Ann Martin - Mary Anne And The Zoo Mystery

"Speaking of school," Dawn said, "have you guys noticed anything about the science teachers?"

I nodded. "Every time I see Mrs. Gonzalez, she's talking in some corner with Ms. Gris-wold, looking all excited."

"They've been hinting for weeks about some biology project that’s in the works," Kristy said. "And this morning I heard Mrs. Gonzalez say Wednesday's the day."

"Do you think they're going to make some kind of announcement?" I asked.

"Yup," Kristy said, tugging on the visor of

her favorite cap. (It has a picture of a collie on

it.) "There's supposed to be a presentation for

the eighth-graders."

Claudia hit her head with the palm of her

hand. 'That explains why Ms. Griswold was in the art room picking up posterboard and paints. She said she had some large photos that needed mounting. She also mentioned something about a slide show."

"Maybe they're planning a trip," Dawn said excitedly, "to someplace cool, like Woods Hole, where they study the whales."

"Or maybe they've decided that dissecting frogs isn't enough," Kristy said mysteriously. "Maybe they're going to have us operate on muskrats or groundhogs."

"Ew! Gross!" everyone squealed at once.

Mallory and Jessi exchanged worried looks. "I'm not looking forward to biology one bit," Mal whispered.

"Kristy's just kidding," I said, patting Mallory on the arm. "Don't worry. We don't have to dissect anything if we don't want to."

Shannon folded her arms grumpily. "Gee, at my school, all we do is stare at swamp water through a microscope. We're studying the life cycle of a parametium. I'd give anything for some exciting new project, like operating on groundhogs."

That prompted another round of ews! Luckily a client called, putting an end to discussing gross operations.

The phone seemed to ring nonstop for the next fifteen minutes. I was so busy writing in

the record book that I barely had time to make out the contact sheets for the Free Babar campaign. But I finished them just as the digital dock on Claud's desk turned from five-fifty-rune to six o'clock.

Kristy, efficient leader that she is, checked the clock and announced, "This meeting of the Baby-sitters Club is officially over."

Chapter 3.

Wednesday was the day the biology project was to be revealed. Even kids who couldn't stand science were excited.

"Have you seen what’s in the front office?" Kristy called to Dawn and me as we arrived for school that morning. "It’s a huge box with signs all over it that say Top Secret."

A lot of kids had gathered outside the doors to the office and were peering in, speculating on what might be inside the box.

"It's a car," declared Alan Gray (who is our class goof-off).

Claudia, who was standing next to him, rolled her eyes and said, "It’s for biology class, remember?"

"Okay, so it’s not a car. It’s a Jeep. For exploring the jungle."

Howie Johnson punched him on the shoulder. "Yeah, like there are sooooo many jungles in Connecticut."

"Can it," Kristy ordered in her best coach voice. "Or you're going to miss the next event."

"Event?" Alan squinted one eye shut and stared at Kristy as if she were crazy.

Kristy simply pointed at the parking lot, where a dark car was pulling in. Three people dressed in trench coats, felt slouch hats, and dark glasses got out of the car just as loud music began blasting from the school's speakers. The tape was old, and it crackled as the singer wailed, "Secret agent man, secret agent

man."

"That's Ms. Griswold," Dawn declared. "With Ms. Harris and Mrs. Gonzalez."

The entire science department had come to school in costume. We followed them into the building and watched as they pushed the huge brown box toward the SMS auditorium. The box was on wheels so it moved easily. Just before it disappeared through the auditorium's double doors, I swear I saw the box jump.

"Did you see that?" I whispered to Dawn.

She nodded excitedly. "I think whatever's in that box is — " She turned and raised her hands above her head, making a monster face. "Alive!"

"Frankenstein," Alan Gray's voice bellowed over the crowd. "They've created a monster and we're going to have to take care of it."

"A horse," Brent Jensen announced.

"Yeah, dream on," Todd Long replied.

The bell rang, interrupting the chatter. For the first time that I can remember, the halls cleared almost instantly. Students were actually anxious for school to start, so we could find out what was in that box.

My locker (number thirty-two) is about as far away from homeroom as you can get. I tossed my school books inside and then Dawn and I raced for Mr. Blake's classroom.

Moments after Mr. Blake took attendance, the PA system crackled to life.

"Good morning, students," the voice of our principal said pleasantly.

"Good morning, Mr. Taylor," a few of the boys in the rear of the room shouted back in a singsong voice. Mr. Blake silenced them with a stern look.

"You may be wondering about the large package that was in the front hall. It came by special delivery this morning and has been making strange sounds ever since."

"I was forced to call the authorities," Mr. Taylor continued. "And, luckily for SMS, three special agents were dispatched immediately. They have surrounded the package in question and have moved it to the auditorium. Upon closer examination, they discovered its contents were bigger than any of them had expected. Special Agent Harris just spoke to me and said she was going to need the help of the entire eighth grade."

"All right!" Alan Gray gave Justin Forbes a high-five. "We get out of class."

The loudspeaker crackled again. 'Teachers, when I announce your name, please have your students proceed in an orderly manner to the auditorium."

Mr. Taylor read off the names of several other teachers before Mr. Blake's name was called.

Dawn and I led the class to the auditorium. As we filed in, I looked for the rest of the eighth-grade BSC members. Kristy was in front with her homeroom, and I spotted Claudia's red sequined baseball cap in the middle of the auditorium. Logan's class was behind Claudia's. He had turned in his seat and was looking for me. We made eye contact and waved. Then Dawn and I led our group to our seats on the left side of the auditorium.

Onstage, Ms. Griswold and Ms. Harris, who were still in their trench coats, stood guard in front of the mysterious box. Several large easels draped in red cloth lined the stage. Mrs. Gonzalez was at the podium.

"Boy, this project must be a really big deal," I whispered to Dawn. "Look at how much work they put into the presentation."

When everyone was seated/ the lights dimmed and a recording of roaring lions and jungle sounds filled the air. Then a movie was projected onto a screen.

"The hidden lives of animals," the deep voice of the narrator announced.

For the next ten minutes we watched different kinds of animals doing the craziest things. One sequence I especially liked showed a family of shrews (which are like tiny moles) taking a walk. The mother went first, with all the babies following along behind, each holding onto the tail of the one in front. They reminded me of a group of preschoolers taking a trip to the park.

When the film clip ended, Mrs. Gonzalez tightened the belt on her trench coat, then said, "Perhaps you're wondering why we called you here."

She moved to one of the easels and whipped off the red doth, revealing a picture of a giraffe. Underneath the photo were printed the words, I've got a secret.

Ms. Harris moved to her easel and revealed a picture of a tiger with the same message. "I've got a secret."

Ms. Griswold's easel had a picture of a grizzly bear, and another held an ostrich.

"All of these animals lead secret lives," Mrs. Gonzalez said. "Your mission is to choose one