The Case of the Green Guinea Pig by Nancy Krulik

Author:Nancy Krulik [by Krulik, Nancy; illustrated by LaCoste, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-545-38817-7
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2011-09-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“Where have you two been?”

We weren’t in the cafeteria more than one minute when Elizabeth and I bumped into Maxine.

“We were trying to figure out who’s been pranking everyone around the school,” Elizabeth told her bravely.

Maxine gave her an odd look. “And did you?” she asked.

“Not yet,” I told her. “We were close, but —” “But you couldn’t figure it out,” Maxine said, cutting me off. “You third graders won’t be able to solve this one.” She smiled and pointed to her orange belt with her white-gloved hand. “That’s why the school is lucky to have me.”

“Why are you wearing gloves inside the cafeteria?” I asked her.

“These are safety gloves,” Maxine said. “They give them to us for when it gets cold. I’m going outside to keep the playground safe during recess. It’s pretty chilly out there today.”

Weird. There were other safeties in the fifth grade. But Maxine was the only one wearing her gloves and her belt in the lunchroom.

“Come on, Jack,” Elizabeth said. “Let’s go eat.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “Today’s my favorite meal. Breakfast for lunch. I hope there are still some pancakes left.”

“Don’t worry about the mystery anymore,” Maxine said. “I’ve got everything under control.”

I didn’t get to find out about the pancakes because as soon as Maxine was gone, Leo and Trevor came rushing over.

“Tell me you found the prankster,” Leo said.

“Wish I could,” I told him. “But we haven’t.”

“Not yet,” Elizabeth said. “We thought we had the right guy, but we were wrong. It happens all the time with mysteries.”

“We don’t have time for you to be wrong,” Trevor told her.

Just then, a tall fifth grader named Bo walked over to us. He had straight hair and a whole lot of freckles. He also had a mean grin on his face.

“Don’t feel too bad, Trev,” Bo said. “So what if you and your friends don’t get to go on the upper-school apple-picking trip? It’s time the school did something new. Climbing trees, drinking cider, and eating fresh-baked apple pie is boring after you’ve done it twice. Of course, you’ll never know, will you? Ha! See ya later, losers.”

As Bo walked away, Trevor shook his head. “That guy is such a bully. I can’t believe he’s my cousin.”

I didn’t have any trouble believing that at all.

“You guys had better figure this mystery out fast!” Trevor said.

“We’re doing our best,” Elizabeth replied.

“Do better than your best,” Trevor said. He stood up taller so he seemed even bigger than usual. Then he stomped off.

“This is really important, you guys,” Leo said once Trevor was gone. “The whole school is counting on you two.”

I was about to tell Leo that we were working as fast as we could. But before I could get a word out, a loud scream came from over by the salad bar. I turned in the direction of the scream and watched the lunch lady leap up on a chair. She was panicked about something.

“It sounds like the prankster has struck again!” Elizabeth grabbed me by the arm.

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