Free Guinea Pigs Don't Talk by Laurie Myers Page A

take the test. If you want to, you can feed the guinea pigs, and change the paper in Bruiser's cage."
    "Sure," Lisa said.
    "Lucky you," Traci said. "I love to take care of the guinea pigs. They're soooooooooo fun."
    Lisa smiled. This was shaping up to be a pretty good first day. She stood to go to the guinea pigs' table.
    "Psssssssssst."
    The noise came from the front of the room.
    "Psssssssssst."
    It was Angel. She held a folded piece of paper toward Lisa.
    "Me?" Lisa asked, pointing to herself.
    Angel nodded.
    Lisa wondered why Angel would send her a note. What could Angel possibly have to tell her? Lisa took the note with her to the guinea pigs' table. She had a strange feeling about the note. She remembered Lisa's words, "Angel is no angel, and neither is Joe."
    She read the note.
Put Bruiser in Squeaky's cage

while you change the paper.

They love to play.
    Is that all? Lisa thought. She felt silly for being suspicious. She refolded the note, and stuck it in her pocket. Maybe Angel wasn't so bad after all. If Bruiser and Squeaky liked to play, then Lisa would put them together. What harm could there be?

2
The Fur Flies
    "We must have complete quiet during the test," Mrs. Flowers said. "No distractions. Is everyone ready? Begin!"
    The students quickly began working the math problems.
    Lisa got the clean newspaper from under the guinea pigs' table. She was especially careful not to crumple the paper or make any noise. She didn't want everyone staring at her again. She quietly lifted the lid off Bruiser's cage.
    "You want to play with Squeaky?" she whispered.
    Bruiser tilted his head to the side, and looked up at her. He was all brown except for a white streak on his forehead. When she picked him up, he didn't wiggle or squirm. He felt like a solid ball of fur.
    When Lisa lifted the lid off Squeaky's cage, he jumped and ran in a circle.
    "Company's coming," she cheerfully whispered to him.
    "Now keep quiet," she instructed as she lowered Bruiser into Squeaky's cage, "because they're taking a test, and Mrs. Flowers doesn't want any noise."
    Bruiser and Squeaky stood face to face. Lisa watched with excitement. She was waiting for them to start a game of guinea-pig tag, romping around the cage, playfully nudging each other with their noses.
    No game started.
    Squeaky's upper lip quivered, and he scratched the ground with his feet. There were no happy squeaks, as Lisa had expected. Instead, a throaty growl rumbled from the cage.
    Squeaky jumped to the side. Bruiser pivoted to face him. Squeaky made another quick jump, then circled around behind Bruiser. Again Bruiser pivoted and they stood face to face—perfectly still.
    Lisa had a feeling that this was not the beginning of a friendly game.
    Suddenly there was a blur of activity. The guinea pigs had started to fight! Squeaky darted around the cage, jumping at Bruiser and grabbing mouthfuls of his fur. Bruiser bit Squeaky at every opportunity.
    They lunged at each other. They rolled around the cage, biting and scratching and knocking over the food bowl.
    Lisa was afraid to reach in and stop the fight.
    Worst of all was the noise. The guinea pigs squealed loudly, almost screaming, as they fought.
    When Lisa looked up, she realized that everyone in the class had turned to watch the commotion.
    "Do something," someone yelled.
    Lisa turned back to watch the single, rolling ball of fur that was two guinea pigs. She wanted to do something, but her arms hung limply at her side.
    Mrs. Flowers jumped up and hurried toward the back of the room.
    One girl started to cry. "They're going to kill each other," she said.
    Lisa stood by helplessly. Everyone was watching her. She felt her whole face turn red. Mrs. Flowers finally arrived, daisy earrings jingling. As she reached into the cage, Squeaky grabbed Bruiser's ear and bit off a piece.

    "
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.
" Bruiser's final scream was a loud one. Mrs. Flowers grabbed him and lifted him out of the cage. He was panting.
    "You're