The second edition of Fly on the Wall Journal has been delivered. Mary, the caterpillar is missing, and there is a mysterious pod hanging in the corner of the newspaper office. As soon as the second edition of Fly on the Wall Journal was delivered, everyone in City Park celebrated the good news of the Jam Factory
opening soon. Cindy danced around her web as all of the insects in the tree sang and cheered. Even though it still looked creepy, Matty managed a smile.

"Everyone loves us!" Rocko exclaimed. "We have created the greatest newspaper ever!""When should we get started on our next edition?" Jake asked, anxious to get everyone right back to work.

"Oh, come on Jake," Cindy almost sang. "We all need to relax and celebrate a little," and she pulled out her yarn and knitting needles."Granny's right. Besides, I think Rocko's wounds could use some time to heal," José said, with a nod toward the bandage-covered centipede.

"At ease, ants," Ricky ordered, and they all instantly nodded off, still in a straight line. In fact, the whole branch got very quiet.

"I have a theory about this growth in the corner of our office." Jake said to break the silence. "I think that before Mary left she decided that we all needed a good way to exercise," Jake said, picking through Rocko's office supplies.

"What are you looking for?" Rocko tried to help Jake. "And be careful, there are sharp tools in that drawer!""Yeah, we wouldn't want anyone to get hurt," Matty said sarcastically.

"I did find more medical supplies," Cindy yelled over to Rocko and Jake. "But I was hoping to save them for the third edition of the Journal.

"Here it is!" Jake announced, as he pulled a roll of thick tape out of a drawer. He wrapped the tape around the ends of his front legs and walked over to the corner of the office. "Jake, please tell me you aren't thinking of hitting the mystery object," Cindy begged. "Well, it is clearly a punching bag," Jake responded, annoyed at Cindy's pestering. "So I figured one of us should test it out."

And right when Jake pulled his hand back for the first punch, Rocko grabbed it from behind. "I don't know what that crazy thing is… But it just doesn't seem right to go punching it."

"Well, I don't know what crazy thing you are, Rocko," Matty jumped in, "But I'd like to make a punching bag of you!"

"Hold on bugs!" Ricky stepped in the middle of the three insects, just as it was getting ugly. "Let's not get in a fight just as things are going so well for our team."

"I agree with Ricky," Cindy shouted from her web. "We insects have to stick together!"
"What?" Jake said confused. "But Cindy, you're not an inse…"

But before he could finish his sentence, Rocko had all of his arms wrapped around Jake's mouth.
"I'm not a what?" Cindy asked, not noticing Rocko whispering something to Jake.

"I meant to say 'you're a… an… um…, you're a nice insect, Cindy. And I
appreciate your advice.'" Jake stumbled through his response.

"Hey José," Rocko quickly changed the subject. "What story should we have in our next edition?"
"Oh, dear. Oh my," Cindy said, carefully picking up a small piece of a City newspaper that sat on her web. "This blew off of that massive stack of paper we have over there. I can't be sure but this headline sounds like something we might want to investigate!"

"Let me see that!" Matty reached over the edge of the web and grabbed the paper out of Cindy's hand. "EXTERMINATOR TO CLEAN OUT THE CITY," he read aloud to the group, and
immediately his green skin turned white. Cindy thought he was going to faint, and she quickly spun a web next to him to cushion his fall.

"No way!" Rocko said. "There's just no way we can put a story like that in our paper. Do you want to set off a panic in the park?"

"Rocko might be right," José agreed. "Who are we to tell everyone about such terrible news? I mean, everyone is so excited about the Jam Factory that we're the heroes! Who says we have to report such bad news?"

"Well, let's all gather together and figure out what we should do," Jake declared.

To be continued ...

Written by Cathy Sewell, Illustrated by Blaise Sewell, Donated by The Curriculum Closet (www.curriculumcloset.com)