9e945bf3b1d705d5d70aa6e5ed9fa2ba

“Come on, don’t be shy. We’ve got a triangle and a harmonica. Anyone else?” The white cat stopped short in front of two fluffy raccoons hiding something behind their backs.

“Come on. Give. What is it?” The white cat loomed over them, somehow making herself look huge and fierce.

The raccoons held out a ukulele almost as big as they were.

The white cat nodded and then stalked back to Oscar. She sat down with a smirk on her face.

“Problem solved,” she said. “I know what we’re going to do.”

— 17 —

“YOU CALL THOSE HIGH KICKS? Get those legs up!” The white cat clapped her paws as she circled around a line of raccoons attempting to dance the can can. She turned to Oscar. “I always wanted to direct.”

Oscar couldn’t believe they’d actually agreed to the white cat’s plan. It was definitely risky. But it was the only plan they had.

Once they’d worked out everyone’s role in Operation Dazzle (which is what the white cat had named it), there had been one big problem left—finding a place for the rehearsal. Luckily the raccoons knew the perfect spot.

“I can’t believe we’re practicing in the STORAGE AREA,” Walt said, flattening her ears down and shooting a nervous look at the basement door.

“REHEARSING.” The white cat sounded disgusted. “We’re REHEARSING in the PERFORMANCE SPACE. And it’s FINE.” She clapped in time to the raccoons’ high kicks.

Since Mrs. Hates Dogs on Six had started threatening lawsuits, Bob had cordoned off the entire room. And according to the rats, that meant that it was the only place they were guaranteed not to be interrupted. The raccoons agreed.

The white cat had wasted no time setting up the performance space, as she called it, and getting to work. (She said“storage area” sounded unprofessional.)

“Are you sure this is the way we should do this?” Oscar asked, hopping to keep up with her. “I thought we were just going to adjust the surveillance camera so they would see the raccoons.”

The white cat stopped in her tracks.“Well, sure, but why go small when we could go BIG!” She pulled Oscar slightly to the side. “Besides, based on the screen test we did, you need my talents,” she whispered.

“We did a screen test?” Oscar looked at Walt. “When did we do a screen test?”

“That’s what she’s calling ‘checking the surveillance camera,’ ” Walt said, rolling her eyes. “I thought we could just catch the raccoons onscreen. But Madam Director here didn’t think it was good enough.”

“Do you want a couple of blurry raccoon-shaped blobs on film, or do you want SPECTACLE?” the white cat said. “Trust me, with my skills, these guys are going to POP.” The white cat made explosion motions with her paws. “These raccoons may not have the most talent, but with my vision, this is going to be HUGE.”

“Do we want huge, though?” Walt said in a low voice. “I thought we just wanted to clear Madison’s name.”

“Why can’t we do both?” the white cat said distractedly as she waved at a group of raccoons awkwardly holding instruments. “Let’s try it with the music now.” She clapped again.

Wallace and Dunkin slipped into the room from one of the vents.“We’ve got the rat costumes. Where do you want them?” Dunkin had his arms filled with tiny clothes, and Wallace held out the little sailor shirt he’d been wearing before. He shot an apologetic look at Oscar. “We’re just borrowing them. It’s for a good cause. We’ll put them back, I promise.”

“Rat costumes?” Oscar said slowly. “That seems—”

The white cat put a paw up to his beak.“Look, you have your role, I have mine. Just let me do my job. I’ve been in this business for a while, don’t forget.”

Oscar and Walt exchanged a long look.

The white cat leaned in again.“And I’m thinking the rats will be background performers. FAR in the background.”

“I suppose that’s… fine?” Oscar said (although his voice was muffled by the furry paw.)

“Sure. Why not,” Walt said with a shrug. She wasn’t about to argue with that cat. As long as Madison’s reputation was restored and everything got back to normal, it probably didn’t matter how they got there.

At least she hoped so.

“So it’s all set up?” Polo asked. “We used the remote to change the channel on the Television. It was tougher than it looks!”

“It’s okay, though. I’ve been working out,” Marco said, flexing his arm muscles. (Not too much, though—they were a little sore.)

Marco and Polo had campaigned to be part of the basement stage crew, but Oscar had thought it would be better for them to stick closer to home, in case they needed to run any messages downstairs. Because there wasn’t much time. Once Madison got home, they’d activate Operation Dazzle.

Oscar couldn’t believe everything was riding on an operation with such a ridiculous name. And on the white cat.

“Good job, you two. The raccoons are rehearsing downstairs,” Oscar said. “I hope that cat knows what she’s doing.”

“If you need any distractions, just let me know,” Butterbean said from her position by the door. “I’m happy to distract.”