Innocent or Guilty?

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, Chips and Charley hopped to the top of Roly-Poly Hill. Purple wildflowers covered the ground and bumblebees were flying back and forth. The bees were dizzy from the sweetness of the flowers, and they ignored the two newcomers to their garden.

"So," asked Chips, "do you think we should just try to look for the Gubazah Monster again?"

"If we find him, he probably will just run away. He doesn't trust anyone."

"Everything is too much of a mystery to me...dreams, symbols, secret messages, a lost and lonely monster. I don't know, Charley. I think we should just give up."

Charley hopped to the top of a log. He thought for awhile and then he said, "We need to be patient, Chips. Let's keep our ears and eyes open and maybe things will begin to make sense."

"Maybe. Hey, what's that over there?"

They saw a bush shaking and a head peaking over the top."

"Is it the Gubazah Monster?" whispered Charley. "I

"I hope not," laughed William as he hopped out of the bushes. "What have you two been up to? I have been looking all over for you."

"We are solving a mystery," Charley said.

Chips explained to William what he and Charley had been talking about.

William shook his head and said, "This all seems very weird to me, but there is one thing I can tell you."

"What's that?" asked Chips.

"Somebody had broken up the beaver's dam. The beavers are very angry, and they suspect the Gubazah Monster. They are gathering together to search for him. They all have big sticks and they seem very determined to find him."

"We have to help him. We have to keep them from hurting him," Charley declared.

"Now wait a minute," said William. "If he destroyed the beaver's dam that they worked on all spring, I don't think he deserves your help."

"He might be innocent," said Charley

"But he might be guilty. We know he destroyed the chipmunk's nest." Chips said. "Why are you always defending him. Maybe the deer mean for us to stop him from destroying things."

Charley explained, "I am not sure why, but I just feel like he is basically good monster and he is very misunderstood."

"But there is evidence someone is destroying thing," said William.

"It may be him, but I think we should consider him innocent until proven guilty."

Once again they heard rustling in the bushes.

"Quiet," whispered Chips. "It's him."

They heard a roar.

"He is going to come after us," whispered William. "Let's get out of here!"

Then they heard laughter. Two fuzzy heads popped up out of the bushes. It was Rocky and Rhonda! They had come back for a visit.