Page 36 - Book 8 Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase

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Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase
up. Alfie was assessing the crisis throughout and Doctor Drake was close by to comfort the frightened animal.
***
The animals had been at the school for hours and daylight was fading. When Charlie had arrived at the school, Paris was hysterical and mumbled in between sobs: ‘I told him, I told him not to go into our old classroom, but he wouldn’t listen. He said he’d left his football kit in a cupboard and didn’t want anyone to steal it.’ She told her father that when Matty entered the room he hadn’t noticed one of the panels was leaning inwards. He’d gone straight to the cupboard and pulled on the handle and it fell over. It was then that he felt his feet moving and begin to sink into the muddy floor. The more he struggled, the more he sank. Within seconds, the panel had toppled over, trapping him in the sinking ground.
Charlie had hugged his daughter tightly as he promised to get Matty out. Then he called Daisy Rabbit to take her home.
***
Sadie had found Sam and Betsy Hedgehog in the delicatessen. ‘Matty has had an accident in the old school,’ she said. ‘Charlie and Alfie are with him.’
Heading out across the meadow, they heard Badger calling: ‘Hold on a moment.’
‘How’s Matty? Is he badly hurt?’ asked Sam. Badger had just left the rescue site and whilst he was telling them what had happened, Betsy collapsed. Sam fell to his knees; shocked and bewildered and looked to Badger for reassurance as Sadie tried to calm Betsy. She was shaking and shivering and Badger was alarmed. When Betsy was