Chapter Fifteen - Major News

Kat’s weekend was calm in comparison to the buzz going on in the neighborhoods that went to Edgeview Elementary.

All of the fourth graders in Ms. Catarinas’ class were excited about their classroom pet. But there was one person who was more excited than any other: Jacob Wilson. Every night, his little sister Sophie would ask him about Bob. What did he eat? How big was he? Did he ever bite? Jacob felt like he was the one writing the report on Bob.

“Can I come see him?” Sophie asked.

“Fourth graders only,” Jacob said proudly. “Besides there are a million of them in our backyard.”

“But he has a name,” Sophie complained. “Bob is special!”

“Maybe I’ll let you see him on Monday,” Jacob said.

“Really?” Sophie clasped her hand together. She looked like someone had told her that unicorns were real and there was one in her room.

“If you bring me some extra girl scout cookies from your meeting tonight,” Jacob bargained.

“Deal!”

At girl scouts, Sophie told all of her friends how Jacob’s class had a pet. They thought it was a hamster or maybe one of those pretty fish with the fancy fins. When they found out it was a daddy long legs, they all squealed.

News passed swiftly around after the troupe of seven year olds told everyone they knew about Bob. Every student at Edgeview who heard the news began to think about their own classroom pets.

By Sunday night, the news finally made it to Michael’s house. Jacob’s mother called Michael’s mother in shock over the change in rules at Edgeview Elementary. They had both attended Edgeview when the Charlie Lambert incident had happened. Now their own children were dealing with “The Rules.”

“Did Michael tell you about Bob?” Jacob’s mother asked.

“No,” Michael’s mother laughed. “All I’ve seen all weekend is praying mantis kung fu. Something about a bug report.”

“And Benbrook is actually letting them have a bug in the room,” Jacob’s mother said in shock.
Michael’s mother worked for the local news and wrote for the community newspaper. This news was world shattering.

“I think I have my next article,” she said.

Jacob’s mother laughed. “Were you there when Charlie lost Gizmo?”

“Of course I was,” Michael’s mom replied. “The art carts exploded like piñatas.”

Mrs. Grossman spent the rest of her weekend on her Tuesday article for the community newspaper.

Bob was becoming famous.

Creepy Crawly Changes

Things are changing at Edgeview Elementary. Since the early years of Eugene Benbrook’s time as principal, there have been certain rules. This week major changes are going on, including the induction of a new student named Bob.
Bob is not your average student. While he does have two eyes, he has eight legs and a body the size of a pencil eraser. Bob is a daddy long legs.
Ms. Elizabeth Catarinas in the fourth grade is bringing learning to life for our students by bringing the outside in. Perhaps Principal Benbrook’s greatest rule of “No bugs” has finally been exterminated.