Chapter 3

'What's that Emily?' Said Katie, 'Is that a love note from a student?' Emily had the most beautiful red hair that she always wore so carelessly. She started teaching Marine Biology this year as an undergraduate teaching assistant, and on the first day of class a group of male students approached her and slipped her a note: 'Dear Emily, you would be the most beautiful coral on a reef if you lived under the sea'. We had been making fun of her ever since.

'You say whatever you want smart mouth...Now give me the card so I don't have to run two trips! Ahhhhh!' Emily tripped on the stairs and fell. 'God I hate my life!' She struggled with the envelopes and cursed, as we chuckled and helped her getting up.

'Oh boy, you are bleeding. I will get you fixed up. Hold on.' Jenna ran back to the house.

'She really should apply to medical school. I mean, look at her!' Katie watched Jenna's back and sighed, 'What a waste that she is with us!'

I was about to stop her but Emily fired up almost immediately. 'What do you mean she is with us? Aren't we all devoted in this project?'

'Hey chill Emily! I was just sayin'...'

'Saying what? How stupid and hopeless we are?' Snapped Emily, now totally red-faced and furious, 'I think you should get your data analysis started instead of joking around, Katie.'

See, that was our problem. Usually me and Mandy didn't bother to separate them out, beccause when Jenna was back, things would be normal again. She had the personality to calm everyone around her. Besides, Emily totally looked like a 'coral on the reef' when her face turned red, and that made me smile.

'Hey guys I'm back...with your postcard!' Jenna shook her silky blonde hair, holding a pathogen kit with the brown postcard on top. She was kind of charming that way. We all knew that she gave up medical school to work with us, and I hoped she would be happy with her decision a few months down the road.

'Let's see what it says before throwing it away!' Emily nodded at the card.

'You want me to read it?' I grabbed the card from Jenna so she could take care of Emily's bleeding arm. It was the weirdest postcard I had ever seen. It was all wrinkled, but felt smooth. It also had a shiny color over the brown that I couldn't tell. I flipped the card twice to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. It was blank.

'What are you staring at?' Mandy came up to get a closer look of the card. '...Are you joking me? FREE camping trip to Isle Royale National Park? Emily, if you are not going, I am!'

'For real?' Katie withdrew the card from me, 'Congratulations you have won a free trip blah blah...Wow it looks real Emily! And it's from American Beaver Society so it must be real!'

Emily frowned. 'American Beaver Society? I have never...'

Jenna raised her head. 'You can call the National park and check with them.'

But there was nothing on the card! I checked twice! 'Wait a minute you people! You can't fool me like that! Do you really think I will believe a blank card is a free ticket to Isle Royale?'

To my surprise, everyone including the honest Mandy was stunned.

'What are you talking about Laura?' Emily asked after a long pause.

'This is not a prank...?' I hesitated.

'Of course not! You saw it by yourself right?' Mandy said in her high-pitched voice.