Lexi's Tale by Johanna Hurwitz Read Free Book Online

“We waited for his phone call and it never came. Since he has no phone back home in Poland, we couldn’t call him to check. We are so delighted to have him with us at last.”
    As for Mr. Klopot, he seems not to be any the worse for his days of living in Central Park. Through the translator he repeated several times how happy he was to be here. “America is a wonderful place,” Mr. Klopot said. “Friendlypeople and friendly animals. Especially the squirrels. You have wonderful squirrels in your country.”
    When the friendly people at St. Stefan’s Church in lower Manhattan heard the story of Mr. Klopot’s losses from his cousins, who are church members, they collected money for the man so he could replace his lost clothing and buy a few souvenirs to take back to Poland with him when he returns home next week
.
    Mr. Klopot has spent the past two rainy days visiting city landmarks such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and Radio City Music Hall. He also insisted on trips to several pet shops in the city. “We did not know that our cousin loved animals so much,” said Irena. “But we are happy to take him wherever he wants to go.”
    Of course PeeWee and I were delighted that all was well with Stefan Klopot.
    â€œI’ve never heard of Polish,” said PeeWee as we discussed what he had read in the newspaper. “It explains a lot.”
    It certainly did. It explained why we couldn’t understand any of the words our human friend tried to say to us. And it explained why he was living in the park. We were both thankful that he was no longer homeless and that he didn’t need to be in a jail cell in order to keep dry and fed.
    â€œIt says he’s going back home to Poland,” said PeeWee sadly. “I’ll miss him.”
    â€œYes,” I agreed. “I’ll miss him too. He smelled good. You could tell he was a fine human. But after all, you still have me. I smell good myself,” I reminded PeeWee.
    â€œYou know I treasure your friendship,” PeeWee replied. “But you spend so much time up in the air with all the other squirrels. Mr. Klopot was down here on the ground with me.” He sighed.
    â€œI’ll try and spend more time on the ground,” I offered. But even as I said it, I knew it was an empty promise. Leaping and soaring are part of a squirrel’s day. There was no way I could spend as much time on the ground as PeeWee would wish for.
    â€œCome, watch me practice,” I suggested to my guinea pig friend. “Don’t forget—tonight is the Squirrel Circus!”

CHAPTER TEN
Squirrel Circus

    That day of the full strawberry moon was a beautiful one. The sun shone brightly, and the leaves and grass seemed greener than ever. The entire park looked beautiful, as if the rains of the preceding two days had washed it clean.
    I practiced my tricks and then took a long nap. It was a good way to make time pass more quickly. When I woke, it was alreadygetting dark. By the time the clock chimed ten, the full moon was high in the sky and there was a grand sprinkling of stars, like acorns under an oak tree. All around, the ground was covered with squirrels. And not only were squirrels on the ground. Hundreds were sitting on nearby tree limbs. Old Uncle Ninety-nine stood on a high branch so everyone could see him.
    â€œHurray for summer!” he shouted to us all. It was a reminder that not every season was filled with the comfort and plenty of the present time.
    â€œHurray for summer!” we called back to him. The sound was overwhelming, like a thousand nuts falling onto the ground at once.
    â€œHurray for squirrels!” Uncle Ninety-nine shouted.
    â€œHurray for squirrels!” we echoed, and again the racket from so many voices filled the air.
    â€œLet the races begin,” he proclaimed.
    Of all the activities, running is the simplest, and so this event was for the youngest