Guinea Pigs Don't Talk Read Online Free

are you girls doing here so early?"
    Lisa and Traci jumped.
    "The early bus isn't even here yet," he growled.
    Lisa clutched her bookbag and answered truthfully. "We're working on a project."
    Traci nodded. She held her breath as he studied them. Then he left.
    "Whew," Lisa said. "That was close."
    Traci nodded. "Let's hurry. We only have a few minutes before Joe gets here."
    Lisa was already unzipping her bookbag. She pulled out a ball of wire. A small speaker was attached to one end of the wire. A microphone was attached to the other end.
    "When you talk into the microphone," Lisa explained, "your voice travels down the wire, and comes out the speaker."
    "I've never seen a speaker that small," Traci said. "Where did you get it?"
    "My father's hobby is electronics," Lisa said. "He has lots of stuff like this."
    She handed Traci the speaker.
    "Tape this behind Squeaky's cage," she instructed. "And be sure to tape it so that no one will see it."
    Traci carefully taped the speaker behind the cage, and then ran the wire down the table leg to the floor. She continued around the edge of the room, unwinding the wire as she went. Lisa followed behind her, taping the wire into place.
    When they got to the front of the room Lisa said, "We need to test the speaker."
    Lisa switched on the microphone while Traci hurried back to the guinea pigs' table.
    "Ready?" Lisa called.
    Traci nodded. "Ready!"
    Lisa held the microphone close to her mouth. In a high-pitched, squeaky voice she said, "This is Squeaky, the talking guinea pig. Testing one, two, three."
    The sound was loud and clear from Squeaky's cage.
    "Perfect," Traci giggled. She hurried back to the front of the room.
    "Now, where should we hide?" Lisa asked.
    They both looked at the only good hiding place—under Mrs. Flowers's desk.
    "Do you think we should?" Traci asked.
    "It's the only place," Lisa responded. "Besides, Mrs. Flowers will never know. We'll be done by the time she gets here."
    Traci hesitated. "Mrs. Flowers is nice, but I don't know how she would feel about us hiding under her desk."
    "That's true," Lisa said. "But I'm willing to take a chance."
    Traci smiled. "Me too. Hurry. Joe will be here any minute."
    They crawled under Mrs. Flowers's desk.

    No sooner had they gotten into position than Joe walked in. He was whistling. He headed straight for the coatroom.
    "Wait until he comes out," Traci whispered.
    Lisa nodded. She held the microphone tightly.
    Joe strolled out of the coatroom, past the guinea pigs' table.
    "Thanks for the help yesterday," he said with a quick salute toward Squeaky.
    Lisa moved the microphone close to her lips. In the high-pitched squeaky voice she answered, "You're welcome."
    Joe stopped. He took a small step forward.
    "Squeaky?" he said. "Is that you?"
    Squeaky tilted his white head up, while Joe stared at the cage.
    "That's right, Joe. It's me, Squeaky."
    Joe gasped and threw his hand over his heart.

9
The Almost Perfect Plan
    "No way!"Joe yelled.
    He turned and ran into the coatroom. He looked at the wall where Angel stood when she did Squeaky's voice. No one was there. He raced back into the classroom. It was empty.
    He stared at Squeaky.
    "I want some Yummy Tummy Cream Cake," Squeaky said.
    Joe's mouth fell open.
    "Bruiser got some yesterday, and I didn't get any," Squeaky added.
    Joe took one step forward. In a soft voice he said, "Squeaky?"
    Lisa and Traci could barely keep from laughing out loud.
    "What?" Squeaky responded.
    "I ... uh ... I."
    "Spit it out," Squeaky said.
    "I can't believe it," Joe said. "You're talking."
    Joe felt a tap on his shoulder. He screamed and wheeled around. It was Angel. Joe clutched his chest.
    "Don't do that," he said.
    "Do what?"
    "Sneak up on me."
    Angel ignored him. "Do you think Lisa will bring in the lettuce?" She laughed.
    Joe's face was serious. "Squeaky doesn't want lettuce. He wants Yummy Tummy Cream Cake."
    "What?" Angel glared at