Page 69 - Book 8 Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase

Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase 67
‘What are you going to do, Matty?’ asked the squirrel.
‘I’ll find another sport that doesn’t require running and kicking a ball,’ the hedgehog said defiantly.
***
Charlie Rabbit had sent a telegram to the fair barge owners seeking accommodation for Minnie Hen and her four friends and quickly received a reply. Now he needed an escape plan and had a chat with Alfie.
‘I’ve had a reply,’ he said showing him the telegram that read:
“Dear Charlie, looking forward to meeting you and my passengers next week. We look forward to their company. Best wishes, Fred.”
Their intention was to lead the chickens away from the garden to the barge on the last night of the fair, but first, they needed to let Minnie know about their plan. Alfie had already tried to speak with her but Adeline was always present. He decided that he needed a distraction – a cat called Phoebe.
Phoebe, who was excited after listening to his escape plan, decided to observe the garden that evening with Alfie. The cat leapt on top of the chicken coop to sharpen her claws, aggravating Adeline who promptly took refuge inside.
Once he was sure Adeline was inside, Alfie beckoned to Minnie. He warned her that she and her friends must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. He told her to look for a coloured flag flying in the conifer trees on the morning of their departure. Phoebe would arrive in the evening to