Katie knew she had made a big mistake at school.
She should have let Joy tell the big news about the chickens.
"I need some exciting news of my own,"
thought Katie as she finished setting the table.
"Something bigger than bangs."
"Suppertime!" called Grandpa. "My famous spaghetti and meatballs."
The family sat down at the kitchen table, and Mom started filling plates.
Joy shot a look at Katie.
"Everyone asked me a million questions about the baby chickens today.
And Mr. Higgins asked me to bring some chicks to school in a few weeks!"
Katie felt her face turn red.
"Luke brought an earthworm to school," she said quickly.
"It was 23 centimeters long."
"Oh my!" exclaimed Mom.
"I don't like worms," said Joy. "They're yucky."
"I think worms are cool," explained Katie.
"Maybe we should all sell worms too!" suggested Dad, laughing.
"Not me," said Joy with a shiver.
"I brought home a sturdy cardboard box from the recycling center today," said Dad.
"It will make a good house for the chicks."
"I bought chicken feed and some other stuff at the store today," said Grandpa.
"Everything is in the spare room."
Katie suddenly jumped up from her chair. "Aha!" she exclaimed.
"I got it!" Everyone stared at her.
"What?" asked Mom.
"I'm going to help Luke sell worms!"
Katie dashed out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her room.
"That child is full of surprises," said Mom, shaking her head.
Joy didn't say anything.
She was still a little mad at Katie for blurting out the news about the chicks.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Dad.
"The chicks should arrive in the mail tomorrow.
Let's get to work!"
They all headed upstairs to the spare room.
The supplies Grandpa had bought were piled on the floor.
Dad cleared off a table and set his big cardboard box on top.
"A chick house is called a brooder," explained Mom.
She was sitting on the bed, reading from her library book How to Raise Chickens.
"We need to put holes in the sides so air can flow through the box."
"I can do that," replied Dad.
Joy picked up some shopping bags and opened them on the bed.
"Look at this stuff!" she cried happily.
"Here's the chicken feeder! And a water jar!"
"Here's the heat lamp," said Grandpa.
"The lamp should be about half a meter above the chicks," explained Mom.
"The babies need to be kept warm."
Grandpa clamped the lamp on the box.
Joy emptied a bag of wood shavings into the box.
As she spread them out, Grandpa filled the feeder and the water jar.
He put them in the box, and Mom added a thermometer.
"Ready?" asked Mom.
"Ready!" cried Joy.
Suddenly something flew through the air and landed right in the brooder!
"Oh, Jellybean!" cried Joy.
She put her arms around Jellybean's belly and lifted her out of the box.
Jellybean screeched.
"Go away!" scolded Joy. "No cats allowed!"
Jellybean ran down the hallway to the twins' bedroom.
Katie was talking on the telephone.
"Okay, Luke," she said. "Tomorrow night.
A flashlight . . . a bucket . . . a rag.
I'll have everything ready.
Thanks, partner!" She hung up the phone.
"Big news, Jellybean!" said Katie happily.
"I'm in the bait business!"