It had taken years for the Elwood City Council to make its decision. It had amassed billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Petitions and protests flooded City Hall. The Council had proposed they build a highway-straight through the city's suburbs. It was to aid commuters and other drivers who went bumper to bumper on smaller, slower roads. It was to bring in money as toll plazas collected fees. Jobs were created, and the small economy was nudged forward.

At least, that was how the local newspapers phrased it. After months of in-depth articles and editorials debating the issue, all they had now were shallow reports about Elwood City's latest project-the City-Suburb Connector. Arthur heard his parents talking about it, Mr. Crosswire enthusiastically promoting it, and Brain casually dropping the name in his spur-of-the-moment lectures. He didn't really care much for it, and nor did his friends. It didn't bother them much.

In class Mr. Ratburn rounded on the students. "Over the weekend you will be working in groups on a project. You are to research the affects of the City-Suburb Highway and write a report on it. It will help us all learn about current events in our community." He paused; a glimmer in his eye. "As well as making up a significant portion of your social studies grade."

The entire class groaned as the bell rang. They sped out of class; dispersing into groups. "Buster, Muffy, Arthur, Brain," Francine said decisively. "C'mon, we'll all work together. What should we write about?"

"How about something easy?" Buster yawned.

"Like the impact on our livelihoods! How our lives are being affected, I mean," Brain furiously explained.

"But they aren't being affected," Francine huffed.

"Francine's right," Arthur pointed out. "Sometimes we hear some of the construction noise; but not much else."

Brain glanced at his watch. "I'll be late for soccer practice. How about we all meet at the tree house around 4 o'clock?" The group nodded and went their separate ways.

At five minutes to four, Brain arrived at the tree house first; weighed down by research books that might come in handy. He looked around and frowned. Had he taken a wrong turn? It looked unfamiliar. About 100 yards away was a construction crew and huge cranes. All around him huge logs-the remnants of tress-lay.

Brain walked around the small stretch of forest-or what was left of it. Every tree was uprooted. Was he in the wrong place?

"BRAIN!" Buster's familiar voice cried from a distance, followed by similar shouts from Arthur, Muffy, and Francine.

He set off towards them at a jog; bending over and gasping for breath when he reached them. "I can't find the tree house!"

"What?" Francine cried.

"ALIENS!" Buster shrieked; his ears standing on end.

Francine rolled her eyes. "No. Look at the construction crew for the City-Suburb Connector-"

"According to the huge map Daddy has in his office, this is now city property," Muffy casually pointed out.

"So the tree house is on city property. This means..."

"Oh, no!" Arthur gasped.

They all realized it at once. They took off at a fast run; praying that the familiar tree would soon come into sight.

Instead they found the gigantic tree on its side. The branches were tangled up in a jumble of green leaves. Off to the side, crushed under one giant branch, was a pulverized and splintered heap of wood. A lump formed in Brain's throat.

That was tree house he and his friends and their families had built. Where they had had countless meetings and played dozens of games. That tree house had seen laughter and fights; blizzards and thunderstorms. It was a part of their lives.

But now the will of men in business suits had brought it down. It was now on the City-Suburb Connector.