Poppy continued to wander along the creek bank, the frustration within at odds with the calmly flowing waters by her side. Suddenly she stopped, unwilling to believe what she was seeing. “Erethizon Dorsatum!” she cried. “What are you doing here?”
The old porcupine was sitting by the edge of the creek, scooping water and washing his face. Hearing Poppy’s voice, he looked about and grunted, but continued to clean himself without saying anything.
“Ereth,” cried Poppy. “Answer me!”
“Mole mucus milkshakes,” said Ereth. “Can’t you see I’m washing my face?”
“In all the time I’ve known you, you have never washed your face!”
“Then it’s about time.”
“But why are you even here?”
“Because I want to be, pickle pot. Or do you happen to own this part of the world?”
“You followed me here, didn’t you?”
“If I followed you, bottom brain, I’d be behind you. As you might have noticed, it was you who found me.”
“You understand me perfectly well,” said Poppy. “You knew where I was going, and even though I asked you not to come, you came anyway.”
“I’ve been looking for some fresh salt.”
“And Ereth,” said Poppy, “I asked you to stay home and help Rye.”
“He can do it himself,” muttered Ereth.
“And I can’t travel myself? Is that what you’re saying?”
“You need protection.”
“From what?”
“Your family.”
“Ereth, everything is fine.”
“Spinach ice cream!” cried Ereth. “What’s happened to you?”
“Ereth, nothing has happened to me. I am going to see my father, who is sick. It won’t help to have you there.”
“Oh, kippered kafuffles! You used to like it when I was around. Have you gotten tired of me?”
“Ereth,” cried Poppy, close to tears, “my father does not like porcupines.”
“How come?”
“He just doesn’t. It’s ignorance. And I apologize for it.”
“Right!” exploded Ereth. “And we certainly don’t want to educate anyone, do we? Don’t want the truth to embarrass someone, do we? Which is to say I suppose I’m good enough for some of your friends. Just not good enough for your family. Sure, I thought I’d just stay on the edges of things in case you needed me. Lend a quick quill if necessary. A little help on the side—if needed. Old friends do come in handy, you know. But snot weed sauerkraut, I guess I was wrong. Forget all we’ve ever done together. Forget the past. Never mind the future. See you around, fur butt. It’s been grand. Lovely! All you have to do is let me know when you want your best friend back, flea jacket, and I’ll be right there! Count on me! Forget it, mushroom mouth, forget it! Get yourself a fried earwax sandwich and eat it backward. Good-bye!”
Still spluttering, Ereth spun around and waddled away into the forest.
“Ereth, wait!” cried Poppy. “You don’t understand! Please, listen to me. I need to talk to you.”
It was too late. Ereth had gone. The old porcupine crashed through the underbrush, prickly tail lashing back and forth with rage. “Petulant pig buttons,” he muttered. “Square root of platypus!”
Suddenly he stopped and spun about, looking back. Though he stared at nothing in particular, his thoughts were all on Poppy. It was not as if he thought she was in any physical danger. But she was clearly unhappy. Upset. She couldn’t mean what she was saying. She couldn’t.
“Buttered bilge on creamed cement!” he swore. “She is not going to tell me where I can and can’t go! If I want to go visit her family, I’ll do it!”
With that, Ereth turned again and started back toward Glitter Creek and the Old Orchard beyond.
After Ereth had plunged into the forest, Poppy stared at the place where her friend had gone. As she listened to the rustling noise of the porcupine running through the grass, tears ran down her cheeks and along her pink nose and whiskers. “This,” she murmured, “is the most awful time I have ever, ever had. I hate families! Hate them!” Then she sighed. “But there is no choice, is there? I’m part of a family.”
Poppy began to walk slowly back along the edge of the creek. She went with her head bowed, her tail drooping, and her heart heavy.
This is ridiculous, she heard herself thinking. A catastrophe! I should have come alone. If everyone in Gray House is like Lilly, it will be ghastly! They aren’t going to like me. Having Junior along is going to make things even worse. No, he cannot go to Gray House with me. He must go home. With Mephitis. I don’t care what Junior says. And it’s better that Ereth didn’t come. This is something I need to do alone. Fine! I’ll go to Gray House, pay my respects to Papa, spend a little time with Mama, and then get right back home where I belong.
So resolved, Poppy made her way along Glitter Creek. But when she got to the place she had left them, she discovered that Junior and Mephitis were gone.
CHAPTER 15
Lilly Reaches Gray House
LILLY HURRIED ALONG THE CREEK as fast as she could go. “What is the matter with Poppy?” she asked herself, quite aloud. “What has happened to her? Yes, she used to be a little headstrong, but now . . .” Lilly shook her head. “Though of course I really do know what the problem is: it’s what comes of leaving one’s family. Abandoning them. Going off with . . . a . . . a golden mouse. Look at that young Ragweed. So unpleasant! No better than the first Ragweed. And that skunk! Unthinkable! What will Papa say? What will Mama say! What will everyone say? It’s so embarrassing. As for that horrid, vulgar porcupine, what a catastrophe it would be if he showed up! Thank goodness he’s not coming! I just hope these pine seeds will soothe Papa.”
Lilly had reached the bridge that crossed the creek. It was hardly more than a row of wooden planks that stretched bank to bank, the gaps between them wide
