Amphibian by Carla Gunn

Author:Carla Gunn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Literary, Psychological, FIC000000, Fiction
ISBN: 9781770560130
Publisher: Coach House Books
Published: 2009-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Ever since Bird and I found out that there’s nothing we can do for Cuddles, I’ve felt really weird. I feel like it looks when DVDs go wonky and people’s bodies are all broken up into little square bits that move slowly around the screen.

I’ve felt so weird that I actually thought about telling my mom about what happened – but then my common sense kicked in. I also considered calling my grandmother to talk to her. She’s the only one who really seems to understand about animals. Just as I was dialling her number, though, a part of my brain screamed, ‘No! You can’t tell ANYONE! Listen to me!’ and won over the other part of my brain that thought maybe my grandmother could help. I’m still not 100 percent sure I shouldn’t tell Grammie but I’m a little worried that she might tell my mom. Maybe there’s a Giant Rule Book of Life that says that people who know things about kids have to tell their moms about it. I know Mrs. Wardman has been following that rule.

Speaking of Mrs. Wardman, these days I’m liking school even less than usual. Every time I look at Cuddles in his aquarium, I feel really sad and angry all at the same time. I think there should be a word for that feeling.

In math class today, though, I was just plain annoyed. Well, that’s like saying the Arctic is a little on the chilly side. In fact, I got very, very mad. It all started with a question from the book called Math Makes Sense. It said, ‘Add 679 and 451 and then estimate to the nearest hundred to check your answer.’ It didn’t make any logical sense. I raised my hand and Mrs. Wardman came over to my desk.

I said, ‘I don’t think this makes sense.’

‘Phin, just do as it says,’ said Mrs. Wardman.

‘But how can I check my answer with an estimate after I actually add those numbers up?’

‘Phin, we spent a whole unit on estimation. Remember how we discussed that if you round numbers up or down to the nearest hundred and then add them, your answer should be about the same as when you really add them?’

‘I remember that,’ I said. ‘But how can an estimate be more true than the actual answer?’

Mrs. Wardman told me to just give it a try. I didn’t say anything. I added the numbers up, and the answer was 1,130. Then I estimated and the answer was 1,200. I raised my hand again. Mrs. Wardman came over but she didn’t look very happy.

‘Should I change my answer to 1,200?’ I asked.

‘No, you’ve done it right,’ she said.

‘But you said the estimate should be about the same as the real answer, and it’s not.’

‘Phin, you’ve done it right – just go on to the next question.’

I was very, very mad. Normally math makes sense, but this math did not. I thought about all the ways other things don’t make sense. I made a list in my mind:

1.

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