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| If you look, you can see spotted salamanders along each side of the glass |
Jacob stared into the aquarium. The salamanders from school barely moved. He tapped on the glass. Nothing.
"Mom, I think the salamanders are dead!"
Jacob looked around his room and then ran outside to get a stick. He carefully lifted the top of the aquarium and poked in the general direction of the salamanders. They still didn't move. He swished the tip of the stick in the pebbles, mixing them around. One of the salamanders seemed to twitch, ever so slightly. Encouraged, Jacob nudged the stick a little closer to the salamander. It darted forward and scrambled up the stick. Jacob flinched and instinctively threw the stick in the air as the amphibian raced toward him.
"Mom, one of them got away!"
Jacob frantically searched the floor of his room. He didn't see the salamander anywhere. He cautiously peeked under his bed. Dozens of candy wrappers rustled as he peered into the darkness. He ran to the utility drawer and grabbed a flashlight. Another search under the bed revealed the soccer cleat he'd lost last spring, but there was no sign of the salamander.
Jacob looked back at the aquarium that still held one class pet. He was sure to get a bad grade for this project. But maybe if he cut off the tail of the remaining salamander, another would grow in its place? He deliberated a moment and then heard a scream from the living room.
"Jacob! Get in here!" his mother yelled.
Jacob breathed a sigh of relief. The second salamander had been found.
I read your story to my 8-year old and he giggled at the part where your MC thought about cutting his tail off. And he says to tell you that he's seen the salamanders in your picture at Sharon Woods.
ReplyDeleteThat is high praise, indeed. Thank you!
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