“That’s right,” said Frank.
“Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyy!” screamed the raccoon.
“I am the genuine article!” shouted Francine.
“Yes, you are,” said Frank.
“What a lot of nonsense this is,” said Eugenia. “Why don’t you just do something?”
“I am now going to capture the raccoon!” shouted Francine.
“That is a really good idea, Miss Poulet,” said Frank, “because the raccoon is standing right beside you.”
Francine looked down.
Frank was exactly right. The raccoon was standing right beside her.
She looked at him. He looked at her. He bared his teeth. Francine bared her teeth back. She was not afraid. She was not one bit afraid.
Slowly, confidently, Francine raised the animal control net and lowered it over the raccoon.
Just like that.
“Kid?” said Francine.
“Yes, Miss Poulet?” said Frank.
“Get the cage ready, kid. I have captured the raccoon.”
“I’m on it, Miss Poulet.”
“I wonder if anyone is hungry,” said Mrs. Watson from down below. “I wonder if I should make some toast.”
And up on the roof, Francine Poulet started to hum.
Francine was reinstated by Mordus Toopher.
Mordus Toopher said, “This is a day of reclamation. This is a day when the shadows recede and the sun shines brightly. The true self is recalled and celebrated, and the trophies are returned to the animal control officer both literally and metaphorically. What I mean to say is: welcome back, Francine.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Francine. “I am happy to be back.”
“And who is this young and earnest fellow?” said Mordus Toopher.
“My name is Franklin Endicott, sir,” said Frank. “I am Miss Poulet’s understudy. If you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” said Mordus Toopher. “How could I mind? Who would object to the passing on of such skill and knowledge? It is the beginning of an era. I applaud you.”
“Me?” said Frank.
“Both of you,” said Mordus Toopher. “I applaud both of you.” He adjusted his toupee. “Happy, meaningful, and productive days are ahead, I’m sure.”
Francine and Frank rode together in the animal control truck.
Sometimes, in the purple light of early evening, Frank would say, “Remember when you were on that roof with the screaming raccoon and you forgot who you were, Miss Poulet?”
“Yes,” said Francine.
“And then you remembered,” said Frank.
“Yes,” said Francine.
“It’s good to know who you are,” said Frank.
“I’m the genuine article, kid,” said Francine. “And so are you. Now, let’s concentrate. Let’s keep our eyes open.”
“My eyes are always open, Miss Poulet,” said Frank.
“That’s true,” said Francine. “You’re solid. You’re certain. You hum, kid. You hum.”
Kate DiCamillo is the renowned author of numerous books for young readers, including two Newbery Medal winners, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures and The Tale of Despereaux, as well as six books about Mercy Watson. She says, “Capable, fearless people like Francine Poulet have always fascinated me. I, alas, am not among their number. But hey, that’s the beauty of being a writer — you get to imagine your way into other people’s minds and hearts. You get to have them wrestle raccoons.” Kate DiCamillo lives in Minneapolis.
Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of The Circus Ship, King Hugo’s Huge Ego, and Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit, and the illustrator of all six books about Mercy Watson. He says, “Francine Poulet was one of my favorite characters from the original Mercy Watson series. I loved her strong, no-nonsense, take-charge persona. It’s nice to see that she has a softer side, too, which Kate reveals so beautifully in this story.” Chris Van Dusen lives in Maine.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2015 by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrations copyright © 2015 by Chris Van Dusen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
First electronic edition 2015
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2014951801
The illustrations in this book were done in gouache.
Candlewick Press
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Somerville, Massachusetts 02144
visit us at www.candlewick.com
Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon Page 3
