Everybody hurried to the classroom windows. It was easy to spot the green-yellow glow in the dark night.
“What is that?” Mr. Willow asked.
“It’s our Fantastic Firefly Fetcher!” Simon yelled.
Simon, Rosie, and I led everybody outside to see it. We tried not to run, but we walked super fast across the playground to the greenhouse.
It was covered in fireflies.
Totally.
There were fireflies on all the glass walls, the door, and on the screen roof.
They were everywhere. And there were dozens—maybe hundreds—flying and blinking in the air around the greenhouse too.
Rosie explained how we made the Fantastic Firefly Fetcher to everyone. Simon and I added some details. Simon was sure to tell everyone that he caught the most fireflies. He was proud of that.
“Is that why you got yourselves into the greenhouse yesterday?” Mr. Willow asked. “Did you throw the Frisbee up onto the roof on purpose?”
Rosie nodded. “We had to dig the holes.”
“You know, you didn’t have to trick me,” Mr. Willow said. “I would have just let you in if you’d told me what you were doing.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Simon asked. “Where’s the adventure? Where’s the pizzazz? Where’s the chutzpah?!”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you three,” Mr. Willow said and shook his head. “You’re either going to have to stay after school next week for bending the rules . . . or you’re going to get first place in the science fair.”
He held his hand up under his chin and looked down at the three of us.
We looked up at him. Right then a firefly fluttered down and landed on his index finger. He held it up slowly in front of his eyes. It glowed bright yellow for a couple of seconds.
And then Mr. Willow smiled.
Fun and Games!
THINK
This whole story is about attracting a ton of fireflies. What animal or insect would you want to attract? How could you do it? What would you use? Draw a picture of your plan!
FEEL
Think about how fireflies fly around. They hover sometimes, but they also dip and dart in every direction. Can you move like a firefly? Do it by yourself—how do you feel? Now do it in front of someone else—how do you feel?
ACT
Molly, Rosie, and Simon get most of the supplies for their science project from the recycling bin. What can you make using the stuff that’s inside your recycling bin?
About the Author and Illustrator
Photo by Bill Kirby
TOM WATSON is the author of the popular STICK DOG and STICK CAT series. And now he’s the author of this new series, TROUBLE AT TABLE 5. Tom lives in Chicago with his wife and kids and their big dog, Shadow. When he’s not at home, Tom’s usually out visiting classrooms all over the country. He’s met a lot of students who remind him of Molly, Simon, and Rosie. He’s learned that kids are smarter than adults. Like, way smarter.
Photo by Krzysztof Wyżyński
MARTA KISSI is originally from Warsaw but now lives in London where she loves bringing stories to life. She shares her art studio with her husband, James, and their pet plant, Trevor.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Copyright
TROUBLE AT TABLE 5 #3: THE FIREFLY FIX. Text copyright © 2020 by Tom Watson. Illustrations copyright © 2020 by HarperCollins Publishers. Illustrations by Marta Kissi. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harperchapters.com
Cover art © 2020 by HarperCollins Publishers
Cover art by Marta Kissi
Logo design by David Coulson
Cover design by Jenna Stempel-Lobell
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020936259
ISBN 978-0-06-295347-6 — ISBN 978-0-06-295346-9 (paperback)
Digital Edition AUGUST 2020 ISBN: 9780062953483
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-295346-9
2021222324PC/LSCC10987654321
FIRST EDITION
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida
Uttar Pradesh 201 301
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com