Thumbelina and Pete were in trouble.
"Thumbelina, go back to my house!" Mrs. Gray yelled.
"Slim? Down here!" Mr. Rufus shouted.
"Mr. Rufus, please," begged Thumbelina.
"The bird is my friend."
Mr. Rufus waved his cane.
"I promised Slim.
And I always keep my promises," he said firmly.
"Go put on your dress, Thumbelina,"
said Mrs. Gray, looking at her watch.
"It's almost time for the wedding."
"I won't marry him!" Thumbelina shouted.
Then Mrs. Gray saw the dress on the ground.
It was covered in food and mud.
"Thumbelina, is that your wedding dress?" she gasped.
She held up the dress.
"It's ruined! And you gave this bird my food?"
"Well, that was a waste of time," grunted the mole.
"Slim is going to eat him anyway."
Suddenly a big hairy paw pushed down through the hole.
"Smells like that bird is alive, Rufus!
All the better!" growled Slim.
Pete stared at the coyote's sharp claws above him.
He froze with fear.
Thumbelina had to think fast.
The coyote was almost through the hole.
Thumbelina had an idea and began to sing to Pete.
"Pete, listen to me," she sang.
"Huh? What?" Pete stared at Thumbelina.
He looked confused.
"Where did you learn that song?"
Thumbelina remembered the secret talking songs from Kris and Maggie.
She was singing:
"I will wave my wedding dress.
The coyote will be confused.
Then quickly fly up as fast as you can.
I'll hang onto you."
"It's too dangerous," said Pete.
"How can you sing at a time like this?" cried Mrs. Gray.
"She does have such a pretty voice." Mr. Rufus sighed.
He was moving his cane in time with the song.
Thumbelina sang the song again.
She stared at Pete.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"We can do it!" sang Thumbelina.
"Now, Pete!" she shouted.
Thumbelina grabbed the dress from Mrs. Gray.
She swung it around.
The nuts and seeds went flying in the air.
Some nuts fell on the mouse and the mole.
"Ow!" they cried.
Thumbelina let the dress go.
The wind caught the dress and blew it toward Slim.
"At last!" Slim said hungrily.
He bit the dress.
"Pete!" Thumbelina shouted loudly.
Pete spread his wings and shot up straight through the hole.
Thumbelina grabbed his leg.
"What? This isn't a bird!"
Slim realized his mistake.
But it was too late.
"Thumbelina!" shouted Mrs. Gray and Mr. Rufus from the tunnel.
"My dinner!" shouted Slim, jumping up and down.