Baby Animal Zoo
Page 4
“It is the prettiest tortoise I have ever seen,” said Jannie.
Pamela smiled at them.
“Does it bite?” asked Chris hopefully.
“Nope,” said Pamela. “It does not have teeth.”
“What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?” asked Omar.
“Turtles usually swim a lot, and like water,” explained Pamela. “Tortoises live on land.”
Chris and Omar looked at Pamela. Pamela looked back at them. Then Chris nodded and Omar shrugged. They walked away.
Pamela felt like singing.
Soon it was time to get back on the school bus that would take Ms. Colman’s class back to Stoneybrook. Pamela returned the star tortoise to Harriet and thanked her. Harriet had saved the day. Now Pamela would not have to change schools or be a second-grade dropout.
Once again a line of partners waited to get on the bus.
“Just a second, Leslie,” said Pamela. “I have to talk to Chris and Omar.”
Chris and Omar were at the back of the line. Pamela motioned them over to her.
“What do you want?” asked Omar suspiciously.
Pamela took a deep breath. “I want to apologize,” she said. “I know it was mean to tease you about the jungle gym. People cannot help it if they are scared of something. I am sorry I made you feel bad.”
Chris and Omar looked at each other.
“Well, that is okay, I guess,” said Chris. “We got to tease you back. Now we are even.”
“Yes, we are even,” said Pamela. “And I will try not to tease you anymore.”
“Us too,” said Omar.
“Okay.” Pamela and Chris and Omar shook hands.
When Pamela got back in line next to Leslie, Leslie smiled at her. “I am proud of you,” said Leslie.
“For holding a tortoise?” said Pamela.
“That, and for other things too,” said Leslie. And she squeezed Pamela’s hand.
The author gratefully acknowledges
Gabrielle Charbonnet
for her help
with this book.
About the Author
ANN M. MARTIN is the acclaimed and bestselling author of a number of novels and series, including Belle Teal, A Corner of the Universe (a Newbery Honor book), A Dog’s Life, Here Today, P.S. Longer Letter Later (written with Paula Danziger), the Family Tree series, the Doll People series (written with Laura Godwin), the Main Street series, and the generation-defining series The Baby-sitters Club. She lives in New York.
Copyright © 1998 by Ann M. Martin
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First edition, 1998
e-ISBN 978-1-338-09273-8