"I don't like the idea of leaving you both here alone while your father and I go shopping," she said. "You're sure you'll be all right?"
We had just gotten to the cabin to start our vacation after an endless car ride, and the last thing I wanted to do was get back in the car to get groceries.
"Mom, stop worrying. It's totally fine," I assured her. "I want to stay here and explore around the cabin a little, and maybe find some cool rocks."
"Just make sure you don't go too far, and keep an eye on your brother," Dad told me.
I glanced at TJ, who was sitting at the worn-out kitchen table, his eyes glued to one of his comic books. He pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. He might as well have been at home.
"That shouldn't be too hard," I said, smirking. "TJ's about as exciting as a wet noodle."
"Hey, I'm right here, you know. I can hear you," TJ said without looking up. "I want to copy this picture of Superman into my sketchbook. You can explore by yourself."
Mom grabbed her keys and dropped them into her purse. She looked from TJ to me and back at TJ again. "Come on, you two, get along. Well, we shouldn't be too long."
I watched my parents back out of the gravel driveway and turn onto Potac Road. When my little brother still didn't look up, I frowned. "TJ, you've been staring at that comic book ever since the last rest stop. Aren't you finished reading it yet?"
He shrugged. "I like to study the pictures. What do you care, anyway? Like you said, I'm as exciting as a wet noodle."
"Come on, don't be like that," I said, peering out the window. "There's a river on the other side of the road. Want to help me look for some new rocks to add to my collection?"
"I guess, but I don't want to wander off too far. Mom and Dad said to stay close to the cabin."
And we would stay close to the cabin, I thought, although who knows what "close" means anyway?
We crossed Potac Road, trekking toward the sound of gurgling water. My feet crunched over dried maple leaves and twigs. Through the trees to my right, I made out a large, odd building.
"Hey, look at that," I pointed.
TJ stopped and pushed up his glasses. "I thought we were going to explore rocks by the river. There's like a gazillion buildings at home, so who cares about this one?"
"It looks deserted—let's just see what it is," I said, and I made my way to the building knowing that TJ would follow, not wanting to be left behind. As I got closer, I spotted something purple in a pile of pebbles on the ground behind the chain-link fence surrounding the building.
"Check it out, an amethyst! That would totally make an awesome addition to my rock collection, and look…there's a break in the fence here."
"Don't even think about going in there, Emmy," TJ warned. "Don't you see that sign?"
I glanced up at the faded letters that read, "MITHER LABORATORIES…DANGER…KEEP OUT…VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED." Dad's warning about staying close to the cabin popped into my head, but I ignored it.
"TJ, it will only take a minute for me to get it, and then we'll head down to the river." Before my brother could talk me out of it, I squeezed through the fence. The rock was mixed in with a pile of other pebbles and gravel, but there was a funny hole in a hill of dirt next to it. When I reached for the amethyst, a white mouse darted out.
I had no time to react before the mouse bit my finger and scurried back into the hole. "OUCH! That hurt!"
"Are you OK?" TJ called from the other side of the fence. "I knew something like this would happen. Let's get out of here!"
A tiny cut where the mouse nicked the skin was bleeding. I stuck my throbbing finger in my mouth and looked at TJ, who winced.
"It doesn't hurt—just tingles a little," I shook my hand and pressed it against my jeans. Then I squeezed back through the fence.
TJ acted all weird and backed away when he saw my face. "Something's wrong, and we forgot to bring the cell phone. We should get to the cabin and call Mom and Dad."
I was about to ask him what for, but instead I blurted out, "Wait…I don't feel so good. All of a sudden, my head is killing me." I rubbed my forehead. Everything seemed so bright and loud. I glanced at my brother. "You're right, let's head back. I feel dizzy and nauseous, and…why are you staring at me like that?"
TJ's eyes went wide. "Emmy…your face…it's growing…fur!"
QUESTION 1
1 / 4
Which sentence is most important to include in a summary of this episode?
TJ tells Emmy that he wants to copy a picture of Superman into his sketchbook.
TJ sits at the kitchen table with his eyes glued to one of his comic books.
Emmy decides not to go shopping because she is tired of being in a car.
Emmy agrees to head back to the cabin because she feels dizzy.
1 answer
The most important sentence to include in a summary of this episode is:
Emmy agrees to head back to the cabin because she feels dizzy.
This sentence captures a key moment that indicates a significant change in Emmy's condition, which is crucial to the plot's development.
