Case File: Golf Shores Animal Testing Lab

It was a mild summer afternoon in the very beginning of June and I was sitting in my “office” skimming over the articles on the various news websites that I visit frequently. As usual there were reports about natural disasters, fires, robberies and murders. The news made everyday seem like the end was near. It was stuffy in the room so I had an old fan my mom let me have on. As it slowly turned from side to side there was one spot it would get stuck at and make a horrible jerking sound before it would break free and continue its motion.

When I say my office I actually mean my desk area in the corner of my room. I call it my office but other than homework I hardly ever have any work to do there. You see I like to think I’m a detective but I know better. The only mysteries I’ve solved are the case of Brandon’s missing shoe (again) and who locked the keys in the car this time. Yeah real ground breaking, name making work.

I leaned back in my chair looking up to all the news paper clippings on the wall. They all had nothing in common other than I liked them. Some where about a criminal finally being caught and prosecuted, others were about families being reunited with their dog. Some I had printed up from the internet, others I cut out of the newspaper. I liked to look at their clever head lines in bold face print and let the mass of the writing become fuzzy and jumbled together.

I was just getting lost in thought when something soft and furry rubbed up against my bare legs. I looked down to see an orange cat looking up at me longingly. It was Buster our cat. He was the family cat and he had no particular favorites. He was happy with affection from anybody he didn’t seem to mind who. I reached down and stroked his fluffy long fur. Buster was such a good cat, he did like any cat complain when he was hungry but he was lovable and fuzzy to boot.

Looking at the clock I noticed it was 6 o’clock and there was sure to be some news on so I walked downstairs with Buster at my heels walked into the living room to find that I was too late in claiming the remote. Brandon my younger brother was watching some mindless cartoon filled with humor that could only entertain the most senseless of morons. This would explain why my brother was watching it. I gave a deep sigh and frustration and flopped down into the couch.

“Oh that’s just too bad isn’t Buster?” I said a little too loudly to Buster so that I was sure Brandon was listening. Buster just coked his head to one side and enjoyed the attention. “We were so hoping to watch the news but now our brains will have to rot away and die as we watch this horrible program the rest of the country calls entertainment.”

Brandon looked unfazed by my conversation with the cat. He didn’t even use the opportunity to call me crazy for having a conversation with the cat. So of course I continued only louder this time.

“Only complete idiots find this entertaining Buster,” I told the cat as I stroked his fluffy head. “But special very intelligent intellects enjoy the news, you Buster should be proud of yourself because you are smarter than most humans on this planet.”

“Would you leave me alone Jenna?” Brandon snapped, “I’m trying to watch my show!”

Frustrated and out of ideas noticing it was a commercial I changed the channel. Not without much protest from Brandon but I promised I would change it back after listening to one story and be out of his hair. There was a video playing showing a large mass of people marching around with signs saying things like “Stop animal testing” and “Why must they test your products?”

“Today out side of Golf Shore Industry’s animal testing lab a multitude of protesters gathered today to attempt to put a stop to the lab’s performing its cruel experiments on animals.” The news woman said in a formal voice, “The protesters got too rowdy and police enforcements were called to keep everything under control. The mass of people made it hard for vehicle to reach the building.”

The woman continued on talking about something that had to do with the company’s response but I was too busy looking at the screen to listen. What I saw both shocked and delighted me.

“Is that Chris?!” I exclaimed, “Oh my god it is Chris! Mom quick come look what Chris was doing today instead of classes!”

My mom rushed into the room just in time to see a close up view of my older brother Chris and his buddies thrusting their signs in the air. After the news woman said some closing comment the video left the screen and a commercial came on. Brandon being the one tracked mind he is immediately changed the channel back to his program.

My mom marched into the kitchen and dialed a number on the phone. I guessed it was Chris’s cell. I held back a small giggle.

“Busted!” I whispered.