Free Showdown in Crittertown by Justine Fontes Page B

focus was so intense that we all felt it. He threw the paper clip with easy grace. It flew like a bird to its nest. This javelin was going home. The only sound in the garage was the THUNK as the tip struck exactly in the center of the bull’s-eye.
    The library clan cheered with excitement! Charlie sighed. I uncrossed my fingers. Nilla wiped a tear from one eye before taking her place on the silver medalist’s podium.
    From the taller block, General History said, “Maybe you’ll win the gold next year.”
    Nilla’s smile returned. “You better keep practicing—or I just might!”
    Since there were no cheese-eating or letter-writing contests, I didn’t win any prizes. But I felt like a winner when Poetry found me during the post-games party.

    She said, “Thank you for the cheese cracker. It was very noble of you to give it to me. I know how much you love cheese.”
    I gazed into her big, beautiful eyes and wondered if she knew what I was thinking. Was it possible that I loved her even more than cheese itself?

    So much had happened since the Change: understanding and making friends with small humans, saving the post office and the school, becoming the Postmouseter, helping to create a treaty between our clan and the library’s. It seemed that anything was possible. Maybe even that Poetry might love me, too!