Chapter Four

The little game they were planning was far from little. In fact, this game would need, at least, fifty or more players.

'I know some bugs who might enjoy a little cleaning up,' said Miss Lady and, once again, the Sheriff and Miss Lady were off. Destination: Ye Old Garden Boot.

Ye Old Garden Boot was a retirement community nearby. Most of Miss Lady's friends found great serenity in the safety the boot provided and took great pleasure in feasting on the weeds that grew out from its sole and climbed as high as the boot's highest lace hoop. Most of the ladybug retirees had been part of Miss Lady's Anti-Litter Bug Campaign. And while the campaign had its day in the sun and was now settling into the soils of yesteryear, the old geezers still had a feverish enthusiasm for the cause.

'Miss Lady!' shouted Old Tom Tumbleweed, as he saw her approaching.

'Well, save my soul, if it isn't...' mumbled Clumsy Clare, as she got to her feet and then tumbled over as a speck of dust flew in her eye.

'It is! My, my, the old gal's still got it!' shouted Rebel-rousing Roger, as he picked Clumsy Clare off of the ground and hurried with the rest of them to greet Miss Lady and the Sheriff.

They scurried as quickly as they could, some of them in wheelchairs made of dandelion tops, some of them with twig canes, some of them merely hobbling at the quickest pace they could.

Miss Lady greeted each and every one of them with open arms.

'Well, why are you here?' questioned Old Tom.

'Well, I needed some bugs who... knew a thing or two about cleaning up' said Miss Lady. 'We have a situation downtown.'

'Not those gosh darn hooligans, again, Miss Lady!' shouted Clumsy Clare, stomping her twig cane violently against the ground, then missing and stomping Old Tom's foot.

'Well, yes. The rascals are at it again. They've been littering up a storm!' Sheriff Polka-Dot said. 'We need to stop them.'

'Well, you've come to the right place,' said Rebel-rousing Roger. 'If you need the land spic and span, we're the bugs who'll do it. So, what 's the plan, Miss Lady?'

Miss Lady motioned them all to her and explained her ideas. They all shook their heads in agreement. Then, back to the boot they went.

'A good night of sleep and us old folks will teach those youngsters what a ladybug's job really is: to keep this earth beautiful,' Miss Lady whispered as she tucked all of the retirees into their dirt sodden beds and, hearing a chorus of 'goodnights' and 'sleep wells' and 'don't let other bugs bite you,' she nestled into the boot's cushiony heel and fell into sleep.

Read Chapter Five.