They went to join their friends in Professor Albert’s living room. (Professor Albert was at his bassoon class.) Gwendolyn’s bowl sat in front of the picture window. Outside, the tall dogwood tree in Professor Albert’s yard had turned completely brown, its dry leaves dropping with each whisper of wind. But the birdbath was full of fresh water. Professor Albert filled it four times a day now since the drought. Two jays were showering.

“Did you get your cup of water?” Kona asked Stumpy.

Stumpy nodded.

“Kona,” she said, “in the park animals ask day after day whether anyone smells rain coming, whether the eagles see rain coming, and the answer is always no.”

“Stan the Man says no, too,” added Murray.

“Some of the animals are starting to feel a little desperate,” said Stumpy. “Even my children—who usually think only of the next race up the tallest tree—are worried. They told me to be very careful bringing the water home. They asked Murray to hold the cup tight.”

“Which I will,” said Murray with a firm nod of his head.

Gwendolyn’s antennae extended higher, as they always did when she was listening with concern.

“The babies,” said Gwendolyn. “Newborns in the park will not thrive.”

Stumpy nodded.

“The older animals, too,” said Gwendolyn, “are in danger. They cannot travel as far as the others to get a drink of water.”

Kona looked at Gwendolyn’s antennae, and he knew that the situation had become very serious. For so long they had expected rain just any day. Surely any day.

But newborns and the elderly could not wait for any day. Rain was not here today, and they could not survive just by imagining it.

Gwendolyn looked at Kona.

“We must give them help,” she said.

Kona sighed. For a moment he wished he were someone else. Maybe one of those dogs on a surfboard in Hawaii.

Then he shook himself out, lifted his head high, remembered who he was, and answered with conviction:

“We will, Gwendolyn. We will.”

“Want a gummy?” said Murray, pulling something from his toes.

“Another one?” asked Stumpy.

“I have many little toesies!” said Murray.