The ride to school in the morning was a quiet one. The entire ride Kat continued to replay the conversation from yesterday.
I’ll show him, she thought. He won’t kill Bob.
Kat proudly wore her ‘Save Bob’ shirt in the car. It had been through the wash cycle several times this week and was already looking faded. Kat knew if she ran into Benbrook she’d be in even bigger trouble, but he had gone too far this time.
When Kat showed up at school, the normal crowd outside of Room 222 was no more than two people. Sophie had dragged along her best friend to talk to Lily. Sophie had a homemade ‘Save Bob’ shirt on as well. She proudly stood in the hall and pestered Lily for facts.
Lily looked forlornly at Sophie’s t-shirt and sighed. She pulled at the collar of the sweater she was wearing. A slight bit of blue peeked out, rebelling against eh web of sweater fibers.
“I just need to know a couple of things about Bob to finish my nature badge,” Sophie whined loudly.
“I have already given you a bunch of facts,” Lily said trying to get back into the classroom.
“But I need to know about his children,” Sophie whine even louder.
“Children?” Lily asked.
“Yeah. He’s a daddy isn’t he?”
Lily snorted and slapped her hand to her forehead.
“This conversation is over,” she said sending Sophie away.
Kat walked up to Lily and smiled. It was good to be in school again.
Lily smiled until she saw Kat’s shirt.
“Benbrook put a ban on the shirts,” she said. “If he sees it you’ll have to change and give up your shirt.”
“We’ve got bigger problems,” Kat said bustling into the classroom.
Lily followed quickly on her heels. For the first time in her life, Lily was a follower instead of a lead. And for the first time in her life, Lily didn’t care.
Kat threw her backpack down quickly at her desk and gathered Lily and Jacob. Michael had still not arrived, but this could not wait.
Kat glanced toward the window, but Bob was gone. Kat stopped.
“Kat?” Lily asked.
“Where did he go?” Kat frantically demanded. She was already too late.
“Don’t worry,” Lily said. “He’s safe.”
Close to the bottom of the window Bob was eating away at a pile of fresh aphids.
“Ms. Catarinas brought them for him yesterday,” Jacob said. “She figured he would be safer if he was out of sight.”
Kat breathed out and pushed her hair out of her face. There was just too much going on.
“Principal Benbrook is trying to get Bob tomorrow,” Kat said.
Jacob and Lily raised their eyebrows.
“What are you talking about?” Lily asked.
“My dad is an exterminator and Benbrook hired him,” Kat said sadly.
“What?” Jacob screamed.
Half of the class turned toward Jacob. Ms. Catarinas stood up from her desk where she was taking attendance.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
As Jacob began to answer, Michael burst into the classroom.
“Look what I brought,” he yelled triumphantly. Above his head he held a terrarium with a small green object.
“Praying mantis,” he yelled out. “Hiya, hiya, hiya!”
Michael streaked around the classroom, stirring everyone up.
Kat, Lily, and Jacob started in disbelief as Michael came to their table. Before Ms. Catarinas could stop him, Michael opened the container.
“Mom said he wouldn’t get along with my other pets,” Michael said. “So I thought I’d share him here.”
Michael put his face to the edge of the container and blew onto the praying mantis. The tiny bug bobbed and weaved like Bruce Lee. It began to size Michael up as he blue on it again. It crouched down and like a ninja attacked with praying mantis style.
“AH!” Michael screamed as the praying mantis hooked onto his nose. Had he done any real research, he would have known that praying mantises can fly.
“This is what I’m talking about,” Lily said as Michael ran around the classroom. “He pulled this kind of stuff yesterday too.”
Kat watched as Ms. Catarinas gently tried to pull the praying mantis from Michael’s nose.
“We need a plan,” Kat said.
“Be careful,” Jacob called over to Ms. Catarinas. “It’s illegal to kill them.”
Lily stared in disbelief.
“What?” Jacob complained. “I’ve been doing my research!”
The gears in Kat’s head were turning.
“We need a plan and distractions,” she said smiling.
Kat, Lily, and Jacob all stared at Michael. He streaked as Ms. Catarinas finally removed the mantis. It fluttered quickly in the air and flew out through the open window.
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