Spring Showers
Chapter Six: Renewed Faith
Morning came and the day drifted on, nothing really out of the normal, just a few things to be done to get ready for the coming winter, despite the fact that it was only mid-spring. Everyone was kept occupied and life for the Hedgies seemed to have returned to its normal routine. But not for Verne.
Over the course of the day, Verne had been going over in his head what he would say to RJ concerning the issue with Hammy. Though it turned out to be much more difficult than he thought. For one, he'd have to get RJ alone to talk to him, a feat not too difficult to accomplish. This had to be done to ensure Hammy's privacy, sparing him the embarrassment of the entire family knowing his problem. The second task, however, was the problem: the matter of actually bringing up the topic with RJ. This took him a majority of the day to work out.
Even now, as they prepared for another raid to continue with restocking the log for the winter, he was still unsure of the method that he settled on earlier that day. But, in his mind, it was the easiest way to broach the topic to the raccoon. His mind was still half occupied with his plan as RJ started to explain the raid plan for that night.
"Okay everybody, I've been scouting out a few of the houses towards the west side of the hedge and I think I have found the perfect house to hit on our next raid." RJ pointed out their position on the map before them, drawing his finger over to the target: A large, two-story Victorian style home. Inside were the normal, rich suburbanites and their whiny and annoying offspring. And their goal: A stockroom filled to the top with food, enough to last the family through the Apocalypse, if need be.
"The family's name is the Stewarts. They had just moved in a few weeks ago. The son is addicted to potato chips and microwave foods. The daughter is a preppy cheerleader with a fancy for health food and some white stuff called tofu." RJ started to brief the family. "Too bad she just gets rid of it in the bathroom after dinner." RJ groaned, remembering the sight of the girl bent over the toilet, finger in her mouth, lunging forward only to empty out her stomach into the porcelain receptacle.
"Do they have anything else we can bring back with us?" Stella asked, wondering what she and Tiger would have to grab from the house.
"The parents have the normal stock of stuff: miscellaneous snacks and candies, barbecue foods, and other preserved frozen foods." RJ reported. "This is going to be a good haul." RJ rubbed his hands together, smacking his lips, already tasting the food on his lips.
"So what's the security like?" Ozzie spoke up.
"This family is easy." RJ grinned. "No pets, no super deadly security system, just a standard one, nothing we can't handle." RJ assured them. "However, occasionally, one of the humans comes down, especially the boy, for a midnight snack, so we'll have to be careful and get ready. That's your job." RJ pointed to Ozzie and Heather, both of whom nodded.
"Verne, do we have everything set on that side of the hedge for the raid?" RJ confirmed with the turtle the arrangements for tonight.
"Huh, what?" Verne shook his head, not catching RJ's question completely.
"Ugh." RJ shook his head. "Is the wagon and the rest of the stuff all set to go tonight?" RJ asked him.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. It's all ready." Verne nodded.
"Okay, that's great." RJ said. "Once Hammy and I disable the security system, it should be as easy as pie." RJ smiled. "Hmm, I wonder if they have any pie." RJ thought out loud, almost everyone chuckling at the outburst. "Hey Hammy, are you okay for tonight?" RJ looked to the red squirrel.
"Yeah, I'm ready." Hammy just nodded before looking back down to the map in the middle of the family. Verne looked to Hammy with concern, seeing how different he was, not hyperactive and excited, like he would normally be.
"Okay buddy, it's almost go time." RJ said enthusiastically. Hammy played along and tried his best to look excited. And it seemed that everyone, except for Verne of course, bought Hammy's act.
"Mom, Dad, do you think we can help bring back some stuff tonight?" Bucky asked, pleading with puppy dog eyes.
"Sure, we have no problem with that." Penny answered. "You can help us carry out some bottles of juice and some of the fruits and the all-natural foods."
"MOM! Not that organic stuff!" The boys whined. "That stuff tastes like cardboard!"
"We're standing by our decision." Lou spoke up. "We said no soda for a week and we will make sure of that."
"Aw, come on Lou." Heather spoke up for the triplets. "How about if they behave themselves, would you let them have a little soda then?" Heather tried to negotiate.
"We'll think about it." Penny answered, Lou nodding in agreement.
"Don't worry guys, I'll be bringing a little soda back." Heather winked to Quillo, Bucky, and Spike. "Just don't run crazy again like last time."
"We promise!" The triplets swore.
Behind their backs were crossed fingers.
"Ah kids." RJ chuckled, watching the entire thing play out before him. He had to give it to Heather, she really was quite the crafty one, rivaling her father.
"Hey, RJ." A voice called out from behind him.
"Oh, hey Verne, what's up?" RJ asked as he turned around to face him. He was somewhat caught off guard by the look on Verne's face. Granted, the turtle often looked rather serious, but this time there seemed to be more sense of urgency behind it all. "You want to talk about something? The raid tonight?" RJ tried to guess what was on the reptile's mind, though he started to wonder if the nature of the topic was more serious than he thought.
"RJ, can I talk to you alone for sec?" Verne asked, placing his hand on RJ's shoulder.
"Uh, sure." RJ was sure now that whatever Verne had to talk to him about was serious enough, not meant to be heard by the rest of the family. They walked a small distance away from the rest of the family before RJ finally spoke up. "So Verne, what's on your mind?"
"It's about Hammy." Verne stated. RJ tensed up a bit, though Verne failed to notice it.
"Oh, what's wrong with him? Is his arm hurting or something?" RJ feigned worry, trying to steer the conversation away from where he thought it was going.
"No, it's not that." Verne said.
"Maybe we should let him rest tonight. You and I can take care of the security system tonight." RJ suggested.
"RJ, I talked to him about what happened two nights ago." Verne broached the topic, going straight to the heart of the matter.
"What do you mean? What happened two nights ago?" RJ continued to play dumb, though he could feel sweat forming on his brow.
"RJ, did Hammy do anything weird that night?" Verne asked, looking directly at RJ for any sign of weakness.
"Maybe, I don't know. I barely remember anything from that night." RJ answered him straight. Verne stared at him for a few more seconds before he just gave out a sigh.
"Sorry about the interrogation." Verne apologized. RJ breathed a silent sigh of his own. "I'm still trying to figure out why Hammy has been acting the way he has since yesterday."
"Yeah, I'm still worried about him myself." RJ admitted. "Is he okay?"
"I don't know really what's going on with him." Verne replied. "I really wish I did know so I could help him out." Verne admitted to RJ.
"I'm sure he appreciates your help." RJ smiled a little.
"I think he could use all the help he can get, RJ." Verne looked up to him.
"Yeah, maybe. I'll see what I can do, but I doubt I can do that much." RJ replied.
"Thanks, RJ." Verne smiled back to him.
"Well, I should get back to the others and go over a few more details for tonight." RJ started to back away from Verne.
"Sure, good idea." Verne agreed. RJ nodded back before walking away from the turtle. He breathed another sigh of relief as he paced away from the turtle, happy to have escaped any further questions.
Verne, however, felt no relief. The tingling in his tail only prickled more and more with every answer that RJ gave him. He grumbled to himself, wondering what RJ was hiding from him. He decided to try again at a different time, when RJ would be more inclined to tell him the truth. He needed to know, for Hammy's sake.
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"Okay, you ready as usual, Hammy?" RJ said as he fished out his portable fishing rod from his golf bag.
"Yeah, ready to go." Hammy replied monotonously.
"Okay, so then let's do this!" RJ cast out the line, reaching out to the roof, catching upon the gutter.
"Hammy, go on now. The daughter's window is open, so you can sneak into there." RJ pointed it out in the distance. "Do a good job, okay, Hamsquad." RJ placed his hand and smiled on him. "I'm counting on you." Hammy looked up to him and couldn't help but smile, genuinely this time.
"Okay, RJ! I'll do my best!" Hammy jumped up and grabbed onto the fishing wire, scurrying across it until he reached the roof. Hammy gave RJ the "OK" sign, letting him know that he was safely across the wire.
"You can do it, Hammy!" RJ gave the young squirrel a thumbs up. "I know you can do it!"
"I won't let you down." Hammy said softly, somehow his spirit spurred on by RJ's words. He quickly darted off to the open window, intent on doing what he has to do to make the raid go as smoothly as possible.
He slipped into the room with barely a sound. He eyed a vent at the side of the girl's room and knew that the vent would be his key to get to the security system. He quickly scurried down from the window, jumping down onto the carpet and dashing straight for the vent.
"YAWN!" The teenage girl stirred from her sleep. Hammy dashed under the bed and waited, hearing above him the springs stretch and strain to the weight above. Once the springs stopped groaning, Hammy slowly stuck his head out and looked for any signs of the girl.
Seeing and hearing nothing else than soft breathing, Hammy quickly dashed to the vent and opened it carefully. With the grate open, he looked down, seeing only a long very dimly lit shaft.
"I have to do this." Hammy told himself, trying to prepare himself to head down into the darkness. "RJ's counting on me. I have to do my best." He breathed. Without a second thought, he plunged down into the darkness. "I can't let him down."
He had a mission to do. He had to do his best for the family. He had to do his best for RJ.
He slipped down the shaft carefully, trying not to make any noise that any of the humans could hear. Once at the bottom of the shaft, he could see some light coming from open gratings some distance away from him. Peering down one of them, he could see a faint light from a lamp near a couch. He assumed it was a living room, considering the widescreen TV and couches in the room.
"Where is the kitchen?" Hammy asked himself. He made his way to another grate and looked down. "YES!" Hammy pumped his fists, seeing a large rectangular, two-door box, hearing the soft hum of the only appliance he knew could make it: A refrigerator. He found the kitchen.
Hammy pulled with all his might to pry open the grating into the kitchen. It didn't budge. He pulled once more and he heard it groan. He wished he had some tools out of RJ's bag to help him open the grate. Taking a deep breath, Hammy grabbed the grate and pulled with all his might.
POP! The grating flew open. Hammy held the grate still, making sure that it didn't bump into anything else and make any more noise. Carefully placing the grate down, he looked down and figured out his way down to a counter.
"Here I go." Hammy jumped down and landed on the kitchen counter with a little grace.
"Nice!"
"Huh?" Hammy looked around and smiled when he saw RJ at the glass sliding door, showing him a thumbs up. "Oh, RJ." Hammy smiled back, trying to hide the blush forming on his cheeks. He watched as RJ pointed up to a glowing keypad to the side of the glass sliding door.
Hammy nodded back and made his way to the keypad, seeing the glowing buttons. Examining each of the symbols on the security pad, he remembered the key to disarm the simple system.
BEEP! The keypad sounded and the LED lights next to the different sensors turned off. Before hopping down a stool to the floor, Hammy made his way to the glass sliding door lock and flicked it open.
"Great Job, Hammy!" RJ said as he pushed open the door. "Okay everyone, let's go find that storeroom and get everything we want." He instructed the others as they streamed into the kitchen. Hammy hopped down a stool to the floor, meeting with RJ below.
"How did I do?" Hammy asked RJ.
"You did great, Hammy!" RJ praised him. Hammy, happy at RJ's positive remark, immediately hugged RJ. RJ chuckled and hugged him back. "Sometimes, I don't know what I would do without you, Hammy." RJ whispered to him.
Hammy purred, happy at hearing how important he was to RJ. He held onto the hug until RJ broke it and looked to him.
"Come on, Hammy. Let's grab the stuff!" RJ reminded him why they were there in the first place. Hammy nodded and the two of them dashed off to grab all the food they wanted.
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"WAHOO!" RJ, Hammy, and Verne whooped victoriously after such a successful raid. Not only were they bringing back a huge haul to the log, everything went perfectly.
"Here's to the family!" Ozzie offered up a cheer.
"TO THE FAMILY!" Everyone else cheered.
"Great work, Hammy." RJ wrapped his arm around the squirrel and commended him for his work. "I grabbed you something for you." RJ smiled.
"Really?" Hammy's eyes widened, his own smile stretching from ear to ear. He swiftly ran back to the wagon and searched through the packages, looking for the special surprise RJ got for him. RJ just chuckled as he watched the hyperactive squirrel digging through all the food. It was good to see that Hammy was doing so much better.
"Is it this?" Hammy popped up right next to him, holding in his arms a huge bag of super soft chunk cookies.
"Yeah, Hammy. It's all yours." RJ smiled. Hammy placed the bag down carefully before wrapping his arms around RJ.
"Thank you, RJ." Hammy snuggled up to him. "I really like them."
"You're welcome, Hammy." RJ smiled back down on his friend. Verne watched the exchange and felt a little better. It seemed as if everything would work out somehow. There was no animosity between the two and things finally did seem to go back to normal. Though he may have doubts about whether anything will develop from here on out, for now, everything was just fine.
"Hey RJ, get over here and help us, will ya!" Stella yelled at him, while Tiger, Lou, and Ozzie were trying to take down a rather large box full of chips. "You got this variety pack and you're going t help us get it down!"
"Okay, Stella." RJ called back to her. "I'll go take care of that, okay, Hammy." RJ ruffled the fur on Hammy's head.
"Sure RJ. I'll see ya after, okay!" Hammy said happily.
"RJ!" Stella screamed, her voice bordering on the demonic. RJ and Hammy jumped slightly before smiling back at each other.
"I'll see ya later!" Hammy waved to him as RJ made his way to the others to help them unload the wagon. When RJ disappeared from view, Hammy picked up the bag of cookies RJ had given him and held it tightly against him. "A gift from RJ." Hammy smiled, feeling warm and happy inside. He opened the bag and dug out a cookie. "Chocolate chip." Hammy said happily. RJ remembered that it was his favorite kind of cookie. He took a bite of the cookie and chewed it slowly, savoring it.
It was the sweetest tasting cookie he had ever eaten.
Finishing up the cookie, he picked up the bag of the rest and quickly ran off after RJ, wanting to share some of the cookies with him.
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