Chapter One Emily stood at the end of the bus line craning her neck to see around the teacher who was herding them out the door Where was Grace Her twin sister usually pushed to the front of the crowd trying to be the first one out of the school building at the end of the day Emily’s shyness kept her silent until most of the other students had exited Then swallowing her fear she asked Ms Walker a stern fifth-grade teacher May I go back to get my sister The teacher frowned She should already be in line I’m not supposed to let students go back down the halls after dismissal Her throat dry Emily forced herself to say But she’s missing and I have to find her Heaving a huge sigh that lifted her short bangs off
her forehead Ms Walker said Go but be quick about it Emily scurried down the hall She wanted to run but instead walked fast so Ms Walker wouldn’t yell at her She peeked into their fourth-grade classroom but the room was empty The door to the rabbit cage stood open Buddy their class pet was gone Oh no This week it was Grace’s turn to care for him Had she forgotten to latch the cage Or had Buddy escaped while her sister was feeding him Emily’s stomach clenched as she pictured Buddy hopping around the school with Grace chasing him Not only would they miss their bus but what if Buddy slipped into a narrow space where they couldn’t reach him Rabbits often did that A clanging in the room across the hall startled Emily She darted to the door to find Grace bent over the rabbit hutch in the other fourth-grade classroom
Emily couldn’t hide her frustration What are you doing Grace We’re going to miss the bus Grace stood up a smile on her face Why should poor Buddy be cooped up in that small cage all weekend when Mr Perez has this nice rabbit hutch I’d hate being all by myself for two days with no one to talk to so I thought Buddy would enjoy playing with a friend Emily sucked in a breath Did you ask Mr Perez Or Ms Montes Grace shook her head They’d already left when I thought of the idea but I bet they won’t mind I’m not so sure Emily worried that both teachers might object but they needed to hurry Is the hutch locked
