Different Drum - Page Three
The music puts the four girls in a trance. Melissa is unaffected, but she is confused as to why the girls are standing still and not talking. Gnarly Gnome leads the girls away from the Youth Center, through a field, and to an entrance of a cave guarded by Putties. Melissa follows them. Gnarly Gnome leads the four girls into the cave and a netting falls over the entrance of the cave. Melissa is unable to enter the cave.
Melissa races away from the cave. Melissa returns to the Youth Center and looks around. She spots Jason sitting at the counter, talking to Ernie. Melissa hurries over and signs to them. Jason asks Ernie if he knows sign language and he replies now. Jason can tell Melissa is stress about something, but can't understand her. Melissa grabs a pad of paper and pen from Ernie's shirt pocket. Melissa writes on the paper that her friends are in danger. Once Jason reads the note, he tells Melissa that he and his friends will help her. Jason and Melissa take off. Inside the cave, Gnarly Gnome is still playing his music. Beth and the rest of the girls are dancing. Gnarly Gnome is hungry and tells Baboo and Squatt to hurry up with his meal. Baboo finds Gnarly Gnome bossy. Squatt likes him, he throws a great party. Baboo prepares the meal as Squatt eats a bug he has been saving. Gnarly Gnome has the Putties join in the dancing with the girls. Gnarly Gnomes tells the girls now they are dancing with Putties, but soon they will be dancing with Rangers. The meal has made Gnarly Gnome sleepy. He settles down for a nap, as does Baboo and Squatt. Rita decides to take a peek at the cave. Rita is not happy when she sees everyone is sleeping. Rita yells at them. Baboo and Squatt are startled awake by Rita's screaming. Rita continues to scream at them that the Rangers could show up at any time. Gnarly Gnome is jerked awake as well. Gnarly Gnome vanishes and tries to get away.
