Off the Wall Read Online Free Page B

way to the restaurant.”
    No one seemed to have noticed that they’d been missing for a few minutes. The rest of the girls were passing a huge replica of a spider when Jane and Lucy caught up.
    â€œLet’s stop here for one second,” said Willow. “We really shouldn’t leave without at least looking at some of the spiders.”
    There were loud sighs from the girls, but Willow and Katherine were firm. “We’ll just look at the first room of the exhibit,” said Katherine. “For five minutes only.”
    The theme of the first room was ‘Webs, Nets, and Parachutes—Amazing Spider Silk!’ Jane was glad spidersdidn’t scare her, because some of the webs in the exhibit really were amazing. There was even a polyester replica of a very big and very strong spider web—forty feet across. “From the Darwin’s bark spider in Madagascar,” Katherine told them. “In the wild, some of the webs are eighty feet long. That’s as long as two school buses!” Jane was especially interested in the trapdoor spider. Trapdoor spiders, she learned, dug tiny, perfect burrows. They lined them with silk and then used the silk to attach a hinged door to cover the burrow’s hole. They also raised their globe-shaped spiderlings in the tunnel, feeding them leftover insects.
    â€œThe babies are actually kind of cute,” Jane marveled as she stared into the glass case holding an actual trapdoor spider.
    â€œSo small, too,” said Lucy. “They’re the size of a cake sprinkle!”
    Daria was peering over Lucy’s shoulder to see. “I just heard someone say that you’re never farther than seven feet away from a spider,” she reported. “No matter where you are—inside, outside, underground . . .”
    â€œThat can’t be right,” said Lucy. “Look around this room! Well, I mean, not this room, because after all, this is a spider exhibit. But if we go into—say—the middle of the Great Hall—or my family room—there won’t be a spider seven feet away.”
    â€œHow do you know? Look how tiny these baby spiders are. Maybe you just don’t see them.”
    For some reason, Jane’s skin suddenly began to itch. She didn’t hate spiders, but she didn’t like them, either, and the idea that one might be close enough to crawl on her really creeped her out. To her relief, Willow called out to the group.
    â€œI know we said we just wanted to show you one room . . .”
    More groans from the girls.
    â€œBut they did give me and Katherine permission to take out one of the tarantulas. Does anyone want to see it? It’s in a tank in the next room. Anyone who’s interested, come with me. The rest of you can wait in here with Katherine.”
    About twenty girls followed Willow, including Megan.
    â€œI wouldn’t have thought you were interested in tarantulas, Megan,” Lucy said.
    â€œI’m not ! But it would be way worse to stay in the otherroom waiting and waiting and wondering what would happen if the tarantula broke free and viciously attacked everyone.”
    â€œTarantulas are actually harmless,” said Willow, who had overheard this. “Nothing to worry about. They’re even kind of cuddly, if you look closely.” She had reached a row of glass tanks and was lifting the wire top off one of them. “Hey, buddy,” she said. “Ready to make some friends?” Gently she lifted out the creature inside.
    Even Jane caught her breath when she saw the tarantula. Its furry black body was the size of two plums, and its legs were about six inches long.
    â€œThis is Trudy.” Willow lightly stroked the tarantula’s back. “Her species is found in South America, and she eats mostly cockroaches. Does anyone have any questions about her?”
    â€œHow does she spray her deadly poison?” asked one girl named