PeeWee and Plush by Johanna Hurwitz Page A

guinea pigs are no match for a roller skate.
    Finally the wild skate slowed down andfell over on its side as it veered off the walkway. I rushed toward it terrified of what I would find inside. Could Perky have survived such a tumble?
    And then I saw his little head peeking out of the skate. “Hi, Pop,” he shouted cheerfully. “That was great. Can we do it again?”
    â€œGreat?” I sputtered, thinking of how the skate had run me down and left me so frightened regarding Perky’s fate. And what about my sore body?
    â€œIt was like flying,” Perky said. “I felt like I was a bird!”
    â€œYou’re a guinea pig,” I said. “Why do you want to feel like a bird?” But then I laughed. Perky was safe, unharmed, and happy. And I was happy too.
    We decided it was high time for a little rest.
    â€œLucky you,” said Pudge, looking at Perky still inside the shoe. “You’re getting a ride all the way to our new home. It’s not fair.”
    I was about to defend Perky. After all, he had twisted his paw earlier. But to my surprise, Perky spoke up. “You can have a turn, Pudge,” he offered. And with that, he climbed out of the shoe without any assistance and walked alongside of it with Pip and Squeak when our rest period was over. The twisted paw seemed just fine. Perhaps Perky hadn’t really twisted it at all.
    Plush and I looked at each other with amazement. What had happened to change our timid son? Was it the first real dose of good fresh air in his lungs? Was it the fact that the park was almost empty of humans and dogs that cold, cloudy day? I don’t knowthe answer. But it was a joy to watch all of our children chattering happily, running, and riding in the skate. Each had a turn inside. Even Plush.
    â€œPop. You should have a turn too,” said Pudge.
    â€œWell, I don’t mind if I do,” I replied. “But you’ll have to work to pull me. This skate won’t move by itself.”
    Twice during our journey we saw Lexi. His eyes nearly popped out of his head the first time he saw the skate.
    â€œPeeWee, you’re even smarter than I ever guessed,” he told me. “
A good head is better than two tails
.”
    He’d told me that once before, but repetition didn’t make those words any less satisfying.
    We arrived at the zoo in the late afternoon.With great regret we abandoned the skate. I pushed it under a bush and tried to cover it with leaves. I doubted it would remain there all winter long. But having seen Perky actually being perky for the first time in his life, I felt we would be able to manage to return to our home when the weather turned warm again, even if we didn’t have the skate to transport us.
    Thankfully, all of us, even Pudge, were small enough to slip under the door of the rain forest without waiting for a human to open it. Inside, we stood savoring the warmth and good smells around us. I knew in a few days the pups would be running all over this place. There was much to explore and many new animals to befriend. And best of all, we would be safe from the winter.
    I settled my family in a hollow log and then slipped outdoors again. As I had hoped, there was Lexi waiting at the entrance.
    â€œSo you made it here,” he said.
    â€œYes. I’m proud of the pups. They all pulled together,” I reported.
    â€œWell, winter is a long time. I’m going to miss you,” Lexi said to me.
    â€œAnd I’ll miss you,” I replied. “But I hope you’ll come by from time to time. You can tell me what’s going on in the rest of the park.”
    â€œI will. I will,” said Lexi. “
A nut is good but a good friend is better
.”
    â€œThanks, pal,” I said. “That’s one of the best sayings your mother ever taught you.”
    Lexi scratched himself and winked at me. “That’s one saying my mother never knew. I made it up myself,” Lexi