Maximilian sped up He wanted to get inside before the storm hit He knew his mother would worry terribly if he or his younger sister Sally were out when the rains came Soon Maximilian had reached the front door As he pushed the door open huge drops of rain began to fall He was just in time But he wasn't prepared for what he found inside
Chapter 2 NEWS OF THE GLEN Maximilian could hear the fire licking the kettle in the fireplace The oak tree was warm and cozy Maximilian hung his coat on a nail next to the door The house was quiet His younger sister was putting together a puzzle next to the hearth His mother was cutting carrots in the kitchen Although the house was dimly lit Maximilian could see that his mother's eyes were red and swollen It looked as if she had been crying Is everything alright Mother Maximilian asked sitting down at the table Oh Maximilian I don't know what we will do she said Tears were beginning to build in her eyes Maximilian's mother had spent many evenings crying since his father had gone
missing He could hear her sobbing at night as he was trying to fall asleep It had been almost a full year now since Father had not returned from gathering straw and bedding Mother had held on to hope that he would return to them Maximilian had searched for his father every day for weeks But he found nothing He often found himself sitting on the same ash tree thinking life would never be the same again He had accepted his new role as mouse of the house He took that role very seriously So it pained him greatly to see his mother this upset I don't understand he said What's wrong Mother sat next to him at the table She leaned over and placed her paw over his This afternoon Bartholomew Squirrel stopped in He told us Farmer Tanner is losing the farm she said in a low sad voice How can that be Maximilian asked in amazement This farm and its land have been in his family for as long as the oak tree has been in ours Why would he want to sell it
Maximilian thought for a moment He finally said Maybe another farmer will buy it Maybe he will use it just as Farmer Tanner has Maybe this won't really affect us at all Maximilian hoped to calm his mother's nerves She shook her head sadly The farm isn't being sold Maximilian The bank is foreclosing on it she explained That means that Farmer Tanner is behind on his payments and the bank is taking his farm from him Mother sighed She continued her story by saying Bartholomew overheard Farmer Tanner speaking with the realtor The land is being purchased by a development group that plans on leveling the entire glen Mother broke down and put her face in her paws Maximilian was growing more concerned What would his family do They had no other place to go His mother dabbed her eyes with her towel She rose from her chair and continued making dinner A worried Maximilian went to his room lay down and listened to the storm outside
