Lexi's Tale by Johanna Hurwitz Read Free Book Online Page A

squirrels. Several dozen youngsters who had been born in recent months lined up in front of a huge sycamore tree. When they were all in a row, Uncle Ninety-nine shouted out, “One nut, two fleas, three squirrels, go!”
    At once the young squirrels were off. We all cheered for our nearest relatives. I had my eye on little Seventeen, but I admit that in the crush of racing squirrels, I lost sight of him. It didn’t really matter. There’s never a winner for the races. Every squirrel is declared a champion. It makes them all feel happy and proud to be a squirrel.
    Next came tree climbing. Only a dozen squirrels at a time performed. But the first to reach the top of the tree from each group eventually competed with one another.
    There were many other activities that night, too: catch the squirrel, hide-the-nut & find-the-nut, tree leaping, and as a grand finale: balancing. That event was performed both on tree branches and along the phone lines which were at the edges of the park. In addition to leaping, this is the category where I am a star. All the squirrels raced to a street at the eastern border of the park, and I prepared to show them what I had taught myself to do.
    I scampered to the top of the telephone pole and stood still for a moment before I began my performance. I looked down at the hundreds of squirrels who were watching. PeeWee was downthere too, although I couldn’t spot him. The street lamps cast more shadows than light. I could also see human couples walking down below and even a few dedicated joggers still doing their runs. None of them looked up and so none of them knew what they were missing.
    I raised a paw to wave to my relatives below. Although I’d practiced all morning, I still felt nervous. I wasn’t afraid of falling, since I still had so many lives left. But it would be very embarrassing to fail in front of so many of my relatives. I knew that this year I hadn’t practiced as much as last. Lately, I’d spent more time on the ground with PeeWee. But then I thought to myself, what were the few minutes of glory that I was hoping for compared to the days of pleasure I’d gained by knowingPeeWee? Whatever happened on the high wire, PeeWee would still be my friend.
    With that thought in my head, I started racing across the wire. Along my route I made any number of single somersaults. And finally I took a breath and ended with a flourish. I performed a daring triple somersault.

    I landed safely on the wire without slipping. From below I could hear the thunderous roar from my family. I had made it! Few squirrels have ever been capable of doing a triple.
    Back on the ground I was congratulated by many squirrels for my acrobatic feat. I was proud, but I was hungry too.
    â€œWhen do we eat?” I called out to Uncle Ninety-nine.
    â€œIn a moment,” he said, and he began counting out again: “One nut, two fleas, three squirrels, go!”
    At once every squirrel raced off to the trees where the feast was stored. When I had a nut in each cheek, I went searching for PeeWee. He was not among the squirrels circling the storage trees. I finally discovered him outside his tree hole. I was in for a big surprise.
    Standing next to PeeWee was another guinea pig! In the light cast by the moon I could see that she was very beautiful, with a golden brown coat and dark black eyes. Where did this creature come from?
    PeeWee introduced me at once. “This is Plush,” he said. “Stefan Klopot brought her here.”
    â€œStefan Klopot! Was he in the park tonight?” I asked in amazement, disappointed that I’d missed him.

    â€œYes, Stefan Klopot sat down on the bench and watched the whole circus. He applauded when you did your somersaults. And Plush and I watched you too,” PeeWee added.
    I looked at Plush. Stefan Klopot had given PeeWee the one thing that I never could. He had brought him a companion of his own species.
    â€œI’m