Ann Martin - Mary Anne And The Zoo Mystery

animal, any kind of animal, and observe and record every action it makes. I want you to find out what it eats and when it eats it. How it walks. What makes it happy. What it does for fun. When it naps. Everything. And then report back to us—" (she gestured to her colleagues) " — in three weeks."

Erica Blumberg, who is in my homeroom, raised her hand. "But where are we going to find these animals? I don't have a pet. How can I observe any animal that closely?"

"I'm glad you asked that question, Erica," Mrs. Gonzalez said with a grin. "That brings me to part two of our presentation. Stoneybrook Middle School has gone into partnership with another institution. Ready, teachers?" They nodded. "Hit it!"

The teachers opened their trench coats to reveal brightly colored T-shirts underneath. On the front was a design of a kid in a trench coat examining a toucan with a huge magnifying glass. Printed across the bottom of the shirt was the slogan, The best kept secret in Connecticut.

The teachers turned around in unison. Across the backs of their shirts were the words, Bedford Zoo.

"Bedford Zoo has become our partner," Mrs. Gonzalez said. "For the next three weeks,

special buses will be waiting in the parking lot after school to take SMS students to the zoo. You can either study a pet at home or choose an animal at the zoo. Whatever you choose, it’s important to remember that your report must be based solely on observation. No textbooks of any sort are allowed. The student with the best researched project will win a prize."

"A prize?" Alan Gray cried. "Is it in that box?"

"No, the prize wouldn't fit in there," Mrs. Gonzalez replied, laughing. "But what’s in our box is the reason we're so excited about this biology project. Ms. Griswold, will you do the honors?"

"I'd be delighted." Ms. Griswold moved to the box and unfastened some metal clasps on one side. Before she opened it, though, she turned and cautioned us to be quiet. "What I have in here is very sensitive. She's a little afraid of crowds and definitely bothered by loud noises. So I'll need your cooperation to make her feel safe arid comfortable. Would all of you welcome — gently — our newest student?"

I could feel goosebumps creep up my arm as she opened the box. Inside was a metal cage, and sitting inside that, clutching a baby doll, was a chimpanzee.

"Awww!"

"She is so cute," said Dawn.

I could feel my eyes getting moist. (I told you, I cry at cat food commercials.) The chimpanzee looked mystified by us.

"This is Angel," Ms. Griswold said in a calm, reassuring voice. "Angel is a very special chimp. She can add and subtract."

She demonstrated by writing 2 + 2 = on a blackboard, and passing it into the monkey's cage.

Without letting go of her doll, Angel studied the board for a second and then wrote the number 5 on the board. Then, after thinking for a moment, erased that and wrote 4. We clapped softly.

Dawn leaned over to me and whispered, "Wouldn't it be great if all we had to do to get this kind of approval was add two plus two?"

Then Angel picked up her doll and retreated to a corner of the cage, with her back to us.

"I think Angel is telling us that her performance for today is finished," Ms. Griswold announced. "Wasn't she wonderful?"

Mrs. Gonzalez took over as Ms. Griswold

fed Angel a banana. "Angel is with us today

because I wanted you to see firsthand just how

fascinating an animal can be.

Mrs. Gonzalez nodded to Ms. Harris, who

wheeled in an overhead projector which she aimed at the screen. "I know the everyday study of an animal takes a lot of time. So to make this project easier, I've divided the eighth grade into teams."

"Maybe we'll be on the same one," I said hopefully.

"Not a chance," Dawn murmured. "Whenever teachers put together group projects like this, they deliberately try to keep friends separated. We have two strikes against us already. We're friends and stepsisters."

Dawn was right. Moments after Ms. Harris flashed the group lists on the screen, a massive groan rumbled through the auditorium.

Leading the groaning was me. I couldn't believe who was in my group — Howie Johnson and Alan Gray, the most disgusting boys in eighth grade. I threw up my arms in despair. "With those two, no way would we win anything."

"Mine's not so bad," Dawn said cheerily. "In fact, I like my group a lot."

I searched for her name. "Not fair. You're with Logan and Claudia. How did that happen? Want to trade?"

"Not in a million years."

I was so upset about my group arrangement that I wasn't aware of anyone else's predicament.

"Oh, poor Kristy," Dawn said. "What’s she going to do?"

From Dawn's reaction, I thought maybe Kristy had ended up with an even more obnoxious person than Alan — if that’s possible, "What’s the matter?" I asked. "Who's she with?"

"Lauren Hoffman and . . . Stacey."

"But Stacey's a good student," I replied.

"Hello?" Dawn pretended to knock on my head. "Stacey McGill ex-BSC treasurer, remember?"

"Oh, gosh," I said, wide-eyed. "I totally forgot about that."

"The group presenting the best report," continued Mrs. Gonzalez, "will not only receive extra credit on their year-end grade but also a free day's admission to Aqua World in Bridgeport, complete with a personal behind-the-scenes tour."

The auditorium was buzzing with excitement as we headed for our first-period class.

Claudia rushed to Dawn and hugged her. "We're together. All right!"

"Boy, you got to hand it to Gonzalez," Logan said, joining us at the double doors leading out of the auditorium. "She sure knows how to get a project off to a good start."

"You guys, we really have to win," Claudia

said to Dawn and Logan. "I need that extra credit."

"And a visit to Aqua World wouldn't be too bad either, would it?" Logan kidded.

"Attention, students." Alan Gray's voice pierced the air. "You might as well pack it in right now. I have this project, the extra credit, and that trip to Aqua World all sewn up."

"In your dreams, Gray," said Logan. "I'll send you a postcard from Aqua World."

"Don't bother to send it," Alan shot back. "You can hand it to me, because I'll be there before you." The way Alan and Logan talked, you'd think they were the only two students in the competition. Someone needed to explain the meaning of teamwork to them. I hoped it wouldn't have to be me.

That afternoon, I met with my team (Alan and Howie) on the front steps of SMS. It was a short meeting. We didn't discuss the zoo or how much fun the project was going to be. All we talked about was how important it was to win.

"We better get this extra credit or it's — " (Alan drew his finger across his neck making a cutting sound) "for me." Howie nodded. "Me too." I got the distinct impression that their grades were in big trouble.

Chapter 4.

I tried to reassure Alan and Howie that things would be okay.

"I'm going to do my best and work really hard on this project — "I began.

"But I wouldn't count on winning," Logan said, joining us on the steps. He was grinning, but staring straight at Alan.

This was very weird. Logan seemed determined to beat Alan, which of course meant he was determined to beat me.

"Want to make a bet?" Alan challenged him. "How much?"

Logan's jaw tensed for a second, ready to take the challenge. Then he reverted to his friendly, polite self. "I'm sorry, Alan," Logan said with a smile. "But I don't make bets. I think we should just do our project and may the best man — uh, group — win."

A slow smile spread across Alan's face. "Right."

I had been looking forward to the project and spending time at Bedford Zoo, but this rivalry between Logan and Alan added a new, unpleasant twist to things.