THE CONFOUNDING CASE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS Chapter One Greenhouse Field Trip Anita Pacheco wiped a sweaty strand of black hair out of her face It was hot in here and her eye lids drooped in the humidity All of a sudden some thing red and gooey skooshed against her leg from somewhere off to her left Hey she yelled and spun around Anita couldn’t see clearly through the thicket of vines but she heard a familiar laugh from somewhere on the other side Woohoo direct hit Man you should have seen your face A dark-haired boy poked his head through the tomato vines Benson Griffin 1
GALACTIC ACADEMY OF SCIENCE was one of Anita’s best friends and a prankster He had a big smirk on his face Hey wanna try to bull’s eye Mr Fazmel Ugh You’ve probably ruined my jeans ex claimed Anita exasperated These were a present from my grandmother for Christmas all the way from the Dominican Republic You’re so annoying Benson And no We’re on Mr Fazmel’s good side we shouldn’t go messing it up It was true Anita and Benson’s earth science teacher Mr Fazmel had been especially nice to them after their science fair project had won the regional competition and they had helped the FBI put away an international criminal at the same time Bah yeah you’re probably right As usual Benson stepped through the wall of vines towards where Anita was standing In his right hand he held another big red tomato But then what am I going to do with this How about this Fast as a striking snake Anita grabbed the tomato from Benson and squished it against his face For a second Benson looked just as shocked as Anita had but then the two of them laughed and chased through the corridors of vines throwing tomato remnants at each other Then as they reached the rear of the greenhouse a loud bang ing interrupted them 2
THE CONFOUNDING CASE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS What’s that said Benson The sound came from a wooden structure that stuck inward from the glass wall of the greenhouse like a back room Must be a back entrance Anita said And somebody’s trying to get in Just then Mr Fazmel’s voice boomed over head Free time is up Everyone please come back to the front of the greenhouse to hear from Tiffany Benson and Anita exchanged a look Follow Mr Fazmel’s command or find out who was bang ing on the back door Benson shrugged and lifted the latch to the wooden room With Anita following he walked across the sawdust floor past a cash register and a blackboard covered with notes about planting times Benson located the back door turned the bolt and pulled The door was heavy and seemed to be stuck Anita grabbed the door knob and leaned back to help Benson The bottom of the door caught on a small pile of dirt and sawdust on the uneven floor Who would come in this way Anita complained The door burst open with one last pull In the doorway stood an agitated-looking man in his mid thirties wearing a safari vest and dirty jeans His face was red from exertion Thanks kids he said I’m late 3
