Rusty tried to listen to what the adults were talking about. He knew it was about all of his friends. They were gone, now. Mr. Toad had come back and gotten him, though. But he didn't smell very good. This place smelled much better. It smelled like Gramma. Coffee. But Rusty didn't know what coffee tasted like. It 'stunted your growth'. He was distracted by Kurt's tail when the door opened and he flinched - back away from Mrs. Wagner and closer into the window seat. When the man came in, he went up by the big desk. Rusty scooted forward and his feet dangled. He watched for a moment while Mrs. Wagner stood again and faced the man. She was answering his question. His voice was good. It reminded him of something he liked. Something good. It was more nicer than Mrs. Wagner's or Kurt's. Or Toad's...
His feet touched the floor and he was in a dead run, only stopping when his chest hit Mars just above the knee. His arms enveloped his thigh and he pressed his face against his pant leg. His eyebrows furrowed, decidedly. He wasn't letting go.