“Hi, Uncle Ereth. Where are you going?”
Ereth looked up. Some of Poppy and Rye’s children were playing just outside the snag. Snowberry was building something out of sticks. Sassafras and Walnut were in deep conversation. It was Columbine who had called to him.
“Where’s your brother?” Ereth demanded.
“I have a lot of brothers,” said Columbine.
“The one who’s acting like an idiot.”
“Most of my brothers act like idiots,” said Columbine with a cheerful grin.
“Listen here, you piddling pile of potted pips, don’t talk back to me!”
The other mice looked around at one another. They loved to hear Ereth swear.
Columbine, barely managing not to giggle, said, “Which brother are you looking for?”
“Ragweed,” said Ereth. “The junior variety.”
“Oh, him,” said Columbine, her good cheer fading. “What do you want him for?”
“I need to straighten him out.”
“Uncle Ereth, if you want old grumpy, he’s either with his friend Mephitis or down in the snag roots.”
“I don’t want him,” said Ereth. “I don’t want any of you. I need to talk to him.”
The porcupine went to the base of the snag. Since the mouse entry hole was too small for him to pass through, the best he could do was stick in his snout and call: “Junior! This is your Uncle Ereth. I need to speak to you. Now!” The young mice put aside what they were doing to watch what would happen.
No reply came from inside the tree.
“Junior!” bellowed Ereth. “You get your bloated beanbag of a brain up here or I’ll unzip your bottom from your belly and give it the boot!”
The young mice waited breathlessly for a reply.
When none came, Ereth screamed, “Didn’t you hear me? I said now!”
“I’m busy,” said an irritated voice.
“With what?” said Ereth.
“Stuff.”
“March yourself up here this moment,” cried Ereth, “before I stuff your stuff up your stuffing!”
“Okay, okay. Keep your pit in your olive.”
Ereth snarled and looked around at the mice. “What are you watching?” he cried.
“You,” said Snowberry, no longer able to keep from giggling.
“Good. Maybe you’ll learn something.” His prickly tail thrashed back and forth, stirring up a large cloud of dust.
All eyes were on the entry hole. After what seemed forever, a mouse crawled out. Ereth blinked. Ragweed Junior had dyed his normally golden fur tar black. A white streak ran down his back. He looked like a miniature skunk.
“Yo, dude, what’s going down?” said Junior.
“Is that you?” said Ereth. “Ragweed Junior?”
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“Why are you . . . that way?”
“What way?”
“Looking like a skunk, sounding like a frog.”
“Because I freaking well want to.”
“Bug-bellied bromides,” said Ereth. “Don’t swear at me like that. I’m your uncle.”
“Yeah, well, if a porcupine can be an uncle to a mouse, I can be a skunk,” said Junior. “And if all you’re going to do is yell at me, I’ve got better things to do.” He turned to go.
“Hold it right there, young mouse!” yelled Ereth. “I’m here to tell you that this rudeness has to stop. You need to show some respect for your parents—the ones that raised you up, take care of you, and make sure your life is decent. Have you no gratitude?”
“Gratitude is for old grumps and gimps,” returned Junior. “Listen, flat face, why don’t you pick on someone your own size? Or better yet, to talk the way you do: go pack up your prickles and peddle some pickles for some pocket change!” With that, Junior spun about and disappeared back into the snag.
Ereth—his mouth agape—stared at the entry hole. “Bottled baby barf!” he cried. “He has become a teenager.” The old porcupine hurried back toward his log.
The young mice, laughing uproariously, watched him go. “Did we learn anything?” said Snowberry.
It was Walnut who said, “Well, Junior is still grumpy.”
To which Columbine added, “And Uncle Ereth is still funny.”
About the Author and Illustrator
AVI is the author of the Newbery Medal–winning CRISPIN: The Cross of Lead and the Newbery Honor Books NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH and THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. He also writes the beloved Poppy stories, an animal adventure series that includes RAGWEED; POPPY, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award; POPPY AND RYE; ERETH’S BIRTHDAY; POPPY’S RETURN; and POPPY AND ERETH. His many other critically acclaimed books include DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A WAR ON?, the hilarious animal fantasy THE MAYOR OF CENTRAL PARK, and the Victorian ghost story THE SEER OF SHADOWS. Avi lives in Denver, Colorado. You can visit him online at www.avi-writer.com.
BRIAN FLOCA’s illustrations have appeared in several books by Avi, including the six volumes of the Poppy stories and the graphic novel CITY OF LIGHT, CITY OF DARK. For younger readers, he is the author and illustrator of MOONSHOT: The Flight of Apollo II as well as the highly praised books LIGHTSHIP, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book and ALA Notable Book; THE RACECAR ALPHABET, also an ALA Notable Book; and FIVE TRUCKS. You can visit him online at www.brianfloca.com.
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Books by Avi
Ragweed
Poppy
Poppy and Rye
Ereth’s Birthday
Poppy’s Return
Poppy and Ereth
Praise for the Poppy Books
RAGWEED
“A crackerjack tale that’s pure delight from start to finish.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
POPPY
Boston Globe—Horn Book Award Winner
SLJ Best Book
Booklist Editors’ Choice
ALA Notable Book
“IRRESISTIBLE!” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
POPPY AND RYE
“A sequel worthy of its predecessor.” —The Horn Book
ERETH’S BIRTHDAY
“A must-read for fans of the series.” —ALA Booklist
POPPY’S RETURN
“A heartwarming tale of friends, family, and home.”
—Chicago Tribune
Credits
Cover art © 2006 by Brian Floca
Cover design by Jennifer Bankenstein
Copyright
ERETH’S BIRTHDAY. Text copyright © 2000 by Avi. Illustrations copyright © 2000 by Brian Floca. The illustrations are drawn with Eberhard Faber Design Ebony pencils on Stonehenge paper. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text
