35

It was still barely light outside when Revver got to the garage. He peeked in. His mess had been cleaned up and all the tools were back in their place.

Susan and a few other crew members were looking over the car, exactly the way they had looked when Revver fell asleep last night. So much had happened since then!

Susan scratched her head. Still, no one looked happy. Revver could tell that they had not slept much.

Revver went in. No one noticed him.

Revver rushed over to Susan, who was bent over the engine. He tugged on Susan’s pant leg, but she didn’t pay attention. Revver tugged again, but she was too busy to notice.

Revver planted his feet and took a breath. “Vr-vr-vr-VRRROOOOM!” Someone dropped a wrench and it clanged to the floor. Everyone stood looking at Revver. Someone said, “Get him out of here. If Jack sees him in here, he’ll have a fit.” Susan picked Revver up by the scruff and started toward the door.

“No!” Revver yelled. “No! You don’t understand! Stop! Stop! I can help! I can fix it!” Revver wiggled and twisted to try to get free. Desperate, he reached up and gave Susan a good scratch on the hand.

“Ouch! Darn it!” she yelled as she dropped Revver. “Bill! Help me with your squirrel! I don’t have time to mess around this morning!”

Now Revver panicked.

Revver darted back to the car. Susan and Bill gave chase, but Revver was too quick. He ran under the car and jumped into the wheel well near the battery. Bill flattened himself onto his stomach and tried reaching for Revver, but the space was too tight. All Bill could do was strain to see. “Dude, whatcha doin’? Come outta there now, Revver. We gotta get out to the track this morning. There’s no time for playing.” Bill didn’t sound angry, but he sounded very tired.

Revver poked his head out to look at Bill for a second. Their eyes met again. Revver knew that he had no time to waste. He jumped back into the wheel well.

Revver closed his eyes so he could concentrate. Bill kept talking to him, asking him to come out, but Revver could not pay attention. He had to focus. He had to stop and think.

Revver carefully and slowly felt the length of the wire with his paw. Nothing. Concentrate! he told himself. He ran his paw along the wire again. Still nothing. Again, he ran his paw along the wire. There! He felt it this time . . . ​the tiniest zap! He had found where the wire was broken! Now, how do I fix it? There was no time to run a whole new piece.

Revver tugged the wire. There was just enough slack that Revver could cut away the broken part and twist the wires back together. But he had to do it perfectly or the vibration of the car would make it come loose during the race. I can do this, he thought. Revver was an expert at twisting and braiding now!

Revver was so deep in thought that he did not notice that half the crew was on the floor watching him now. They were straining to see what he was doing under the car. Everyone watched. There were a few whispers, a few very quiet oohs and aahs. Revver did not hear them.

Revver unhooked the wire from the battery to stop the electricity. He bit away JUST the small piece that was broken. He twisted the wire back together. It has to be perfect, he knew. And it was perfect—even Sprite would have been impressed by his work. He reconnected the top of the wire to the battery. He checked his work. Everything is connected to everything else. At last, he was sure.

There! It’s done.

Revver came out from under the car. He did what he had to do. Now he prepared himself. He waited for someone to scream at him or grab him by the scruff or kick him out the door.

Instead, the whole crew started clapping.