They pass through the neighborhood with its stacks of stuff that seems to refill every year in everybody's yards and attics and basements: clippings and prunings too. Every year the town kept growing outwards a little more into the orchards and the row crops.

"Hi, Mr. Nimcomby," calls Nikki to a man puttering about in khaki pants and shirt. The buttons of the shirt seem about to burst at the belly because Mr. Nimcomby's belly always seemed like it is about to burst.

"Hi, Nikki. Hi, kids," he waves jovially. He has just put down some earth around a freshly planted tree. "Like my cherry tree? Might bloom by next spring."

"But how are you going to get your car out?" asks Red looking down the dirt driveway. "Huh? Car? What about it? I can't imagine what you mean." Red looks doubtful, but he doesn't want to say anything else. "I think it's pretty," Nikki takes up the conversation. "And your wife makes the best cherry pie I ever had."

"Cherry pie, ooh, yum!" shouts Missy.

"Yes she does, honey, you're so cute and its so cute, I can't imagine! Oh, speaking of my wife, I almost forgot! I have to pick her up from the dentist. I'm late!" and so saying, he shuffles away into the cramped garage, squeezes behind the wheel of his old car, starts the car with a loud shudder, backs out without a glance, and runs over the tree he just planted-with a loud snap!

The tree catches under the car and scrapes noisily over the asphalt of the street. His head pops out the window at the odd noise of leaves and branches being dragged over the roadway.

"Hey, Mr. Nimcomby," yells Red and Coach as one voice, "your tree!" and they point to the car's bottom. "Yes, it's just so cute, isn't it? Will make some good cherry pie, I reckon. I can't imagine what that noise is," he says looking up in the sky. "Can't imagine at all! By kids! Be good!" he waves as he drives off down the street with branches scraping and leaves trailing.

All the kids laugh. Horsehead Miller, as always, laughs the loudest of too-loud all. The kids all laugh, except one. Pandora looks at the ground as they walk on. Nikki puts her arm through her friend's arm and tries to cheer her up. But it isn't working.