Going Batty Read Free Page B

think a baby rhinoceros could be cute, too.”
    “To who?” Becky asked her.
    Katie thought about that for a minute. “I guess to a mommy rhinoceros,” she said finally.
    “I don’t want to adopt a rhinoceros,” Suzanne said. “They’re too ugly with those weird horns and their thick skin. What about a flamingo? They’re that gorgeous pink color. I’ve always looked pretty in pink.”
    “So go to the mall and buy a dress,” Becky said. “I want to adopt a cuddly animal.”
    “You don’t get to hold the animal, Becky,” Suzanne said.
    Grrrr. Katie couldn’t stand it any more. No matter what was going on, Suzanne and Becky just kept fighting about it.
    “Look you guys, we don’t have to decide this today,” she said finally. “The whole fourth grade is going to the zoo on Monday. We can check out the animals there, and then decide.”

    “Maybe seeing them in person will help you pick the right animal,” Jeremy told the girls.
    “I’m sure you’re right, Jeremy,” Becky cooed. “You’re so smart.”
    Jeremy rolled his eyes and turned away from her.
    “Can we go bake some cookies now?” Kevin asked. “This is supposed to be a cooking club, remember?”
    “Yeah!” George agreed. “I’m going to make one cookie shaped like a peacock, one shaped like a monkey, and one shaped like a rhino.
    I like them all the same—especially when they’re sprinkled with sugar!”
    Katie giggled. That was soooo George. No matter what the problem, he could always solve it with dessert.
    If only her problems with Becky and Suzanne could be solved that easily!

Chapter 7
    Unfortunately, Suzanne and Becky were still fighting when the fourth grade arrived at the zoo on Monday morning.
    “I hope we go to the monkey house first,” Becky said. “I want to see if we can find a really cute one to adopt.”
    “I told you, we’re not adopting a monkey,” Suzanne insisted. “Right, Katie?”
    Katie didn’t know what to say. So she didn’t answer.
    Suzanne twirled around, showing off her bright blue shirt and blue and green skirt. “I dressed this way so our peacock will know I’m the one who’s adopting her,” Suzanne said.
    “The three of us are adopting a zoo animal together,” Katie reminded Suzanne.
    “Of course,” Suzanne said. “But I look the most like a peacock mom.”
    “Actually, Suzanne, you look like a peacock dad ,” Jeremy corrected her. “The boys are the colorful ones.”
    “That can’t be right,” Suzanne insisted.
    “Jeremy is right, Suzanne,” Ms. Sweet said. “Very often female birds have duller colors than males. They can fade into their environment while they are sitting on the nest. It keeps the females and their eggs safe.”
    “The females are pea hens ,” Mr. G added. “The male birds are the peacocks.”
    “Ha ha ha! Suzanne’s dressed like a boy bird!” Becky giggled.
    George laughed along with her. “Suzanne’s more of a pea brain than a peacock,” he whispered to Kevin.
    Katie was walking next to George. She heard what he said. Usually she hated when George said something mean about one of her friends. But today she was feeling kind of angry with Suzanne and Becky, too. So, she didn’t tell him not to say things like that.
    “Have you thought more about what kind of animal you want to adopt, Katie?” Becky asked.
    Suzanne rolled her eyes. “Katie probably wants a nocturnal animal. Something gross from the Cave of Darkness exhibit, like a scorpion or a bat.”
    Katie shook her head. “No thanks. Bats are too creepy. Even for me.”
    “I don’t blame you, Katie Kazoo,” Kevin said. “Who would want an animal that drinks blood?”
    George raised his arms out wide like bat wings, and used his best vampire voice. “I vant to bite your neck! Blaaahhh!”
    “Dude, that’s just a myth,” Mr. G told George. “There are vampire bats, but they don’t suck the blood from people’s necks. They get their blood from cows and horses.”
    “Oh my!” Katie