Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe

On her way back to the treehouse, Cricket dreams of having a celebration lunch of “jerky, an apple, bamboo shoots dipped in peanut butter” (71) and a nibble of a chocolate bar. However, when she arrives, she hears creatures inside the treehouse. Raccoons have gotten inside and are stealing all her food. She tries to chase them, but they disappear into the trees.

Cricket climbs into the treehouse, worried about Charlene. Luckily, Charlene is okay, but the treehouse has been ransacked. Almost all the food is gone or damaged, her blankets have been ripped to shreds, and her matches have been destroyed. Her father’s book about surviving in the woods is mostly okay, but the part about edible plants has been chewed and shredded.

Cricket tries to remember what her father taught her about making do with what you have. He taught her to start a fire by directing sunlight through a plastic bag full of water. Cricket tries to use this technique, but without tinder, she is unable to get the fire to catch. She begins to despair, but Charlene chirps, telling her not to give up. She finds dryer lint in the pockets of her jacket and uses it as tinder.