A Perfect Time for Pandas: A Merlin Mission

What’s your name?”
    “Sylvia,” the woman answered. “And yours?”
    “I’m Annie. This is my brother, Jack. Do you mind if we tag along with you, Sylvia?” said Annie.
    “Of course not,” said Sylvia. “I’d be delighted.”
    “Great.” Annie smiled at Jack.
    Dr. Ling led the group into one of the buildings and gave each person canvas coveralls, paper shoes, and rubber gloves. “All volunteers must wear these over their clothes,” she said. “That way, we’ll know you’re here to help us.”
    “We’re going to get caught,” Jack whispered to Annie.
    “Don’t worry,” she said. “We actually
are
with an adult now.”
    Jack shook his head. But he took off his pack, and he and Annie each pulled on large, bulky coveralls. They rolled up their sleeves and pant legs. Then they slid the paper shoes over theirsneakers and tugged on the rubber gloves.
    “We’ll all go into the nursery first,” said Dr. Ling.
    Annie grabbed Jack’s arm. She looked like she might explode with happiness.
    Dr. Ling opened a door at the back of the room and herded everyone into the panda nursery. “We have only one newborn panda cub now. As you walk by the incubator, take a quick peek.”
    The group paraded slowly past the incubator. Almost everyone who peeked at the baby murmured with surprise. Jack quickly found out why—the newborn didn’t look like a panda at all. It looked more like a fuzzy pink mouse.
    “Incredible,” said Jack.
    “It’s so teeny!” whispered Annie.
    “Yes,” Sylvia whispered back. “I’ve read that newborn pandas weigh less than half a pound. But they can grow into two-hundred-and-fifty-pound bears.”
    “Whoa,” whispered Jack. He and Annie walked with Sylvia out of the nursery.

    “Now let’s go meet some of our panda keepers!” said Dr. Ling. She led the group over a stone walkway beside bamboo woods. Near a goldfish pond, several men in blue coveralls were waiting for them.
    “These gentlemen are the panda keepers,” said Dr. Ling. “You volunteers will work in pairs in the different panda houses. Each pair will spend a little time helping take care of a panda.” She pointed to Jack and Annie. “You two go with Master Lee. He’sBing-Bing’s keeper. He’ll take you to her house. I hope your grandmother doesn’t mind.”
    Sylvia smiled. “Oh! I’m not—” she started to say.
    “Bye, Grandma!” Annie said with a laugh.
    Sylvia laughed, too, as if she thought Annie was making a joke, and she waved good-bye.
    “See you later!” Annie called. Then she grabbed Jack by the arm again and pulled him along after Master Lee.
    Master Lee was quiet and very serious-looking. Without a word, he led Jack and Annie to Bing-Bing’s house. The panda’s house was a giant cage with a door that opened into a yard. The yard was surrounded by a rock wall.
    “Bing-Bing lives by herself here,” Master Lee said. “She is an eight-year-old adult who joined us when she was quite small.”
    When they entered the cage, Jack saw leaves and bamboo stalks scattered across the concrete floor. But there was no panda inside.
    “Where’s Bing-Bing now?” said Annie.
    “Somewhere in her yard,” said Master Lee.He grabbed two brooms from the corner.
    Jack and Annie looked through the bars at the yard. They saw trees and bushes, but no sign of a giant panda.
    “She must have found a good hiding place,” said Annie.
    “Yes. I do not think you will see her today,” Master Lee said matter-of-factly.
    “Oh, no,” said Annie.
    “Can we look for her?” asked Jack.
    “No, Bing-Bing is very shy. We have to respect that,” said Master Lee. “I am going to get fresh bamboo now. You can clean her house by removing yesterday’s uneaten bamboo stalks and sweeping the floor.” He handed brooms to Jack and Annie.
    “Is bamboo Bing-Bing’s favorite food?” asked Jack.
    “Yes,
all
pandas eat bamboo for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” said Master Lee.
    “Wow, they must really love it,” said Annie.
    “Can humans eat bamboo, too?” Jack asked.
    “If they tried, they would break their teeth,”Master Lee answered without smiling. “Only a creature with superstrong jaws can eat bamboo.”
    “So it’s very tough,” said Jack, growing excited. “Is it as tough as
wood
?”
    “Well, yes …,” said Master Lee.
    “And I’ll bet it’s really healthy, too!” said Annie.
    “Uh, no …,” said Master Lee. “Bamboo is
not
very nutritious. That’s why a panda must eat a lot of