a grumpy expression on his face.
âItâs room 305, come on.â Chun waved us over to the nearby stairwell.
The chooks shifted in my arms. The unusual sounds of our voices and footsteps echoing on the tile floor were unfamiliar and making my chickens nervous. Little, especially, was squirming. I nearly dropped her when one of her claws scraped my side.
âHere,â Cap said, taking her from me. I breathed a thankful sigh of relief.
Chun led us up the stairs to the third floor. This hallway was much less decorated, with plain grey walls and dull slate tiles. Chun was moving quickly so I had to run to keep pace with his long strides. I was huffing and puffing by the time we finally reached room 305.
âHeâs in the middle of his lecture,â Chun whispered as he peered through the window cut into the door.
âLet me see.â Cap stood on his tiptoes, smushing his nose against the glass. I tried to look as well, but the window was too high for me.
âI see him. I see Guo!â Cap spoke so loudly that Chun had to shush him. I needed to see so I set Lo down and pushed the boys aside. I jumped up, hoping to glimpse my brother at his desk.
âHang on,â Chun said and lifted me up under my armpits so I could get a better view. My feet dangled in the air as I peered through the glass panel. Then I spotted Guo.
He was just two seats over in the row closest to the door. He was slumped at his desk, his head pillowed on his arms, a pencil dangling from the tips of his fingers. And even though I couldnât hear him, I could tell that he was snoring!
I tapped a fingernail gently against the glass, hoping I could wake him up and get his attention.
Chun quickly pulled me away from the window and set me on the ground.
âI need to talk to Guo, or heâs going to get into trouble!â I said.
Chun shook his head. âProfessor Law wonât tolerate an interruption. Believe me, Linâll be in even more trouble than he already is.â He stole another peek into the room and frowned. âLinâs a brave kid. I canât believe heâs sleeping in class.â
I pouted and felt so sorry for Guo. This was all my fault.
âHey, guys.â Cap was pacing up and down the hallway, looking worried. His movement back and forth was making Little anxious. Worried she was going to cry out, I rushed over to take her from Cap. I looked down at my empty hands.
Where was Lo?
CA-CAW! CA-CAW! COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! CA-CAW!
Loâs proud crowing rang in my ears. And it was coming from inside Guoâs classroom!
Chapter Ten
Professor Lawâs office was small, dark and cramped, his desk a mess of papers, pens and used coffee cups. A dusty old computer sat in the corner with the keyboard balanced on top of the screen. A bookcase stood against the wall, but it was mostly empty.
Meanwhile, the rest of the room was brimming with books. Some lay open on the desk, their corners bent, with colourful tabs sticking out like little flags all around the edges. Others were stacked in neat piles along the floor, rising up like buildings in a mini city. The wall behind the professorâs desk was plastered with picture frames, each holding an award, honour or certificate of achievement.
The professor sat in a chair in front of them all, scowling.
A couple of his students had managed to capture the crowing Lo. They had found an abandoned wire cage in one of the supply cupboards. I had been too scared to protest when they stuffed my poor rooster into the cage and then wrested Little from Capâs arms.
Professor Law had then marched us into his office, ordering his students to leave the cage by the door. I could still hear my chickens squawking outside.
The professor peered down at the three of us seated before him, his large googly eyes darting left and right. He leaned forward on the desk and barked at Guo, âMr Lin, explain yourself!â
Guo shifted uncomfortably in
âItâs room 305, come on.â Chun waved us over to the nearby stairwell.
The chooks shifted in my arms. The unusual sounds of our voices and footsteps echoing on the tile floor were unfamiliar and making my chickens nervous. Little, especially, was squirming. I nearly dropped her when one of her claws scraped my side.
âHere,â Cap said, taking her from me. I breathed a thankful sigh of relief.
Chun led us up the stairs to the third floor. This hallway was much less decorated, with plain grey walls and dull slate tiles. Chun was moving quickly so I had to run to keep pace with his long strides. I was huffing and puffing by the time we finally reached room 305.
âHeâs in the middle of his lecture,â Chun whispered as he peered through the window cut into the door.
âLet me see.â Cap stood on his tiptoes, smushing his nose against the glass. I tried to look as well, but the window was too high for me.
âI see him. I see Guo!â Cap spoke so loudly that Chun had to shush him. I needed to see so I set Lo down and pushed the boys aside. I jumped up, hoping to glimpse my brother at his desk.
âHang on,â Chun said and lifted me up under my armpits so I could get a better view. My feet dangled in the air as I peered through the glass panel. Then I spotted Guo.
He was just two seats over in the row closest to the door. He was slumped at his desk, his head pillowed on his arms, a pencil dangling from the tips of his fingers. And even though I couldnât hear him, I could tell that he was snoring!
I tapped a fingernail gently against the glass, hoping I could wake him up and get his attention.
Chun quickly pulled me away from the window and set me on the ground.
âI need to talk to Guo, or heâs going to get into trouble!â I said.
Chun shook his head. âProfessor Law wonât tolerate an interruption. Believe me, Linâll be in even more trouble than he already is.â He stole another peek into the room and frowned. âLinâs a brave kid. I canât believe heâs sleeping in class.â
I pouted and felt so sorry for Guo. This was all my fault.
âHey, guys.â Cap was pacing up and down the hallway, looking worried. His movement back and forth was making Little anxious. Worried she was going to cry out, I rushed over to take her from Cap. I looked down at my empty hands.
Where was Lo?
CA-CAW! CA-CAW! COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! CA-CAW!
Loâs proud crowing rang in my ears. And it was coming from inside Guoâs classroom!
Chapter Ten
Professor Lawâs office was small, dark and cramped, his desk a mess of papers, pens and used coffee cups. A dusty old computer sat in the corner with the keyboard balanced on top of the screen. A bookcase stood against the wall, but it was mostly empty.
Meanwhile, the rest of the room was brimming with books. Some lay open on the desk, their corners bent, with colourful tabs sticking out like little flags all around the edges. Others were stacked in neat piles along the floor, rising up like buildings in a mini city. The wall behind the professorâs desk was plastered with picture frames, each holding an award, honour or certificate of achievement.
The professor sat in a chair in front of them all, scowling.
A couple of his students had managed to capture the crowing Lo. They had found an abandoned wire cage in one of the supply cupboards. I had been too scared to protest when they stuffed my poor rooster into the cage and then wrested Little from Capâs arms.
Professor Law had then marched us into his office, ordering his students to leave the cage by the door. I could still hear my chickens squawking outside.
The professor peered down at the three of us seated before him, his large googly eyes darting left and right. He leaned forward on the desk and barked at Guo, âMr Lin, explain yourself!â
Guo shifted uncomfortably in
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