4.
"I want to go pick strawberries today," Angel announced. God, Iggy made good eggs. He was a good cook. "They're ripe now."
"Okay, Angel, I'll go with you," Gazzy agreed, then blew some wind. I never said he didn't live up to his name.
"Oh, jeez, Gazzy," Max said.
"Gas… mask" Iggy choked. Gazzy merely laughed at him.
"I'm done." I took my plate over to the sink. These kids were such… kids.
Gazzy apologized.
"Yeah, Angel, I think the fresh air would do us all good. I'll go too." Nudge probably would have continued talking had Max not interrupted her.
"We'll all go," Max said.
The open air in the afternoon wasn't as refreshing as it was in the morning, but being outside was much better than being in.
Angel had led us to a wild strawberry patch, and we were ready for a treat, one that didn't come in a can. I cracked a small smile.
Angel looked up at Max. "If you make cake, I can make strawberry shortcakes," she said, joyfully. Angel was almost always joyful.
"Yeah, that'll be the day, when Max makes a cake. I'll make it, Angel," I heard Iggy say, behind me. But Iggy was right next to me. I turned my head to look at Gazzy, who was smiling mischeviously.
"Oh, thank you!" Max said, maybe a little sarcastically. "Okay," she said, spinning to face us. "I'm not a fabulous cook. But I can still kick your butt and don't you forget it!"
Iggy put his hands up, shaking his head. Gazzy was stifling a laugh. Well, so was I. That kid was so funny, when he wasn't getting me in trouble, that is.
"Was that you?" Max asked Gazzy. I had the sudden desire to say "No, it was the flying monkeys." But I didn't have the chance to.
Beside Max, Angel froze, and screamed. I could sense all other five pairs of eyes turning toward her.
Because in less than a second, men with long snouts, like wolves, clawed hands, and glowing reddish eyes dropped down from nowhere.
The Erasers had found us.