Togg's Arc

Chapter 2 of 8

Togg spread the pavilion plans on a flat rock the afternoon before the party. He tapped each beam with Vern's pencil and marked where the garlands should hang. The plan was perfect. That was the problem. Every line meant lifting, climbing, and tying — work for many hands. He had two paws and one day left. A single chipmunk could not dress the whole pavilion alone. A twig snapped behind him. Togg didn't turn. He waited, tail still, until the footsteps crept close. Then he spun around fast. "Can't sneak up on a chipmunk," he chirped. Delphine froze mid-step, then grinned. She was his best friend, a gnome girl in a strawberry cap, and she caught more critters than she caught herself. A shiny beetle clung to the brim of her hat, its shell flashing green and pink in the sun. Pip. She never went far without him. "You looked," she said. "You always look." "Because you always try." Togg pointed the pencil at her. "Now listen. This is secret." Delphine crouched by the rock. Pip skittered down her arm and onto the bark paper. He walked the drawn lines like tiny roads. "Grampy's anniversary," Togg said. "Forty years. He fed me all summer. Left the shed open. I want to fix up the pavilion for the party. Flowers on every beam. But I can't do it alone." Delphine's eyes went bright. She loved Grampy. She had helped him plant his secret garden. "You should have asked me first," she said. Not angry. Just certain. "I'm asking now." "Then it's done." She stood so fast Pip nearly tumbled off her hand. "The garden shed. Grampy keeps rope and baskets in there. Ribbon. Old wire. Everything we need to hang flowers." She was already backing away toward the grassy mound with the round green door. "Wait here. Guard the plans." "Delphine—" But she was gone, running through the wildflowers, Pip riding her cap. Togg stared after her. Then he laughed. He'd wanted hands. Now he had two more, and a beetle besides. He rolled the plans and studied the pavilion. He could see it finished now — vines up the posts, blooms along the rails, the whole place ready for Grampy and Grans. A rustle came from the raspberry brambles near the water. Berries hung heavy on the tangled canes, bees drifting between them. Something big pushed through the leaves. A raccoon stepped out, wide head, short body, long arms full of crabapples. He blinked at Togg, friendly and unbothered. "Oh, hey," the raccoon said. "You know a blackberry thicket around here? Possum told me south ridge." He looked at the pavilion, then the rock. "You building something?" Togg's whiskers twitched. Delphine had help coming. Now here stood a raccoon with strong arms and time to spare. "Jimothy," Togg said, remembering him. "How do you feel about flowers?"