree. Turn the basket upside down and put your belts through the holes in the basket. The buckles will keep them from sliding all the way through. When I give you the sign, I want you to lower the basket onto the bushes. If it works, you’ll trap the alligator.”
    “Holy smokes,” Zack said, leaning out the window. “This feels like something on Animal Planet.”
    Keisha tugged on Zack’s shirt. “Well, it won’t if you keep hollering. Just stay quiet, okay? And listen for the music.”
    “The alligator sings?”
    “Guys!” Keisha pointed at her eyes with her fingers in a V. Then she pointed at Zeke’s, then at Zack’s. It was what their fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Norman, did when she wanted kids to listen up. “Try to stay focused and wait for my sign.”
    “What kind of sign will it be?” Zeke was sticking the end of his belt through a slot in the laundry basket. “A secret sign?” He liked spy signs.
    “Nope. I’m just going to wave my hand. But I’d better hurry.”
    Keisha dashed out of the house and around theedges of the yard until she ended up behind the tree. She was just about to wave to Zeke and Zack to let them know she was there, but then she realized they might think she was saying
Go!
    She could see Zack working his belt through the basket, but from her place on the ground, she could no longer see the bushes wiggling. They didn’t seem to be moving now, but she
could
hear that music.
    Zack poked his head out the window and turned so his ear was closer to the ground. Keisha could tell by the look on his face that he could hear it, too.
    Zeke pushed the top of the basket out the window. It looked like he might drop it—or even drop out himself if he leaned any farther.
    Keisha waved to get their attention. Then she gave the thumbs-up sign. She wanted to yell
Now!
but she was afraid she’d scare the alligator.
    “Keisha girl!” Grandma called from across the alley. “What are you doing out in the sun without protection? I want grandchildren, not raisins!”
    “Oh hush, Grandma,” Keisha said under her breath. “C’mon, c’mon.”
    The laundry basket popped all the way out the window. The boys were lowering it, just like in Mousetrap!
    As with all big moments that later turn into exciting stories, everything seemed to occur at the same time. Keisha was sure she saw a flash of tail, Grandma crossed the alley without looking both ways and Mama and Daddy came around the side of the house. At the same time, Razi started screaming like crazy that he was stuck in the flannel sheets, and Keisha ran over to the basket and pressed it to the ground, pinning down a yew branch and something underneath it that she very much hoped was an alligator. She knew it was something alive because it made a sad little howl that sounded like
Yawk!

    A tail was sticking out from under the edge of the basket. Keisha lifted the edge just a bit so she could push the tail back under. Then