Bailey Linda - The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library

To teacher-librarians and childrens librarians everywhere, who bring kids and books together... and change lives!

CHAPTER
1

I knew this would happen, said Ma. I told her and told herstop reading! Its dangerous! Didnt I say that?

Of course you did, said Pa. But you know what Mins like. She does what she wants.

Eddie crouched behind a piece of yellow chalk, listening. Hed been asking his parents about Aunt Min ever since last Tuesday, when she didnt come home from the Library. But his mother had brushed off his questions.

Stop worrying, she kept saying. Your aunt can look after herself.

But now, here it wasthe truth. Ma was worried, too.

What are we going to do? she asked, her voice rising to a squeak.

There was a long pause.

Eddie, just steps away, ducked even lower behind the chalk. He knew his parents were trying to have a private conversation. With so many children in the family, the only way they could be alone was to leave their home behind the chalkboard and sit out on the ledge. They spoke in hushed tonesthe way your parents might whisper on a balcony if they didnt want you to hear.

Theres only one way, said Pa slowly. Ill have to go look for her.

You? said Ma. With your legs? You certainly will not. Youd never make it past the door.

Eddie peered at the classroom door. From this distance, it was mostly a blur. But he knew it was a very long walk. And Ma was rightPas back legs were so creaky, he could barely crawl down to the floor.

I have to, said Pa. Min may be hurt. She may be

Dont say it! said Ma. Oh, I could just spit. There was no need for any of this. She could have stayed home, snug as a bug in a rug. Plenty of books right here in this classroom. But no, she had to go to the Library! She had to risk her lifeand now shes risking yours, too. All because of this foolish, unnatural habit. I ask youwhat does a bug need with reading?

Pa let out a sigh. Well, I dont understand it myself, but ever since we came here

Dont you go defending her, said Ma. Shes corrupted Eddie, too. Every chance he gets, creeping into some book. Its like hes trying to get killed! I tell you, its a weakness in your family, this book reading. A terrible flaw. Look what happened to your father.

Now it was Eddie who let out a sigh. Hed heard this sad tale so often, he could say it by heart. Grandpa George had suffered a Tragic Death on page 131 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz when some unthinking child had slammed the book shut. Poor Grandpa George, thought Eddie. He had died without ever knowing what happened to Dorothy.

Ma, meanwhile, wasnt finished. Its out of the question, she told Pa. You cant go after Min. Itll have to be me.

Now, wait, said Pa, thats not right. What about the babies?

Ma didnt answer. What could she say? There were twenty-seven grubs tucked away in the wall, depending on her care.

Well, then, she muttered. Who?

There was a long pause.

What about... Eddie? said Pa.

Eddie couldnt help himselfhe jumped. Stumbling sideways, he fell against the chalk, which started to roll. He grabbed it before Ma could see.

But she was far too upset to notice.

Eddie? squawked Ma. Have you lost your mind? Eddie? I love our Eddie to bits, but we both know the truth. Hes a dreamer, a foola nincompoop! He can hardly find his way off this chalkboard. No way, no chance, no how is my baby boy wandering off through this huge endless school to hunt for a crazy old bug who should have known better.

Hush, said Pa. Then he sighed. Youre right, of course. This is too tough for Eddie.

Darn tootin! said Ma. And besides, he stands out. Bright color like that, its just asking for trouble. You know he shouldnt be out in the open.

They both went quiet. Thinking.

The problem wasand Eddie knew itthere was no one else to think of. Just their own family.

Oh, they had plenty of friends and relatives out in the Big Woods. But only Eddie and his closest family had had the bad luck to get scooped up one evening and dropped into a glass tank of dirt in Room 19 of Ferny Creek Elementary School. For two weeks, they had been a fourth-grade science project. And then came the fateful night when the Cleaner knocked over the tank, dirt and all. He was only gone a few minutes to fetch a shovel. But while he was gone, the bugs saw their chance....

And that was the other big story Eddie had heard his whole life. The Great Escape. How Grandma Ruth had bravely led the family away from the tank, across the huge classroom, and up the wall. How she had managed, with her unerring sense of direction, to sniff out the crack behind the chalkboard that they now called home.

But now Grandma Ruth was gone. So was Grandpa George. There were only Eddie and his parents left, and his fifty-three younger brothers and sisters.

And Aunt Min, of course.

Was she all right?

Was she alive?

In his entire life, Eddie couldnt remember a single time that Aunt Min hadnt come home.

Someone would have to go after her.

Eddie stared at the big blurry door.

CHAPTER
2

Sunrise was Eddies best chance. He couldnt sneak away at night when his parents were awake. He couldnt travel in broad daylight, either. The school was much too dangerous then.

No, the best time to leave was dawnright after his family fell asleep, and before the Squishers arrived.

Early the next morning, when the first pale light stole through the classroom windows, he was ready.

As his family settled down for their morning nap, Eddie pretended to join them. He claimed a spot near the exitthat fortunate crack in the wall, behind the oh-so-lucky gap in the chalkboard, that together and almost miraculously allowed the bugs to come and go. Eddie huddled there quietly as the new babies curled and twisted. He watched as his younger brothers and sisters had a last roll and wrestle. He waited as Ma and Pa sank into a sleepy torpor that could be disturbed only by something loud or bright.

Eddie was not about to give them either. Moving just his eyes, he gazed slowly around at the crumbling plaster. Finally, when all was quiet, he rose onto all six feet.

As he crept toward the exit, a voice rang out.

Eddie? Hey, EDDIE! Where you GOING?

A small dark head popped up among his siblings. Alfie!

Eddie groaned. Of all the brothers and sisters who might have spotted him...

Can I COME, TOO?

Shh! hissed Eddie. For reasons that no one understood, Alfie had been hatched with a powerful voice. It came and went in odd bursts.

Alfie, quiet! whispered Eddie, glancing at their sleeping parents. I just have... a... you know, a thing I have to do.

WHAT thing?

Its a secret. I cant tell you.

Aww, come on, Alfie whined. Just TELL ME, okay? I wont tell anyone else. PLEEEEAASE?

Eddie wanted nothing more than to leap on his little brother and clamp those mandibles shut. But there were too many bugs in the way.

Okay, he said quickly. Im going to the Library to find Aunt Min. But you cant come, Alfie, and you cant tell anyone. Promise?

Aww, said Alfie. Why cant I come? WHYYYYYY?

Go to sleep! ordered Eddie. Now!