Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 TRAINING LUCY The next morning Miss Maxwell told the class, "I hope you have been working hard on your science fair projects." "My plants are growing well, Will said. "Except for the one in the closet. I think that is because plants need light to grow."

"My erosion demonstration is all ready," Neela said. "My solar system model is almost done," Emma said. "I've trained our classroom mice to run in a maze," Lucy said. "They're getting very good at it." "Excellent!" Miss Maxwell said. "The science fair is on Monday. Let's get to work and make the most of our time." "Today we will train Lucy," Zeke said. "Here's how it will work. When Lucy puts us in the maze, just sit down. Do not start to go until she does the bouncy cheer." "What if Lucy never does the bouncy cheer?" Fergus asked.

"Then we will not run the maze," Zeke said. "She will have to learn. It is part of the experiment." Soon, Lucy came and put Fergus and Zeke in the maze. "Ready, mice?" she asked. "Go ahead." She waited with her timer and notebook.

Fergus and Zeke sat down. Lucy waited. She tapped the side of the box. Fergus and Zeke did not move.

"Did you forget how to do the maze?" Lucy asked. "Come on. Go!" Fergus looked up. But Lucy did not do the cheer. "No cheer, no maze," Zeke reminded him. Lucy looked at Fergus and tipped her head. "Come on, Fergus," she whispered. "You can do it. Go! Go! Go, Fergus, go!"