The first thing Jerry did when he got home was search his house from top to bottom. Maybe he’d dropped the key somewhere. But no key showed up.
Then he went to Stookie’s house. He stared at the outside, wondering if the key was lying on the floor inside. Maybe he should try prying open one of the windows. But no, he couldn’t do that. He’d be no better than a thief himself if he sneaked into someone’s house without permission.
But I do have their permission, he tried to reason with himself. Still, he knew using a key to get in the front door was a lot different from breaking in through a window. He walked back to his house.
Dinner was a quiet affair that night. Mr. Dinh was away on business, and Jerry didn’t feel much like talking. He turned on the TV after dinner, but didn’t really pay attention to what was on. After a while, he decided he’d just go to bed.
If only I could be sure the gerbils were okay, he thought as he climbed the stairs. He slumped at his desk and stared out the window into Stookie’s bedroom. He could see the gerbil habitat, but not the gerbils. They were too small.
Suddenly he sat up. He went to his other window, where his telescope was pointed at the sky. Carefully, he lifted the telescope off its stand and carried it to the window by his desk. He grabbed a pillow from his bed, laid it on the desk, and put the telescope on top of it. Then he leaned forward and looked through the eyepiece.
“Bingo!” he shouted. He could see everything in the gerbil habitat plain as day! There were the water bottles and the food trays. Both were nearly full still. Jerry breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he looked for the gerbils. Peanut Butter was running on a wheel. Jerry searched some more, but he couldn’t find Marshmallow.
I’m sure he’s sleeping in the wood shavings, Jerry thought hopefully. Where else would he be?
He was so happy the gerbils had enough food and water that he’d forgotten what Amanda had said at the pool. Her words came crashing back to him as he started to bring the telescope back to its stand.
Slowly, he laid the telescope back on the pillow.
I’ll just have to stay awake tonight and keep an eye on their house, he said to himself. He changed into his pajamas and sat down at the desk again. He moved the telescope so that it was fixed on the Norrises’ front door. Now, if anybody tried to go in, he’d be ready to catch him in the act.
