In the morning, Rat and Mole slept late.
They got up and went to Badger's kitchen.
Two little hedgehogs were eating breakfast.
The hedgehogs stood and bowed.
"Please sit down," said Rat, yawning.
"Why are you here?" asked Mole.
"We were on our way to school," said the older hedgehog.
"Mother made us go," said the younger hedgehog.
"She always makes us go."
"Even in a storm," said the older hedgehog.
"And?" said Rat, breaking eggs into a pan.
"We got lost," said the older hedgehog.
"We saw Badger's door and knocked."
Suddenly the doorbell clanged.
Billy, the younger hedgehog, answered the door.
Noisy stomping came from the hall.
"What's all the excitement about?" said Mole.
Then Otter burst into the kitchen.
He jumped on Rat and hugged him.
"Here you are!" shouted Otter.
"Get off me!" yelled Rat.
Rat's mouth was full of toast.
Otter let go, and Rat coughed.
"The whole riverbank is worried," said Otter.
"Nobody knows where you two went!"
"Did they send you to look for us?" asked Mole.
"Of course!" said Otter.
Otter gave Mole a hug too.