英语小说网

"We're home," said Annie.

Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mango? Hmmm," said Annie. She brought the fruit close to her lips.

Annie held the fruit up to the afternoon light.

Jack opened his eyes. Peanut was on the tree house windowsill.

He pulled out the rain forest book. He flipped through the pages. He came to a picture of the red fruit.

Squeak.

"Then we can free you, Morgan!" Annie called, as if Morgan were nearby.

"What exactly is this?" she asked.

"Here it is!" he said. He read out loud: "The mango has a sweet taste like that of a peach."

"Oh, brother," said Jack. He needed more proof than that.

"We're halfway there," said Jack. "Two more to go."

"Moonstone… mango," whispered Annie. It sounded like a spell.

"I just feel it," Annie said.

"How do you know she can hear you?" said Jack.

"Hey!" said Jack, grabbing the mango from her. "We have to put it with the moonstone."

Jack placed the mango on the M carved into the floor. Next to the clear moonstone.

"Maybe it's in the book," Jack answered.

These woods are very different from the rain forest, Jack thought.

Jack patted the mouse, too. "Bye, Peanut. Thanks for your help," he said.

They climbed down the rope ladder. They stepped onto the ground.

"Can't we take her with us?" said Annie.

Squeak.

Then he pulled on his backpack. And he and Annie left the tree house.

"How could anyone not like a mouse?" said Annie.

Peanut was looking at Jack and Annie.

"There're no jaguars or army ants here," he said. "No little monkeys."

Jack smiled. "How could anyone not like a spider?" he said.

Jack put the rain forest book on top of the book about ninjas.

"That's different." Annie patted Peanut's head. "Bye," she said. "Wait for us here. We'll be back tomorrow."

"No," said Jack. "Mom won't let us keep a mouse in the house. She doesn't like mice, remember?"

Squeak.

A bird called out.

Leaf shadows danced in the light.

"We have to leave you now," Jack said to the mouse.

They started walking through the Frog Creek woods.

Squeak.

They raced up their steps.

In fact, that's true about the whole rain forest, Jack thought. Everyone should just leave it all alone.

They took off running.

"The crocodile was just being a crocodile," said Annie.

They ran across their yard.

They started walking up their street. It was lit with a golden light.

"I know. Actually, nothing was being mean," said Jack. "The army ants were just marching. That's what army ants do."

Jack and Annie stepped out of the Frog Creek woods.

"You know, that monkey was never being mean," said Annie. "He was just trying to give us the mango."

Annie shuddered. "I still don't love bugs," she said.

"The piranhas were just being piranhas," said Annie.

"Who cares if the bugs don't have names?" he said softly. "They know who they are."

"You don't have to love them," said Jack. "Just leave them alone. And they won't bother you."

"Race you!" said Annie.

"The jaguar was just taking care of her baby," said Jack.

"Safe!" they shouted together, tagging their front door.

"The snake was just being a snake," said Jack.