The Class Menagerie

talk to you.“
    “Thanks. I like talking to you, too. You listen to me. Not many people do. I’m not as stupid as people think.“ Before Jane could even begin framing a tactful reply to this, Pooky went on, “And I’m going to help you with the rest of the rooms, Jane.“
    “Pooky, that’s very generous of you, but there’s no need. I don’t mind doing it myself.“
    “If I don’t help you, I’ll have to go back to Kathy’s room,“ Pooky said with a grin. “Okay, I get it. Then let’s do Avalon next.“
    Pooky pushed the vacuum cleaner along the hall as Jane led the way with the rest of the equipment. Jane tapped on Avalon’s door and, getting no answer, opened it.
    It looked like a tornado had gone through. Clothes were strewn everywhere, drawers gaped open. The dressing table was pulled out from the wall, pictures were hanging crooked, and the top half of the mattress was halfway off the bed.
    Jane stopped so suddenly that Pooky ran the vacuum into the back of her foot. “Jane, I’m sor—oh, my God. What happened here?“ Pooky whispered.
    “Pooky, run down and peek in Kathy’s room. See if Avalon’s still in there.“ If Avalon was in this room, she was in trouble and Jane didn’t want to be the discoverer of any more bodies. She watched Pooky, heart pounding, as she tiptoed down the hall and looked in the partly open door. Jane finally breathed when Pooky looked back and nodded.
    She came back and the two of them went into the room. “What’s happening here?“ Pooky asked, her voice shaking.
    “I don’t know, but it’s something nasty. This isn’t a joke,“ Jane said, hearing a quaver in her own voice.
    Just then, they heard a scream from the next room.

- 14 -

    They could smell the problem before they saw it. The scream had come from Beth’s room and Jane and Crispy nearly collided as they ran toward the room from opposite directions. A horrible, skunklike smell was already wafting into the hall.
    The room was empty, but the smell was so intense it almost knocked Jane out of the room. She took a deep breath and plunged back in. Beth was shrieking and pounding on the bathroom door from the inside. Jane, heart pounding wildly, tried to open the door but it was locked.
    “Unlock the door!“ she shouted, trying not to retch. “Calm down! Just turn the little knob.“ Oh, God, if she could just get one clean breath of air!
    They heard Beth frantically scrabbling at the door, then suddenly it flew open and Beth stumbled out, nearly knocking Jane over. ·
    Jane was hard on her heels.
    The others gathered in the hall attempted to approach Beth, but reeled back immediately. The smell was coming from her. “In my deodorant,“ Beth gasped.
    She was wrapped in a big towel and had another around her wet hair. She was sort of backing in circles, trying to get away from herself.
    Crispy grabbed her arm and started giving orders.
    “Jane, open the windows. The one in her room first. Everybody, go open your windows! Beth, come to my room and get in the shower quickly. Wash the stuff off, for God’s sake!“
    Avalon and Kathy were already bolting for their own rooms, gagging. Breathing through her mouth, Jane plunged into Beth’s room and flung open the window. It was a cool morning and she gulped the air as if she’d nearly drowned. Then she ran back into the hall and started opening other bedroom doors to get to the windows. Within moments, she had everything open.
    “What on earth—“ Edgar said from the top of the stairs. “What in hell is that stink!“
    “Another joke, Edgar,“ Jane said. “If you have an attic fan, you might want to turn it on until we get the smell out. And bring me a plastic bag, would you?“
    Jane picked up a handful of cleaning rags and went first to Crispy’s room. The shower was running, foul-smelling steam was pouring out the half-open bathroom door, and Crispy, standing outside it with her hand over her nose, was saying, “Use all the soap you can find. Pour the whole bottle of shampoo over yourself if you have to. It’s getting better. It really is.“
    Jane went back to Beth’s room and, taking another deep breath, went into the bathroom. The offending deodorant, the kind with liquid and a rolling ball for application, was on the bathroom floor where Beth had thrown it down. Hector had found it and was sniffing at it as if it were merely a mildly interesting odor. “Hector! Get away from that thing!“ she said, shoving him out the door.