Free Tiger Town by Eric Walters Page B

talk about it anymore.”
    My mother looked as if she wanted to say more, but she didn’t. She was waiting for me to speak, and that wasn’t going to happen.
    “I should get going now, I guess,” Mom said.
    “Yeah … see you later.”
    I climbed out and closed the door. Mom jockeyed the car back and forth a few times so she could turn around in the narrow lane behind the truck. It certainly was a big truck — wait — where was the second truck? Mom honked as she started up the lane, and I waved to her, then hurried off to the house. Not only did I want to talk to Nick, but I wanted to know who was gone and where he’d taken the truck.
    I knocked on the door and then entered. Mr. McCurdy had told us to feel free to walk in, but it always felt better to announce I was coming. I found Nick sitting at the kitchen table with Calvin. The chimp was eating out of one of the Chinese food containers from last night. I’d made so much to go along with the takeout food that there was still some left over. Even though Calvin was using his fingers instead of utensils, I couldn’t help noticing that he was still less messy in his eating habits than my brother.
    “Is Mr. McCurdy here?” I asked.
    “I’m in here, Sarah,” he called from another room. I was always amazed at how well he could hear when he wanted to.
    “What happened to the second truck?” I yelled out. “Did Vladimir take it some—”
    “No need to holler, Sarah,” Mr. McCurdy said, walking into the room.
    “Sorry. Did Vladimir take the truck?”
    “Yep.”
    “Where did he go to?”
    “To the dump.”
    “What’s he dropping off?”
    “He’s not dropping off. He’s picking up.”
    “At the dump?”
    “Sure. We need lots of things to make the pens for the cats, and people dump off lots of good stuff,” Mr. McCurdy said.
    “Stuff you can use to make a cage?”
    “That’s where I got all the things to convert Buddha’s cattle stall into a cage.”
    “I guess it’s good we’re here to help. What can we do?” I asked.
    He turned to my brother. “Nick, are you through with the Chinese food?”
    “We’re all done,” Nick said. Both he and Calvin were sitting at the table wearing empty takeout containers on their heads like hats. I certainly hoped they were finished.
    “I want you to go down to the barn and get enough chickens for all the cats in the trailer.”
    “I don’t know if I can carry that many,” Nick said.
    “Bring the chimp. He could practically carry the whole freezer.”
    Nick stood. “Come on, Calvin, let’s go.” The two of them started off.
    “Good-bye, stupid boy!” Polly called out as they left the room.
    I looked at the parrot sitting on top of the cupboards. “That wasn’t nice, Polly,” I said.
    “Shut up, stupid girl,” Polly squawked.
    Mr. McCurdy chuckled.
    “Even if you think I’m stupid, Polly, I still think you’re smart,” I said. I’d decided I wasn’t going to get into any arguments with a parrot. No matter what that parrot said to me, I’d just compliment him back.
    “Ugly girl,” Polly said.
    “You’re a pretty bird, Polly.”
    “Stupid, ugly girl,” Polly squawked.
    Mr. McCurdy laughed. “Believe me, Sarah, it doesn’t make any more sense for you to reason with him than it does for Nick to argue with him. Just let him be, okay?”
    “I was just trying to —”
    Suddenly the back door blew open. “Help! Help!” Nick screamed as he ran down the hall, screeching to a halt in front of us. “The buffalo have gotten out!”
    “What are you talking about?” Mr. McCurdy demanded.
    “The buffalo have broken out of the pen!”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure! I just saw them walking up the lane as I was going to the trailer to feed the cats!”
    “Come on,” Mr. McCurdy said as he headed for the door. Nick rushed down the hall past him, and I ran to keep up. We’d hardly gotten out the door when I caught sight of the buffalo. The three of them were behind the