6

They gesture for you to follow, and you set off walking.

"I just figured you'd be on the lookout for the other cool young folks—you know, Tobias would not be seen dead down at the Town Hall. I always tell him that's where the real action is, but he just won't hear it! Anyway, I think it's great you want to get involved. What makes you want to come along?"

"Really? That's so sweet," Maxie says. They turn and look down at you with a sympathetic smile. "A lot of folks don't have the energy for that particular fight, what with everything else going on. I can't say I blame them. But it could be someone like you that kicks people into gear."

"Why, what else is going on?"

Maxie sighs.

"You'll hear plenty at the meeting. But don't you give up on the forest, if that's what you care about. Make some noise about it, remind people we're in a bigger world than they think. Oh—by the way, what's your favorite kind of donut?"

You look at Maxie questioningly as they flip open the lid of their cardboard box and present you with rows and rows of fresh donuts. You suddenly realize you weren't prepared for such a difficult choice.

After an anguished moment, you pick: