PeeWee and Plush Read Free

blade.
    As the machine moved away and its sound diminished, Lexi said, “Wait here. I can run faster. I’ll find Plush for you.”
    He scooted out from under the bush and I remained watching from beneath its branches as he ran. If anyone would find Plush quickly, it was Lexi. It felt good now to rest in the shade of the bush. I was worried about Plush, but I was tired too. I’d spent a lot of energy that morning finding the choicest tidbits for her to eat. I drifted off in an uneasy sleep.
    The next thing I knew, I heard Lexi’s voice again.
    â€œWake up, sleepyhead. I’ve found the lost Plush.”
    I rubbed my eyes. What a relief it was to see Plush standing in front of me, safe and sound!
    â€œI wasn’t lost,” Plush said, sounding irritated. “I knew exactly where I was.”
    â€œAnd where was that?” asked Lexi.
    â€œIn Central Park, in New York City.”
    â€œTrue enough,” said Lexi. “But could you have found your way back to PeeWee’s hole again?”
    â€œWhy would I want to go back there?” Plush asked. “First he bit me. And then he let you come looking for me while he took a nap.”
    â€œJust a minute,” I protested. “I
was
looking for you until Lexi took over. And I didn’t mean to bite you. Honest. Please forgive me,” I begged Plush.
    â€œI’ll think about it,” she responded.
    â€œHow long will it take?” I wanted to know.
    â€œStop quarreling,” scolded Lexi. “I just saw something delicious to eat. Save your mouths for food and not for angry words.” He ran out from the bush and returned a minute later dragging a round piece of bread with a hole in the middle that had been dropped by a careless human.
    â€œWho gets the hole?” asked Lexi as we all began to nibble on this tasty find.

    â€œHelp yourself. It’s all yours,” said Plush.
    That was the first time I’d heard her make a joke. There was so much about her personality that I had yet to learn. But I guess she had much to learn about me. One can’t become the best of friends in just a few hours. Even Lexi and I needed a bit of time to get to really know and appreciate each other.
    As far as I knew, Plush and I were the only guinea pigs in all of Central Park. We had to trust and understand each other. Otherwise, how could we have a family together someday?

CHAPTER FOUR
A Night at the Opera

    One good thing came from my biting Plush. She wasn’t eager to return to my hole with me. After a morning of trying to get her out into the park, I discovered that now I couldn’t get her back into my cozy hideaway.
    â€œShow me the park,” Plush said to Lexi after we finished eating. It stung that she didn’t ask me.
    â€œNot now.
An afternoon rest is always best!
”Lexi told Plush. It was another of his mother’s sayings.
    â€œI’ll rest tonight,” Plush said. “If you don’t want to show me the park, I’ll just make my own discoveries.”
    I looked at Lexi with alarm. Now that he had found her, we couldn’t possibly let her out of our sight.
    â€œCome along,” said Lexi good-naturedly. He led the way, and Plush and I followed. “We’ll go to Turtle Pond,” he said, turning and winking at me. Turtle Pond was quite a distance away. Lexi’s wink told me he planned to tire Plush out so we could all stop and take a rest en route.
    â€œTurtle Pond?” said Plush eagerly. “There were several turtles in the pet shop where I used to live.”
    â€œI’ve never seen a turtle here,” said Lexi. “It’s just a name, not a creature.”
    â€œToo bad,” said Plush. “Turtles are quite wise and very gentle, unlike some animals I can name. I enjoyed speaking with those in the shop.”
    Was that a crack at me? I couldn’t tell.
    We walked from one bit of protected shrubbery to another. “It’s