“B-B-Brother’s gonna hate me for tattling,” said Sister.
“That’ll be his problem,” said Papa. “Telling something to help someone you love is not tattling. Tell me, Sister, do you think you can find this springhouse again?”
“Sure,” said Sister.
“What are you going to do?” asked Mama.
“Sister and I are going to save that scamp from that nasty gang!”
“Oh, boy!” said Sister.
But they didn’t get very far. As they started down the front steps, Chief of Police Bruno drove up in the police car.
The chief got out. He went around to the passenger side. He opened the door. Guess who got out?
It was Brother. It was a sad-looking, sick-looking Brother.
“What’s this about, Chief?” asked Papa.
“It’s about a cub getting mixed up with the wrong crowd,” said the chief. “That’s the wrong crowd in the back of the police car.”
And sure enough, there was the Too-Tall gang in the backseat trying to look small.
“Brother, you march yourself into the house,” said Papa.
They watched as Brother slowly climbed the front steps and went into the house.
“I understand you must have caught them in Mr. Grizzwold’s old springhouse, Chief,” said Papa. “Sister told us all about it.”
“Good for her,” said the chief. “That wasn’t the worst of it. The Too-Tall gang’s been breaking into vending machines. Stole tons of soda and candy. They were taking other stuff too. We finally found their hideout and nailed them with the goods. Well, I’ve got to take them in.”
“What will happen to the gang, Chief?” asked Papa.
The chief shrugged. “That’ll be up to Judge Gavel. Er, one other thing—I’d speak to your lad about hanging out with the wrong crowd. Next time, he might be the one caught stealing. Besides that, that old springhouse could fall down at any time. The cubs might have gotten hurt.”
“Count on it,” said Papa. “And thanks.”
Sister watched as the police car drove away.
She wondered what was going to happen to the Too-Tall gang. She also wondered what was going to happen to Brother.
Back in the house, Papa was pacing.
Brother looked very small in the big easy chair.
“Well, young fellow,” said Papa, “what do you have to say for yourself?”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Brother.
“Well, for starters,” said Papa, “you could say you will never have anything to do with the Too-Tall gang again. And that you’ll never, ever, ever, ever go onto someone else’s property without permission again.”
“I never will,” said Brother. “That goes for both the gang and the trespassing.”
“And,” added Papa, “you could thank your sister, who was worried sick about you.”
“He doesn’t have to thank me,” said Sister.
“Yes, I do,” said Brother. “I was acting dumb and you knew it.”
“Brother,” said Mama, “do you have any idea how dangerous that springhouse is? Mr. Grizzwold has rules for a reason.”
“Sort of, I guess,” said Brother.
“Well, just to make sure,” said Mama, “we’re going to go to Mr. Grizzwold’s house and you are going to apologize to him in person for not respecting his land and his rules.”
“Do we have to talk to Mr. Grizzwold?” asked Brother.
“Yes, we have to,” said Mama.
Sister went over to Brother.
“Brother,” she said.
“Yes,” said Brother.
“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” she said. “Maybe we can do something together.”
“Sounds good,” said Brother.
That night, Sister decided it was time to write something in her notebook again. This is what she wrote:
And she did.
The Berenstain Bears and the Rowdy Crowd Page 3
