There was no time for second-guessing. He whipped the wand into the face of his assailant and yelled, “Attack!”

The squirrel reared back in confusion. It jerked its head from side to side, ears twitching madly. Seconds later, an entire flock of blue jays swooped around the corner of the building, blindsiding the squirrel in a powerful attack. They stabbed at it repeatedly, driving it backward until it tumbled into the far wall. Chunks of concrete cascaded across the sidewalk.

Henry pulled his knees to his chest and huddled on the ground while stones and bricks rained down on him. The deafening war cry of the birds assaulted his eardrums as they fearlessly pummeled their monstrous enemy. Finally, a loud POP! exploded in the alley, followed by an eerie silence.

He worked up the courage to open his eyes. Three normal-sized squirrels looked at him curiously before scurrying off. There were no birds in sight. As he sat up, several people jogged up to him, asking if he was okay.

“Henry!” A familiar voice cut through the confusion. “There you are, son. We must hurry if we want to catch the train.” Coralis brushed Henry off and quickly led him back to the train station just as a conductor yelled, “All aboard!”

“I thought for sure the train had left,” he said breathlessly, his voice shaking.

“For some reason, a herd of cattle decided to take a nap on the tracks. And at this hour of the night!” Coralis winked at him. “Let’s get you cleaned up. I believe you have a story to tell.”

As the train resumed its journey, an announcer told the passengers they would try to make up as much time as they could on their way to Topeka.

Back in their room, Coralis heated some water and made a special blend of tea to relax Henry, who shivered despite being wrapped in a warm blanket. Brianna roamed up, down, and around Henry, sniffing curiously. “You smell like nuts.”

Her remark brought back the terrifying memory of the giant rodent. “Stop it,” he whispered hoarsely, nudging her off him.

For a change, she had no smart comeback. She waddled to Coralis and tucked tightly against his leg.

“How did … what was … ” Henry struggled to comprehend what had happened. He shifted and the blanket slid from his shoulders. Then he stood and angrily whipped it off, tossing it into a corner. “Why was I just attacked by a giant squirrel?” he exploded.

“That would explain the nuts,” Brianna said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat another one,” said Henry.

“Not even peanut butter with marshmallows and bananas?” She was doing that thing with her voice again, but he didn’t mind. It calmed him, and he began to rationalize things.

“It was a warning, wasn’t it?”