Free Guinea Pigs Don't Talk by Laurie Myers

1
Cruisin' for a Bruisin'
    "Let me guess," Lisa said, eyeing the two guinea pigs. "This must be Bruiser."
    She reached in and scratched the bigger guinea pig. He pushed his head into her hand.
    "Right," said Mrs. Flowers.
    "And that makes this one Squeaky," Lisa said, reaching into the second cage. When her hand touched the skinny black and white guinea pig, he squeaked and ran in a circle.
    "Right again," Mrs. Flowers said. She glided past
the cages, and continued her tour of the classroom. "This is the coatroom." She pointed to a small room directly behind the cages.
    Lisa followed Mrs. Flowers.
    "And this is your desk," Mrs. Flowers said, gently tapping the top of one desk. "I placed you beside Traci Walters. I think you'll like her."
    A possible friend, Lisa thought. Good. First things first. When you get to a new school—make friends.
    Mrs. Flowers looked at her watch. "Class starts in about five minutes. You can look around the room until then."
    Lisa walked back to the guinea pigs' cages. She had always wanted a guinea pig, but her mother had said, "No pets. It's too much trouble when we move."
    "Hello, Bruiser. Hello, Squeaky," Lisa said. "I guess you are my first friends here." Bruiser looked up and purred. Squeaky squeaked.
    Friends were exactly what Lisa wanted. Unfortunately, guinea-pig friends were not what she had in mind.
    Lisa walked back to her desk and watched the kids come into the room. It was the usual mixture of boys and girls, loud-mouthed and quiet kids, tall and short, curly hair and straight. One girl with dark hair sat in the desk beside her.

    "You must be Lisa," she said. "I like your shirt. I have one exactly like it."
    Lisa looked down. She was wearing her endangered species t-shirt. It was her favorite.
    "You must be Traci."
    "How did you know?"
    "Mrs. Flowers told me."
    "She's a great teacher. You'll love her. She's so ... flowery." Traci laughed.
    Lisa nodded. "She was wearing the biggest earrings I've ever seen."
    "The daisies?"
    "Yeah."
    "Those are big," Traci said. "Mrs. Flowers always wears flowers."
    "I'm glad her name isn't Mrs. Onion," Lisa said.
    Traci laughed. "Or Mrs. Fish."
    They both laughed.
    "I'm new too," Traci said. "Well, sort of. I came at the beginning of the year."
    "Lucky you," Lisa said. "I hate middle-of-the-year moves."
    "Me too. They're the worst," Traci said. "Is your father at the Navy base?"
    "No, the university."
    "Oh. I didn't think professors moved very much."
    "Three times in four years. But he was a student
then; now he's teaching. My mom says we'll be here awhile."
    "You got me beat," Traci said. "Two moves in four years. My father's in the Navy. But he says we'll be here at least four years."
    "Great!" Lisa said.
    Lisa noticed a girl with long white hair walk into the room. A boy with spiked hair was walking with her. They were laughing.
    "Who's that?" Lisa asked.
    Traci frowned. "Angel and Joe," she said.
    Lisa looked at Angel's long, silky hair. It wasn't blond, it was white. She had bright blue eyes.
    "She looks like an angel," Lisa said.
    "Angel is no angel, and neither is Joe," Traci said firmly. "I've only been here half the year, but I already know about Angel and Joe."
    Lisa nodded. "I know the type—always cruisin' for a bruisin'."
    "Exactly."
    Angel marched down the aisle, and sat two seats in front of Traci. Then she turned quickly and glared at Lisa.
    "That used to be my desk until you came," she snorted.
    Lisa turned to Traci. "You're right," she whispered. "She's no angel."
    Traci smiled.
    "Morning glories, it's time to get started," Mrs. Flowers called. Everyone got quiet. "We have a new student. Lisa Rogers."
    Lisa tried to smile as everyone stared at her. This was what she hated most about being new.
    "We have a busy afternoon planned so we need to take our timed math test this morning before gym," Mrs. Flowers continued. "Everyone get out paper. And I want absolute quiet."
    She turned to Lisa. "Since you're new, you won't need to