The tale of the beast spread throughout all the land, but just behind the horrible stories followed the beast itself. It ravaged crops and left once glorious towns as nothing but heaps of rubble. As the beast destroyed, it also grew. From every town it destroyed, it consumed every last rubberband found there. Nothing could stop Pedro in its quest to feed.

Word of the approaching beast reached Cedar Rapids just as the sun was blocked out by Pedro's ever growing shadow. The townspeople fled in terror. But one man stood his ground, rallying the people. "People of Iowa," he shouted. "This beast has terrorized our great land for long enough. But today we will stand up to it."

"But it will kill us all," a voice cried from the slowing mass of people.

"Yes, some may die," the man continued, "but some may live. And if we fight, we can win our houses and our families and our lives. But if we run, the beast will surley kill us all."

"There's no way we can stand up to that," another voice cried out, pointing to the sphere looming over the small town. "How will we fight?"

"We will not fight," cried the man. "We will feed!!!" A murmer went through the crowd as they began to move again. "What has the beast come for? Is it our lives? Our children? Our homes? No, the beast has come for our rubberbands!!! So we will give it what it came for, and by that sacrifice, we may save ourselves. Quickly, go to your homes and gather all your rubberbands and bring them here. We haven't much time."

Quickly the people ran to their homes and gathered all the rubberbands they could. Hundreds and thousands of them were heaped on a pile in the town square. Seconds later, Pedro quickly rolled into the town square, destroying all in his path. But as he neared the pile of rubberbands, he slowed down. The townspeople held their breath as he began to feast. He grew before their eyes, but as he grew, his rage diminished. The rubberbands were conquering his immense appetite. In less than a minute, the pile was gone. The people tensed as Pedro looked around him. He lifted himself up and let out a deafening roar, then turned and rolled out of town.


Many of you may not believe that story, but I can tell you it's true. I have felt Pedro's hot breath on my neck and I have heard his roar as he flung himself about our fair city. Every year as summer draws to a close, but before the leaves start to turn, we must again survive the season of terror. The people gather together all their rubberbands in the town square. And every year, I relive that first horrible nightmare as the beast returns to feed its insatiable appetite.

As our small town has survived through these years, our supplies of rubberbands has gotten smaller and smaller. As a last resort, we now rest our hopes on you. Please help us to fead the beast that is Pedro. You can help us by sending any rubberbands you can spare. But please hurry. Turn to the next page to find how you can help.