When is recess? Sophie wondered, watching the schoolhouse clock.
It had been a busy Monday morning at Silverlake Elementary. Mrs. Wise had gone over the answers from Friday’s math quiz. She had led them through a science lab on different types of rocks. Then she’d handed out a new list of spelling words. Writing in their notebooks, students had to use each word in a sentence.
All of Sophie’s sentences had something in common.
Sophie was itching to talk to her friends! There had been no time to tell them her news before school started.
When Mrs. Wise rang the bell for recess, Sophie practically jumped out of her seat.
Outside, Sophie ran over to Hattie and Owen. They were starting a game of hopscotch with Ben and Ellie.
“We found it!” she told them. “The cave! Winston and I found it yesterday!”
“You did?” Owen replied.
“What was making that glowing light?” Hattie asked eagerly.
Sophie’s whiskers drooped. “I don’t know,” she said. “We ran out of there as soon as we heard the shrieking.”
Hattie and Owen stared at Sophie. Ben and Ellie, who were looking for good hopscotch rocks, turned to look at her too.
“Shrieking?” cried Hattie in alarm.
Sophie reconsidered. “Okay, maybe not shrieking, exactly,” she said. She described the high-pitched sound that had scared them out of the cave.
“It was so startling!” she said. “Especially because we couldn’t see anything. So now there are two mysteries to solve in that cave!”
Ellie threw her rock into the first square and started hopping. “Glowing and shrieking?” she said. “Are you sure you weren’t imagining that? The mind can play tricks, you know. Especially when you’re scared. And caves are spooky!”
“And echoey,” Ben added. “Little noises sound bigger in caves.”
Sophie frowned. Didn’t her friends believe her?
“Well, I know what I saw and heard,” she insisted. “And I’m going to find out what’s in there.” She looked at Hattie and Owen. “You’ll come with me, right?”
They didn’t answer right away. Owen looked at Hattie. Hattie shrugged.
“Isn’t it more fun if it just stays a mystery?” Hattie tried.
Sophie put her hands on her hips and shook her head no.
Owen sighed. “All right. We’ll come.”
“But,” said Hattie, putting up a hand, “this time, we’re going prepared.”
They agreed they’d have to wait for Saturday to return to the cave.
“Can you make a map to show the way to the cave?” Hattie asked Sophie. “We don’t want to waste time walking in circles.”
Sophie nodded. “I can do that.”
“Owen, you and I can bring supplies. We need lanterns and rope,” Hattie said.
“On it!” Owen replied.
Of course! Sophie thought. Why didn’t I think of that? Then she smiled. Hattie was so practical.
They were going to be very well-prepared cave explorers!
