"There's nothing to do. We hardly have any place to go or play anymore," complained Blueberry Bagel. "Yeah," said Onion Bagel. We can't go up into the woods anymore, because Big Fang might eat us up." Drumstick Bagel joined in, "We can't even play in the street out front because now there are so many cars we might get squashed."

And Guava Jelly Bagel chimed in,"Yeah, and yesterday that nasty policeman Fly Face chased the three of us, Artichoke, Asparagus, and me, out of the back alley. He's so mean." "Gee whiz," sighed Marshmallow Bagel, "We can't just stay in our little backyard or sit around the house all the time!"

The Bagel Boys felt very sad indeed, as they thought about their situation. Finally, Poppy-Seed Bagel spoke up. "I think we should try to meet with the Herring Boys and ask them to be friends."

"Ha! Are you kidding?" exploded Egg. "You were lucky to get out of their neighborhood with all your seeds. They'll never listen to us."

"Well, we've got to try," said Poppy-Seed. "Who will go with me to meet with them?" Plain and Chocolate Chip Bagel were the only ones to say they would go with Poppy-Seed to try to meet with the Herring Boys. "You are very courageous," said Egg to the volunteers, "Dumb ninnies, but courageous."

"OK," said Water. "Three of us should be enough, but the problem is, how can we arrange a meeting with them? And where should we meet if they do agree?" All the Bagel Boys realized that this would be a very difficult problem to solve.

But now, night has fallen on the little house near the top of the hill, and the time has come for you and the Bagel Boys to go to sleep.