Free A Girl Called Dust by V.B. Marlowe Page A

reading. I loved to dissect things, and I wasn’t squeamish like some of
the others.
    At the top of the page in bold letters
were the words “Crayfish Dissection.” Directly underneath read:
    You do not have to dissect the crayfish.
You may choose the alternative of using the computer software. You must still
label the parts of the crayfish and describe each part’s function.
    I thought the computer program was a
cop-out and that everyone should have to dissect the actual crayfish. Watching
the process on a screen wouldn’t be nearly as educational as performing the
task on your own.
    Objectives: • Describe the appearance of various
organs found in a crayfish.
• Name the organs that make up systems of the crayfish.
    Materials:   • safety goggles, gloves,
magnifying glass, a lab apron, plastic Ziploc bag, preserved crayfish, pen,
dissecting tray, paper towels, scissors, forceps, dissecting needle, and
dissecting pins.
     
    Mary-Kate’s hand shot up, and she spoke
before Ms. Melcher even recognized her. “I will not dissect an animal, Ms.
Melcher. I don’t believe in the use of real animals for biological studies. The
practice is outdated and unnecessary.”
    Ms. Melcher was busy readying trays for
those of us who would be dissecting. She nodded wearily. “I know your stance,
Mary-Kate. Please take note of the alternative assignment and grab a laptop
from the cart.”
    Mary-Kate did that, and almost half the
class followed. I went to the back and grabbed the equipment I needed. One
thing I didn’t like about dissecting was the smell of the formaldehyde, which
was still evident even with the mask, but after a few minutes, I got used to
it.
    I took a white tray with a reddish-pink
crayfish from Ms. Melcher. The crayfish looked like a tiny lobster. After I put
on my goggles, gloves, and mask, I picked up my scalpel and looked at the very
first direction.
    *Place
the crayfish on its side and locate the cephalothorax and the abdomen.
    Done.
    *Look
at your diagram. Note the individual segments of the abdomen.
     
       
By the time I had done that, there was a commotion going on at the station
beside me. For some reason, Lacey had joined Marley and Trista. The three of
them were huddled over one laptop, their heads bobbing furiously as they
whispered about something. At the front of the room, Bailey watched them over
her shoulder.
       
Whatever was going on with them wasn’t my business, so I tried my best to
ignore them. By the time I had located the rostrum and the eyes and the five
pairs of appendages, Bailey’s head was bowed and her shoulders moved up and
down. Ms. Melcher, who had been circulating around the room observing, stopped
by Bailey’s station and placed a hand on her shoulder.
       
A moment later, Bailey left the room with a yellow hall pass, and Lacey and her
bees were cackling beside me. I threw Lacey a look, and she narrowed her eyes
at me. “What are you looking at, Dust?”
       
I tried to go back to work, but I couldn’t concentrate. Bailey needed someone,
and even though she didn’t deserve my help or sympathy, something inside of me
couldn’t help but feel for her.
        
I went to the back of the room where Ms. Melcher was organizing equipment.
        
I cleared my throat. “Ms. Melcher, I know only one student is allowed out of
class at a time, but I really think I should check on Bailey. I’ll only be a
minute.”
        
Ms. Melcher smiled. She understood, and that’s why I liked her. “I think that’s
a good idea. Grab a pass from my desk, but don’t be too long.”
        
I grabbed the pass and headed for the bathroom down the hall. Sure enough, I
could hear Bailey sniffling from a stall.
       
“Bailey?”
       
No answer, but she stopped sniffling.
       
I stopped in front of the last stall. “I know it’s you in there.”
       
“Arden, please. Just go away.”
       
“What’s going on? Lacey’s been treating you, well, kind of like