Bad, Bad Bunnies Page 3

  “We’ll be there,” said Molly’s dad.

  Molly was speechless.

  “What will you wear?” asked her mother.

  “My blouse and Pee Wee Scout kerchief,” said Molly.

  Molly’s grandma helped her get ready.

  At a quarter of five Larry drove up to take them to the station.

  “What an Easter surprise this is!” said Molly’s grandpa, getting into the fire chief’s car. “We never thought Molly would be on television today.”

  When they got to the station, Larry called Mrs. Peters. Mrs. Peters called all the Scouts. She told them to watch the news on Channel Five.

  Molly’s family sat on folding chairs in the studio. Molly and Larry sat on the stage. Bright lights shone in their faces. When the news started, the newsman said, “Tonight we have an Easter heroine right here in our own town. Molly Duff, age seven, was responsible for averting a catastrophe this afternoon. She stopped a fire that could have spread throughout an entire neighborhood.

  “We will be back to talk with Molly herself, after this commercial.”

  Then a commercial with dancing cats came on the TV monitor. “Scampies cat food will make your cat dance too!” the man said.

  Then all of a sudden the screen switched to Mr. Harmon, standing by the pile of rags in his garage.

  “If Molly Duff hadn’t come to tell me about the smoke, my new car would have gone up in flames,” he said. “She’s some Scout, all right!”

  “And now we switch live to our studio, where we have Molly Duff and the fire chief, Larry Stone.”

  The newsman put a microphone in front of Larry. Larry said almost the same thing as Mr. Harmon.

  “And how do you feel about being a local heroine?” said the newsman to Molly.

  Molly stood up straight. Her Pee Wee kerchief looked neat around her neck. “Scouts are helpers,” she said. “I was glad to do a good deed, and I’m glad I can get my fire safety badge now too.”

  “And here to present that badge to Molly is our fire chief again, Larry Stone.”

  Larry pinned the badge on Molly’s blouse. “Congratulations!” he said. “We are proud of you.”

  Molly was the first one of the Scouts to get her badge. And the only one to get it on TV!

  After the news broadcast Molly’s family applauded. Her mother and dad hugged her.

  The news reporter got some coffee for Larry and the Duffs. Then he showed Molly’s family around the studio.

  Something was bothering Molly. Something she had to tell Larry. She wanted to help Sonny. She tried to think of what to say. And how to say it.

  “Sonny is jealous,” she blurted out. “His mother used to do things with him. Now she does things with you.”

  Larry looked surprised. He thought for a minute. “It’s very good of you to tell me, Molly,” he said. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of that.”

  “Please don’t tell Sonny I told you,” said Molly. “Or Mrs. Betz.”

  “It will be our secret,” he said.

  Molly wanted to tell Larry that Sonny would like him, if he got to know him, but there was no time. Her family was through with the tour. It was time to go.

  Everyone piled into Larry’s fire car, and they drove home.

  The three adults chattered away while Molly worried. Maybe she should have minded her own business about Sonny.

  Soon they drove up to the Duffs’ house. As Molly got out, Larry said, “Thank you, Molly.” And he winked at her. Was that a good sign?

  A Secret Good Deed

  When the Duffs got into the house, the phone began to ring.

  It rang and rang and rang.

  Mrs. Peters called.

  Mary Beth called.

  Molly’s teacher called.

  Mrs. Betz called.

  Everyone had seen Molly on TV!

  Finally Mrs. Duff said, “I think it is time for bed. This has been a very busy Easter Sunday.”

  Molly tossed and turned after she went to bed. When she finally fell asleep, she dreamed she was on TV and Sonny kept throwing eggs at her.

  “Stop!” she was calling out when she awoke in the morning.

  Would Sonny find out she had told Larry? Would he throw eggs at her at the meeting on Tuesday?

  It would not be long until she found out.

  When Tuesday came, she went into Mrs. Peters’s house for the meeting. All of the Scouts began to clap. There was a sign on the wall, saying CONGRATULATIONS, MOLLY.

  “Did they put makeup on you?” asked Roger.

  “Were you scared?” asked Tim.

  “My cousin was on TV,” said Lisa.

  Molly told them all about it. When she was through, they ate cupcakes. And leftover marshmallow Easter eggs.

  “And now,” said Mrs. Peters, “we will hand out the rest of the fire safety badges.”

  She called all of the Scouts’ names, and they all went up for their badges.

  Molly didn’t see Sonny. Where could he be? Maybe he and Mrs. Betz had moved away because they were so unhappy. Maybe Molly had caused some trouble.

  “I think my fire hazard was just as dangerous as yours,” said Tracy. “That machine was real fire, not just smoke. And I didn’t get to be on TV.”

  “It’s not as dangerous,” said Mary Beth. “Because the man was there. No one knew about Molly’s fire.”

  Molly squeezed Mary Beth’s hand. Mary Beth was still her best friend. She always knew what to say to make Molly feel good.

  “Now we will tell some good deeds,” said Mrs. Peters.

  “I got gum out of my brother’s hair!” shouted Tim.

  “Yuck,” said Rachel. “That sounds icky.”

  “I gave an Easter egg to the lady next door,” said Lisa.

  “Good for you both,” said Mrs. Peters.

  “Mrs. Peters,” called Rachel, “Molly has the best good deed of all. She saved a garage from burning down.”

  Molly felt shy. Her fire hazard was a good deed. But she didn’t want to report it.

  “Rachel is right. Stopping a fire is a wonderful good deed.”

  “It’s better than pulling gum out of somebody’s hair,” scoffed Roger with a sneer.

  “All good deeds are important,” said Mrs. Peters.

  Just then Sonny burst in the door.

  He did not throw eggs.

  He did not trip anyone.

  He was smiling.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said. “I was at a ball game with Larry. The Twins won, but the game was tied. We had to stay for extra innings.”

  Sonny had a Twins hat on, and a pennant in the pocket of his shirt. In his other pocket was Snuffy. And he wasn’t purple anymore.

  All the Pee Wee Scouts held hands and sang the Pee Wee Scout song. Then they said the Pee Wee Scout pledge.

  “I think it worked,” whispered Tracy to Molly. “We did help Sonny. Look how happy he is today!”

  Molly nodded. She wouldn’t tell anyone the secret.

  It was one good deed she would never report.

  Be a Pee Wee Scout!

  In Bad, Bad Bunnies, the Pee Wee Scouts learn all about fire hazards. Do you know how to keep yourself and your family safe? Follow these Do’s and Don’ts of Fire Safety!

  Don’t play with matches or lighters. Ask an adult to keep them in a safe place.

  Don’t use old, worn-out electrical cords. And don’t plug too many items into a single outlet by using extension cords.

  Don’t get water or other liquid near an outlet.

  Don’t cook or use fireworks without an adult to help you.

  Don’t leave clothes, blankets, or curtains near a candle or anything hot, like a bright lamp or a heater.

  Do ask your parents to make sure you have working smoke detectors in your home. And don’t forget to check the batteries often!

  Do blow candles out before you leave a room.

  Do be smart and safe around campfires, fireplaces, stoves, and grills. It can be dangerous to run or p
lay near any fire, even with your parents nearby.

  Do remember that objects like metal grills and burnt logs will be very hot even after you put out a fire.

  Do plan a fire escape route at home. Practice it with your parents!

  Do tell an adult about the fire hazards you see—and be a fire safety hero!

  About the Author

  Judy Delton was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was the author of more than 200 books for children. She was also successful as a teacher, a speaker, and a class clown. Raising a family of four children, she used the same mix of humor and seriousness that she considered important parts of any good story. She died in St. Paul in 2001.

  About the Illustrator

  Alan Tiegreen has illustrated many books for children, including all the Pee Wee Scouts books. He and his wife currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.