It was a warm summer day
and Dr. Splatt was preparing for his long trip to his high school
reunion. He had invited Mrs. Roadrash to come with him and she
accepted the invitation eagerly. They had a 3 o'clock flight and
were to leave from Boston in two hours.
Dr. Splatt and Mrs. Roadrash had just taken off from the Boston
airport. "What was the name of that high school again?"
Said Mrs. Roadrash "I went to Harrisburg High School,"
replied Dr. Splatt. "How far is that from Boston?" asked
Mrs. Roadrash. "It is 350 miles", he replied.
They arrived at Harrisburg in about an hour. At the high school,
Mrs. Roadrash met all of Dr. Splatt former peers, including a
very good friend of Dr. Splatt. As they were sitting at a table
a stranger approached them. Dr. Splatt looked up in surprise and
said, "Why look Mrs. Roadrash it is my best friend from high
school, Mr. Smith." Mrs. Roadrash replied, "You had
friends?" "Mr. Smith this is my lab partner, Mrs. Roadrash."
"Mrs. Roadrash did you know that Mr. Smith is the head of
Animal software, a very prominent software company?"
"Mr. Smith it is nice to finally meet someone that has a
higher IQ then two." quirked Mrs. Roadrash.
"So Dr. Splatt what have you been doing since the last time
we saw each other." inquired Mr. Smith.
"Why I have been studying roadkill for the last 20 years."
Dr. Splatt said proudly.
"Really what a strange job. Hey, would you like to come and
see my summer house after the high school reunion is over."
asked Mr. Smith
"Where is it?" asked Ms. Roadrash.
"It is farther southward in a city called Kernsville."
replied Mr. Smith.
Mrs. Roadrash and Dr. Splatt agreed to go. They quickly headed
to the car to continue their journey.
While in the car Dr. Splatt asked Mr. Smith, "where are we
headed?"
Mr. Smith replied, "We are headed to the airport."
"Why?" asked Dr. Splatt.
"I have a private jet waiting to take us to my summer home."
bragged Mr. Smith.
"You have a private jet?" inquired Mrs. Roadrash
"Yeah it is a company perk." replied Mr. Smith.
"I wish we had a company jet" said Mrs. Roadrash
"I don't think it is in Pinkerton Academy's budget"
Dr. Splatt replied.
Once at the airport Dr. Splatt once again asked where they were
going. The answer he got was that it was a surprise, and that
he could only give him the hint that the state motto was: Esse
quam Videri and that the state bird is the cardinal. Instantly,
Dr. Splatt knew what state it was but before he could say anything
Mr. Smith yelled to him to board the plane.
At last, they arrived at the summer house. It was a huge white
house; it was like a movie stars' mason.
"You have done well for yourself" Dr. Splatt said. Suddenly
the gardener came running from the back yard yelling something
about a weird creature.
"Do you care to take a look Dr. Splatt?" asked Mr. Smith.
"Of course" Dr. Splatt replied.
"I don't know about that" said Mrs. Roadrash.
"WhatÕs the matter afraid of a weird looking animal?"
replied Dr. Splatt.
"Why should I be I have been looking at one the whole ride
down." she smirked. As they entered the backyard they saw
a small pond.
"Look out for the rodent holes" yelled Mr. Smith.
Then the gardener pointed to a dead animal that at first looked
something like a beaver from a distance floating in the middle
of the pond. But as he approached this strange looking mammal
he saw that it was a not a beaver. The creature was in fact a
lot smaller and had a unusual shaped thing on his nose.
"Mrs. Roadrash grab the gloves we're going in." demanded
Dr. Splatt. Ms. Roadrash not wanting to get her hair wet, found
a long pole with a net and managed to retreive the dead animal
in a matter of minutes. Dr. Splatt was jumping up and down for
joy as the strange creature came ashore.
After they put the gloves on, Dr. Splatt measured the rodent like
animal. He then said, "Mrs. Roadrash write this down. It's
body length is 110 mm long it has a tail length of 60 mm, and
it seems to have about 22 points on the unusual shaped nose. This
creature is covered with short jet black hair".
All right lets dissect it. "Knife, Mrs. Roadrash!"
"Here it is" she said as she handed him the knife.
As Dr. Splatt opened it up he found some worms in insects in the
stomach. Grabbing a microscope out of his bag, he then place the
front of the animal under the instrument. "Look at this unusual
nose, Mrs. Roadrash, in the microscope." said Dr. Splatt.
"Do you always carry around a microscope?" asked Mrs.
Roadrash.
"Yes, I do." he said matter of factly.
"Sometimes I don't know about you." said Mrs. Roadrash.
In the microscope she saw tiny nerves. "So what!", said
Mrs. Roadrash.
"There are more nerves running from the nose to the brain
then there are in most rodent's nose." replied Dr. Splatt.
"Lets take a closer look at those holes that are around the
back yard."
There were holes that led to no place. While others led to the
pond. They were muddy tunnels. "I now know what it is!"
exclaimed Dr. Splatt. Dr. Splatt jumped up and down in excitement
and did not know he was so close to the pond. Suddenly he slipped
in some mud and went head first into the pond, hitting his head
on a rock. He was knocked stone cold and when he awoke in the
hospital with Ms. Roadrash near his side.
She asked Dr. Splatt if he was ok and then wanted to know what
the strange creature that was in the pond with the weird looking
nose.
He replied with a smile, "Why don't you have a mirror?"
He then lapsed into a deep sleep and awoke three days later not
remembering anything about his trip with Ms. Roadrash and Mr.
Smith.
Questions (all are worth 1 point each)
1 What is common name for this animal found by Dr Splatt &
Ms. Roadrash?
2 What is the scientific name for this animal?
3.What is the use of the unusual nose on this animal?
4.What other types of foods could be found in this animal's stomach
besides
earthworms.
5 What state did Dr. Splatt and Ms. Roadrash find this animal?
6.What is the capital of this state?
7 What is the state plant?
8 What does "Esse quam Videri" mean?
9 What color is a cardinal?
10. What state was Dr. SplattÕs high school located in?
11.What is the name of the river that flows through Harrisburg?
12.Name the states that border the state where Dr. Splatt went
to high school.
13. What is the name of the airport in Boston Dr. Splatt and Ms.
Roadrash began their adventure.
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