The Pack by Lisi Harrison

Author:Lisi Harrison [Harrison, Lisi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2021-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

fourteen

“Two words, four syllables, and they work wonders for our health,” Professor Esther said. “Any ideas?”

Lindsey raised her bandaged arm. “Mani-pedis!”

The professor, a strikingly beautiful puma light with tawny-beige hair and close-set blue eyes, padded to the whiteboard and wrote Lindsey’s answer. “Any other thoughts?”

There were only two students in Cat Health and Hygiene besides Sadie and Lindsey: Sasha, a panther who, according to Lindsey, never washed her hands after using the bathroom, and Corinna, a perpetually homesick bobcat. Hence their exclusion from the Pack.

“What about family time?” Corinna said. “That’s good for our health.”

“She puts the cat in catastrophe,” Lindsey whispered.

Sadie giggled like a mean girl, the kind she loathed, the kind she was in danger of becoming.

“Yes, Riri, family is important, but it’s not the answer I’m looking for. Anyone else?”

“Riri?” Sadie whispered.

“Her parents call her that, so she asked the teachers to do it, too.” Lindsey flicked her chin at Corrina’s uniform, how she’d puffy-painted Riri on the back in bold green letters. “Tragic.”

“What about comfortable clothes?” Sasha tried.

“What about a bar of soap?” Lindsey muttered.

“That’s not two words, it’s four,” Sasha said, not recognizing the dig.

No longer interested, Lindsey went back to mashing wild berries. According to Professor Esther, the berries, when mixed with melaleuca oil, could heal her skin faster than any salve made by Typicals. And with the dance only two weeks away, Lindsey wanted results.

“The answer is meat substitutes,” Professor Esther said, tired of her own game. “Meat substitutes are important because too much animal protein can lead to several diseases, such as—”

“Prof-Esther?” Lindsey interrupted.

The girls giggled at the nickname. Thankfully, the professor failed to notice.

“Yes, Lindsey?”

“I need more berries.”

“I’m all out. Now can we please get back to—”

“What do you mean, all out?”

“I haven’t been able to pick any. It’s been raining for days.”

Lindsey glanced at the window. “It’s not raining now.”

“I see that, Miss Striker, but now I happen to be teaching a lesson on meat substitutes.”

“I’ll pick them,” Lindsey offered.

“Miss Flora does not want anyone leaving the grounds. With everything that’s been happening around here, it’s just not safe.”

“Puuur-fessor, please, I would never want to leave,” Lindsey said, clearly lying. “I just want some berries from out back.”

“I’m sorry, Lindsey. My answer is no.” Professor Esther shook her head and returned to the whiteboard. “Veggie burgers are a safe alternative to—”

“If it’s safety you’re worried about, then I have to go.”

“How’s that?”

“If I have this scratch at the dance, the Allendale boys aren’t going to be talking about how cute I am. They’ll be wondering why there’s a giant thirteen scratched on my arm.”

“Have you considered long sleeves?”

“Ew, no! And I never will. This is literally a health and hygiene class, and there’s nothing healthy or hygienic about a wound that won’t heal.”

“I’ll go with her!” Sadie blurted out, which must have been that impulse the Whisper had told her about. But what was the feeling behind the blurt? What were her instincts urging her to do?

Lindsey flashed Sadie a grateful smile and crooked her fingers into paws and claws.

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