Showdown in Crittertown by Justine Fontes Read Free Book Online Page B

help.”
    He folded his paws behind his back and started pacing. “The first thing we need to do is figure out what both sides want.”
    He rolled a pencil stub toward me. “Here, take a piece of paper and write ‘post office’ on one side and ‘library’ on the other.”
    When that was done, Brownback said, “We know the library colony needs more territory. Could we share some of our turf if we received something of equal value in exchange?”
    â€œWhat’s as valuable as territory?” Nilla asked.
    â€œCheese!” I blurted out. It had been quite a long time since our last meal.
    Brownback chuckled. “Write ‘food sources’ under ‘post office’ and ‘territory’ under ‘library.’” Then he looked deep in thought. “Does the library colony have any food sources they could share with us?”
    Nilla grinned. “There’s old Rusty’s oak trees! They’re full of acorns.”
    Brownback nodded. “I suppose that’s why the colony is getting so crowded. Lots of food means lots of babies. Well…now we’re getting somewhere.”
    Brownback, Nilla, and I spent all night talking and writing. Actually, Nilla fell asleep for a while, but Brownback and I just kept going until we had a treaty that was longer than the both of us, including our tails!

    The treaty spelled out everything (with a few misspellings). In general, it said that the post office colony would be willing to offer some living space to members of the library colony in exchange for the freedom to harvest food off library colony land.
    We proposed merging the colonies for our mutual benefit. Females could raise litters in the safety of the post office, away from Dot’s evening friskies. Young mice ready to learn various subjects could live under the library in a sort of boarding school.
    The double colony could have a combined “army” of scouts to patrol the borders and seek new food sources—and make contact with other colonies who might be willing to enter into a treaty.
    Resources like the post office colony’s newspapers and the library colony’s access to facts would be shared.
    The leaders of both colonies would become co-leaders of the merged colony. If they couldn’t agree on an issue, it would be decided by a vote. Any mouse old enough to have a nest would be allowed to vote.
    My writing paw felt tired. Brownback yawned and said, “Read it back to me again, please.”
    I was up to the part about the “combined army” when Twitchy raced into Brownback’s nest.
    â€œVisitors!” he exclaimed. Then he ran back to the entrance and said, “Sorry! I forgot to knock.”
    â€œCome in,” Brownback told him.
    Twitchy ran in, ran back out, knocked, and ran back in again. “Visitors from the library colony!”
    Brownback smoothed his fur as Twitchy went on. “It’s that girl, the pretty one you told me about. And a tall, skinny lady named Travel. They’re waiting at the entrance. Should I bring them here or tell them to wait for you out there?”
    Twitchy danced from one foot to the other. Brownback patted Twitchy’s shoulder as he walked past him. Brownback then turned to me and said, “Let’s greet our guests.”
    I smoothed my fur and then followed. Poetry was here! I wondered what she wanted. I hoped she wanted to see me!
    I vaguely remembered Travel from our first evening at the library colony. When Brownback bowed, she said, “Enchanté!” She added, “That’s French for ‘enchanted.’”
    Nilla asked, “Why is she enchanted? I thought that meant magical. Is she a witch?”
    Poetry blessed us with one of her beautiful smiles. “It’s an expression that’s short for ‘enchanted to meet you,’ meaning, ‘it’s nice to meet you’—only fancier.”
    Nilla rolled her