The Monarchs of Winghaven by Naila Moreira

Author:Naila Moreira [Moreira, Naila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781536224689
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2024-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Pete began showing up every two or three days. They never quite knew when he might appear. Once, they found him flat on his stomach, peering into a hole. “Vole went in there,” he said briefly. They sat down nearby, but he said nothing more, and after what felt like an eternity, they glanced at each other and silently left him there, waiting for the small mouselike animal to come back out.

But usually he looked delighted to see them. He’d explain what he was looking at or drop what he was doing and suggest some new adventure.

With Pete, they spotted their first ruffed grouse and their first woodcock, round as a candlepin bowling ball but motionless—fist-size, dappled, with a huge black eye and a long bill, frozen in place among a net of leaves. They withdrew on soft feet, leaving the little bird alone.

After a rainstorm, Pete appeared like a hare from the wet woods and led them to the mud surrounding the Pond. He showed them mouse tracks, deer tracks, raccoon tracks. Sammie knew some of these but had never seen coyote tracks before Pete pointed them out.

One afternoon, as they were about to do their regular check under the old door, Bram ruffled the thick leaves of a lanky milkweed plant. He sighed.

“We’re not getting anywhere on our project, Sammie.”

“I know,” said Sammie a little unhappily.

Their frustration at finding no monarch caterpillars had made it easy to let their project fall by the wayside. What with Pete’s unexpected appearances and his suggestions for things to look for, they’d been focusing on his ideas instead of their own. They’d checked the milkweeds in the south half of Winghaven, then tried the north half again. But still, no luck. And neither of them wanted to admit their idea wasn’t working. Maybe it meant Winghaven was less important than they thought.

Sammie hefted up the door. Just a couple of worms half exposed on the soil. Startled by the rush of air, they contracted their long damp bodies to pull themselves deeper into the earth.

“Maybe we should think up something different.”

Sammie slowly set the door down. She didn’t want to give up. Winghaven should be perfect for monarchs. The adult butterflies fluttered by all the time. She just had to be right about the milkweed.

She eyed Bram cautiously. Pete studied insects for a living. And he was their friend now, right?

She took a deep breath. “Listen, Bram. Just listen, don’t get mad. Why don’t we talk to Pete about our project? I bet he’d know what we’re missing.”

Bram’s brows drew together.

“You already said we can’t ask my dad. I want this to be ours, yours and mine.”

“I know.” Sammie took a deep breath. She probably shouldn’t have said that. “But just listen. We already came up with our own idea. Pete told me it’s important to have scientific collaborators—and now that’s what you are, you know? My collaborator. More than ever this summer.”

Bram didn’t look at her but seemed to smile a little at her words.

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