Kona’s friend Conroy the cat agreed to be one of the decoys in the Master Plan. And Stumpy’s friend Henrietta the possum agreed to be another. Henrietta had a family of eight who traveled everywhere with her on her back, and she was passionate about helping with the Master Plan, for she wanted to represent all mothers everywhere. Conroy the cat wanted to help just because he thought his part was funny.
But finding a raccoon to do his part of the plan took a bit more trouble. Raccoons keep very strict schedules. If a raccoon sifts through a certain Dumpster at a certain location at eleven every night, that is exactly what he wants to do the very next night: Certain Dumpster. Certain location. Eleven.
So it took some extra legwork to find a raccoon who was not so compulsive that he could not change his routine for a night. But Murray found one. The raccoon’s name was Robby, and for the price of seven egg rolls and two boxes of Hot Tamales, he joined the team.
Murray was so stressed from having to give away all his snacks that he had to make a Reiki appointment with Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn said that Reiki was good for stress.
“But you aren’t even touching me,” said Murray, lying on Professor Albert’s coffee table.
“I am reorganizing your energy,” said Gwendolyn.
“Okay, but just make sure I still have all me toesies when you’re done,” said Murray.
“I will, dear,” said Gwendolyn. She moved her claws in the air just above Murray’s body.
“And how are you feeling now?” Gwendolyn asked.
Murray didn’t answer. He had dropped off to sleep, a bit of drool drip-dripping from his mouth.
“Success,” said Gwendolyn with a smile. She covered him with a clean dish towel so he wouldn’t catch a chill.
While Murray was napping, with Gwendolyn keeping him company, Kona was giving instructions to three vital members of the team. The big night was tomorrow night, and there were some things to rehearse. According to the flowchart, Henrietta would first play her part. Then Robby would leap into action. Then Conroy would jump in, with Kona as backup.
It was all designed to get the fire fighters and the dalmatian out of the fire house, and the squirrels and the owls in.
So the three decoys needed to rehearse. Kona gathered them all under a picnic shelter in the park.
“Henrietta, your job is to pretend to faint,” said Kona.
“Right,” said Henrietta as her eight children hung on and stared at the big chocolate Labrador.
Henrietta then pretended to fall into a swoon, rolling over onto her side. The children were still hanging on.
“Excellent,” said Kona. “But can you do it while hanging from a traffic light?”
“Positively,” said Henrietta.
“And the children—can they hang on?” asked Kona.
Eight little possum heads nodded.
“Fantastic,” said Kona. “When people see a possum hanging from the traffic light in the Town Square—which only a very tall ladder can reach—whom do you think they will call for the rescue?”
“Fire fighters,” said eight little possums.
Henrietta smiled proudly.
“Right,” said Kona.
“Now, Robby,” continued Kona, “your job is to sneak into the fire house attic tomorrow night, and as soon as the fire fighters are called to the rescue, you will come out of the attic and unlock the fire house door from the inside.”
“Simple,” said Robby. “Sneaking into attics is my specialty.” Robby popped a Hot Tamale into his mouth.
Kona turned next to Conroy the cat.
“I know,” said Conroy. “You don’t even have to tell me. I stroll in and agitate the dog.”
“The dalmatian,” Kona clarified. “You get the dalmatian to chase you out of the fire house and up a tree. Then I’ll come join him in the barking. Dalmatians are very high strung. Together you and I can keep that dog barking forever.”
“Cool,” said Conroy.
“And after that,” Kona said to them all, “it’s showtime.”