Monday, December 29, 2008

THREE

“Gone?” echoed Silas. “How can that be? You always keep it in your pouch!”

Petula fished around in her marsupial pouch and produced an empty hand. “It’s not here!”

“Did you search the warren? Is it in the winter pantry?”

“How could it be? The door is locked!” wailed Petula.

That was staggering news, as the locket contained the key to their storehouse of food. Cocoa began to rock back and forth, “What will we do, and with the nights getting colder and colder?”

“Now Cocoa, calm yourself,” said Silas. “We’ll organize a search this very moment, and you’ll see it will turn up in the most logical spot.”

“Turn up… Turnip!” cried Petula, fresh tears coursing down her cheeks.

“Stop crying, you silly git! You’re not helping. We need you to think where you might’ve put the blasted thing!” said Beatrice angrily. She had personally stocked the winter pantry with the ripest berries, and had no intention of letting them rot.

“Let’s see,” choked Petula, trying to remember all the places she had visited recently. “I was in the flower bed this afternoon.”

“Okay, we’ll start with the flower bed,” said Silas, slowly climbing down the compost heap. “Show me exactly where you were.”

The older opossums headed toward the bed of flowers and shrubs at the front of the human’s house, but Pinky stood frozen in her spot. “Come on, Pinky! This is a real adventure!” said Sam enthusiastically. Pinky wouldn’t budge. “Come on!” Sam called again, giving her a shove.

“Sam,” she whispered, “They’re not going to find the locket in the flower garden.”

“They’re not?”

“No, because I took it.”

“You took Petula’s locket?” Sam was stunned. “Why would you do that?”

Pinky began to tremble. “I was just looking at it, I meant to put it back, but I forgot.”

“So put it back now,” said Sam.

“I can’t,” answered Pinky. “I lost it!”

“Isn’t it in your pouch?” asked Sam. Pinky showed him her pouch. “Empty!” he proclaimed in a hushed, theatrical voice. “Where did you lose it?”

“If I knew that, it wouldn’t be lost, now would it?” she asked in a huff.

“Guess not,” answered Sam. “Let’s retrace your steps and maybe we’ll find it first. They’ll be searching for a while, and maybe we’ll get lucky.”

Pinky agreed, but she felt sick over losing something as precious as the turnip locket. They began to search all the spots that she loved to frequent: the shed, vegetable patch and sandbox, but to no avail.

“It’s no use, we’ll never find it! I may as well confess and hope they don’t toss us out of the warren forever.”

“What do you mean, ‘us’? I didn’t steal that stupid locket, why should they throw me out?”

“Because,” sighed Pinky, “You’re my brother. They’ll think you helped me.”

“That’s crazy,” said Sam, but he began to worry.

The opossums came back into the clearing, Petula as hysterical as before.

“Any luck?” asked Sam in what he hoped sounded sincere.

Silas shook his head gravely, “Petula said the last time she saw it was when she was napping in the Cozy Room. We’re going to head back and turn that place inside out. You kids come along and lend a hand.”

“Yes sir,” they said, but lagged behind the others. “You’ve got to think of something Pinky! Once they’re finished searching the warren they’ll begin questioning everyone, and I’m not about to lie to Silas. You remember what he did to those evil rats!” said Sam.

“What can I do?” whined Pinky. “We’ve looked everywhere. Maybe a rat crept into the yard and took it. We could always suggest something like that.”

“Never work,” said Sam matter-of-factly. “Silas can smell one a mile away. He’d know if they’ve been hanging around.”

Just then the children heard a sound and turned to look at the house. One of the humans was closing a window. It looked like the Big Lady.

“You don’t suppose…” wondered Sam as he saw the Big Lady move back into the darkness of the house.

“What?” asked Pinky.

“Well, maybe the locket’s inside the house. Is it possible?”

“How could that be possible, Sam? For goodness’ sake, I’m not crazy enough to go wandering inside the human’s house.”

“Yes, but what if one of ‘em found it and brought it inside? That little girl is always picking up things and putting ‘em in her pocket. What if she found the locket?”

“Oh, Sam! Do you think?” asked Pinky, hopefully. “Our problem may be solved!”

“Not so fast, Pinky! First, we don’t know if the locket’s inside the house. Second, we don’t know where it might be hidden. Third, we don’t know how we’ll get inside to find it. And fourth –“

“Okay, okay, I see what you mean,” said Pinky, feeling depressed again. “I know!” she said excitedly. “Let’s go spy on them! Maybe we can see it from the outside.”

Sam shrugged, disliking it when his sister came up with a better plan.

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