Chapter 19: Plan of Action

"All right." Roseanne cooed. "Calm down and tell us what happened."

Bart and Lisa had brought the hysterical Selby into the campground and everyone surrounded the trio. Roseanne gave Selby some sparkling water to calm her down and after a few moments, Selby was able to explain herself.

"I thought my Dad and his friends were just here to camp and preach the bible." Selby explained.

Images of Ned Flanders immediately filled Homer's mind, causing him to groan.

"But just an hour ago, I overheard them talking amongst themselves. They've actually come here to shoot the Lighting Sparrow!"

"Wait! Isn't that species like, endangered?" Zelda asked, for once not having anything in her hand.

"It is! And me and Selby found one with a nest while we were exploring the forest!" Lisa cried. "Why would he do such a thing!?"

"Apparently he's been doing this for years!" Selby continued. "The Bible teaches that all animals are meant for human consumption so my Dad thinks it's within his rights to kill and eat endangered animals. He's been doing this every time we went camping and I've never known until now!" Selby slumped to the ground and cried. "I feel so betrayed."

Lisa turned to the group before them. "We have to stop them!"

"How?" Steven asked fretfully. "Don't get me wrong! I wanna save that bird as much as the next guy but they have guns and we don't. We can call the authorities but that's about it."

"But by the time they come it may be too late." Lisa wept.

As Bart, Sarah and Zelda went to comfort the two girls, the grown-ups huddled together.

"We have to do something. Lisa will be devastated if that bird gets shot!" Marge began.

"I know but Steven has a point." Beatrice argued. "We don't have any weapons and those men are dangerous."

"Maybe we can come up with some sort of plan." Suzanne suggested.

"That's it!" Homer shouted as if he had come up with something, only to point at Lisa and shout "Lisa! We need you to think of a plan!"

Everyone, including Lisa, stared at Homer in shock.

"That's your plan?" Rachel challenged. "Making your daughter think of a plan?"

"Now listen." Homer began, sounding very sure of himself. "I'm no rocket scientist. I'm not even a boring old regular scientist. But I my daughter is the smartest person I know. If anyone can come up with a plan to save that bird and beat those stupid Flanderses, it's her!"

Lisa wiped a tear from her eye." Dad."

"Homer's right!" Marge added. "And I'm sure it will work if we all help her so who's with me!?"

"I am." Roseanne declared without any hesitation. The rest of her entourage agreed in earnest.

"If it's for Lisa, I'm sure my family would be happy to help!" Steven proclaimed. Every member of his family agreed as well.

"And we'll help too." Bart added as he turned to Lisa. "Well Lisa, what's the plan?"

Lisa couldn't believe it. A few days ago, she wouldn't have been able to find even one person to help her with this cause and now she had a whole army, including her family to help her save this one bird. Lisa wiped away her tears. This was it. The Magnum Opus of her 8-year old life. At last she had found what she was looking for.

"Alright." She began. "I do have one idea..."