CHAPTER ELEVEN
Another Cake

Mom pulls Dad onto the grass. Bagels jumps on his chest. Dad spits up a lot of water. I didn’t know Bagels knew CPR.

“Bagels rescued Dad!” says Becky.

Dad spits up more water.

He opens his eyes. Bagels licks his face.

Dad says a word I’ve never heard before.

From the look Mom gives him, I guess it’s a bad word.

We all help pull Dad back on his feet.

Mom and Dad head to the cabin with Bagels. Becky and I stay where we are.

I look back. I see the cave entrance—or should I say exit? There’s someone moving up there. It looks like...Hairy Guy?

Becky sees him too. She squints. Hairy Guy ducks behind a tree. But not before I take his photo.

“Who is that?” asks Becky.

I tell her what I think. Her eyes grow big. “Should we tell Mom and Dad?” she asks.

“Maybe not yet,” I say. “But did you notice what he was holding?”

Becky nods. “Blanky,” she says. Then she looks me in the eye. “I’m six now. I don’t need Blanky anymore. I think I’m ready for a G.I. Joe and a Barbie—and maybe I’ll finally get that pony.”

We go back into the cabin. I hope the water didn’t damage my camera.

While Dad, Bagels and I get dry, Mom bakes another cake. She says it’s bad enough that poor Becky loses Blanky. She shouldn’t miss out on her birthday cake.

Becky says, “It’s okay, Mom. Now that I’m six, I don’t need Blanky anymore.”

Wait till Mom hears what Becky does want.

Becky whispers, “I think the hairy guy needs Blanky more than I do.”

Sure, I think, but does he need Mom’s phone?

Mom’s second cake looks good. We all sing, “Happy birthday, dear Becky.” Bagels joins in.

Just as we finish the last piece of cake, there’s a bright flash.

And it’s not my camera.

It’s lightning. Followed by a drum roll. That’s thunder. A second later, rain starts to pound on the roof. Two seconds later it pours through the roof.

Dad looks up and says, “You know what I think we should do?”

We all nod. “Go back home.”