SIXTEEN

Sam awoke to the sound of his hungry stomach growling. Remembering where he was, he peered from his perch and into Elodie’s window. He could see the Big Lady looking furious as she straightened the little girl’s room, but the locket was gone. He hoped that it was safely with Pinky and that she managed to get out of the house unharmed. He made his way toward the warren to check but his stomach protested so loudly that he decided to stop for breakfast first.

When Sam rounded the corner of the house he saw something that most opossums only dream of – a fresh pile of sauce-covered spaghetti sitting on top of the compost heap! The Big Man must’ve dumped last night’s dinner before leaving for work.

Sam carelessly climbed to the top of the pile, forgetting that he was without the protection of darkness.

Slurping strands of pasta into his mouth he was oblivious to the hawk that was watching his every move.