The Greenhouse Effect Read online

While Frankie was enjoying his first look at real snow through the double thick panes of the greenhouse walls Mei was trying not to show how worried she was that the snowfall seemed to be increasing in intensity. It had gained another few inches since the last time she looked, piling up against the walls of the greenhouse. Mei worried about being snowed in and how would her father get through all that snow to get back to her. She glanced at the roof, glad it was still snow free. She was sure that her father must have built some sort of a heater into the roof to keep the snow from collecting on top. The thought of her father and the mounting snow made her apprehensive so she decided to check in with her new friend.

  “Hi Larry, I'd like you to meet someone that I just met. His name is Frankie. Frankie this is Larry,” said Mei and she pulled on Frankie's sleeve to get his attention.

  “Where exactly is Larry?” asked Frankie, looking around.

  “You are looking too far up. I'm down here candy cane!” said Larry with a snicker.

  Frankie's striped shirt sure got attention, thought Mei

  “Nice to meet you Larry.”

  Frankie could see that Larry was sitting on a web made from dozens of circles of spider silk.

  “That's one awesome web you made Larry!” he exclaimed.

  “Thanks. We'll see if I catch anything in it.”

  “What about that ant I just left you?” asked Mei?

  Larry climbed up onto the potting table, turning himself to face Mei as he spoke.

  “Yeah, comatose ant snack, thanks. I do want to thank you for leaving the monitor though, Mei. I was able to tell what was going on when you were downstairs in our hallway. It is nice being in touch with you. I’m still getting used to the new ‘talking’ me, so I may still be a bit shy using the intercom.”

  “I like the new you just fine Larry!” replied Mei reassuringly. “Well we should probably get organized.”

  Mei took NORA off her wrist and set it on the table so Frankie and Larry could both see the pop-up screen. She moved one of the chairs in closer to the table and motioned for Frankie to sit in the other one.

  Before he sat down, Frankie reached into his pocket and revealed a piece of paper with writing on it. He carefully unfolded it and spread it out across the potting table.

  “We should probably tell each other everything that has happened to us since last night. We can start with my mom's clue which led me here,” said Frankie. Frankie began reading out loud while everyone listened closely to the clues.

  Frankie, my dear, if you find this rhyme

  It probably means we ran out of time

  We are running a test to set things right

  To be sure things are ready for us to take flight

  Keep this secret from those outside our asteroidnet

  They may take our home if we're not set

  Share these secrets with only those that you find

  That are feeling and thinking of a like mind

  If things are getting wild when you look outside

  Please be strong and don’t run and hide

  An imbalance of seasons would be causing this all

  Where outside you see the escalation of Fall

  Three more greenhouses complete the seasons

  They're all connected for some very good reasons

  You must make sure they are all connected as one

  That each one is working to get the experiment done

  Each you must visit through a secret hall

  Until you find the connection that's a shimmering wall

  These halls are hidden and not where you think

  You can see one through the door by the bathroom sink

  The other you can see if you look at the fish

  And stare a long way off while making a wish

  Find the other hallways past the shimmering door

  In the safe houses you find you have to look for some more

  If C.C. gave you this message too much time has past

  You need to reconnect the greenhouses and do it fast!

  You may meet those who will help you, so do take heart

  The experiment is about to begin so I must depart

  Frankie finished reading and looked at Larry and Mei.

  “She likes to rhyme, as you can tell,” said Frankie.

  Mei could sense his embarrassment. She somehow knew that Frankie’s mom meant for Frankie and Mei to meet. That part of the rhyme was easy to figure out but the rest was full of hidden meanings.

  “I liked it. We’ll figure out the clues one couplet at a time.”

  “Hey! You know about rhymes,” exclaimed Frankie.

  “I’ve made a rhyme in my time,” replied Mei.

  That caused a distinct groan from Larry, which in turn made Frankie laugh.

  Mei set NORA up to dictate a list of meanings next to each line in the poem. Mei liked keeping lists. She found it helped her face confusing situations. She knew that Frankie already figured out where at least one of the hidden hallways was located; otherwise he wouldn’t have found her.

  “Which hallway did you find…the one in your bathroom or the one to your fish tank?” Mei asked. She saw that Frankie wasn't sure if she was making fun of him. “I’m not sure how to refer to them,” explained Mei.

  “Actually, if you stand in front of the sink in the bathroom and use the mirror to look out through the bathroom door into the hallway, what you see is the panel that leads to the secret hall,” said Frankie. “It's got one very small piece of wood that is a lighter color than the rest. When I pressed hard on it, the panel opened.”

  “I'm glad you didn't have to climb over a bathtub or behind a toilet to get here,” said Mei, impressed at Frankie's quick solution.

  “Well, I have to admit that's what I did for a few minutes,” said Frankie, looking embarrassed. He began to bounce his leg, nervously. “When I reread the note I realized what my mom meant,” he explained.

  “Well I'm impressed, nonetheless, with you figuring out that part.” said Mei encouragingly. Frankie’s cheeks began to blush.

  Mei, not wanting to embarrass Frankie any further, tried to change the subject.

  “I like being organized. I feel much better when my day is planned out and I do that by keeping lists,” she explained. “This is definitely one of those times when a list would help me organize my thoughts and figure out this rhyme.

  “Let's see what we have so far, NORA will you keep track for us?”

  “Sure thing Mei!” replied NORA. NORA's screen now read NOTES in big letters across the top of the flexi-monitor that had popped up out of the wristband. The rhyme that Frankie read now appeared transcribed on the left side of the screen with the notes along the right hand side.

  “We know our greenhouses have something to do with the weather outside and it looks like there are two more greenhouses connected to ours on the asteroidnet, said Mei. Next to the line referring to three greenhouses NORA now had the statement: Two additional greenhouses exist and are connected to the two known greenhouses.

  “Since we know its winter outside here, Fall outside your greenhouse then we can probably assume that each greenhouse must be in a different season.”

  Frankie nodded in agreement and watched NORA list Spring and Summer as the most probable seasons to be occurring outside the two additional greenhouses.

  “And we’ve both seen first hand how each greenhouse is connected by a secret hallway with a shimmering door like the rhyme says but I wonder if one of the connections is failing. Maybe that is why I got this message from my mom,” said Frankie.

  “Whatever experiment they were trying isn't going well by the looks of the wild weather outside,” said Mei. “I’ll bet you are right. There’s something wrong with the computer connections between greenhouses.

  Mei thought of one more thing, “Your mom might have known you would meet up with me when she mentioned those of like minds. Maybe she and Dad know each other already. Don’t
you think?”

  “I sure hope they have met at least once since moving here,” said Frankie. “There is the reference to taking flight but I don’t know who she is referring to or where they are fleeing. They must be worried about trusting others outside of the asteroidnet, that’s for sure.”

  Mei gave Frankie a big smile and said, “Yes I was thinking that too. But you probably already knew that.”

  Frankie grinned sheepishly back at Mei. “So you are sensing other thoughts too? How is it happening for you, Mei?”

  “Hmmm, I was able to sense the feelings from NORA first thing this morning. Later when I went up into the greenhouse I became aware of thoughts from Larry, the cats and even the plants. I have to admit I have been sensing you too Frankie.”

  “I’m quite sure I’ve sensed some of your thoughts and feelings too,” agreed Frankie shyly. “I have to admit it’s a comfort to have you around. I sure feel less scared than I did earlier this morning.”

  Mei couldn’t have agreed more but felt awkward saying so. She changed the subject instead.

  “Larry, of course, was the best part of my morning; the first talking spider I've met. More than likely the first talking spider ever!”

  “Well I should hope so!” said Larry as he puffed up eight shoulders. “I'd just like to add to the NOTES that the snow outside is twelve inches deeper now than when we began this trip down memory lane.”

  Mei and Frankie laughed as NORA added the note to the screen. “Um, NORA, I think Larry was kidding. It isn’t snowing that hard out there,” said Mei. A slash appeared across the newly added words.

  “NORA, do you have anything to add?” asked Mei.

  “As we know, the greenhouse database and computer are continuously busy and unavailable for consultation,” NORA reported.

  “There is a high probability that the greenhouse computers are running a very complicated weather program. They show signs of reaching capacity. I would also like to add that I am experiencing difficulty in assimilating the fact that a spider can talk.” NORA’s comments were added to the list while Mei and Frankie chuckled.

  “Would a weather experiment program be that complicated?” asked Mei

  “Yes. I think it would,” responded NORA.

  "That may be why your dad's computer is so overworked. They were trying to run the test together before their communications failed. It looks like we have to get all the computers reconnected as quickly as we can," said NORA.

  “My mom's computer was busy all day today too. I bet you’re right,” said Frankie nodding in agreement.

  “I forgot to mention that I lost contact to the Greenhouse computer when you stepped through the shimmering door Mei,” said NORA. “Maybe we can try a hard link through the door so that I can connect the two greenhouse computers. Once they are connected we will be able to use our wristbands on either side.”

  “Let’s do it,” said Mei. “NORA, add a 'TO DO' column and add linking the computers to that new column.”

  Mei heard a “Meow!” from the bottom of the stairs. She excused herself and got up from her seat. As she descended the stairs she could see that the cat door was stuck and the big door shut. Mei told the cats to stand back and gave the cat door a whack with the palm of her hand. The door flew open and Maow and Poo raced through and up the stairs.

  “Sorry about that,” said Mei as she climbed back up the stairs.

  Before Mei could reach the top of the stairs both cats were already at their comfortable spots under the table, circling each spot, their grass-trampling instincts kicking in. Mei caught up to the group.

  “Can you hold off on the nap long enough for us to give you a recap?” she said to Poo and Maow.

  “A pre-nap recap?” Frankie caught the rhyme and gave Mei a smile.

  The cats jumped up on the table and settled in to listen. As Mei went through the rhyme and their comments for each line she could sense Maow and Poo become apprehensive. When Mei got to line about the second hidden hallway and the fish tank both cats sat straight up. Their ears cocked forward, listening intently.

  Mei could sense Maow’s thoughts. There were only two spots to sit next to the fish tank where I could see the fish. If I sat in front of the tank all I could see was the fake rock picture directly behind the tank, but when I sat on the table and watched from one side, I got a very different view. If I looked just right I could see a circle of rocks inside the tank When I looked through the circle I saw the far wall at the end of the hallway. That must be the wall with the hidden doorway!

  Mei got up from her chair with excitement. She gave Maow a scratch under her chin. “We’ll have to check it out!” said Mei. Maow expressed appreciation for the chin scratch by offering her ears for Mei to rub.

  The other greenhouse has a reading bench and the palm trees were so relaxing, thought Maow fondly. Poo agreed. It was fun to know what the fish were thinking and to have them understand what we were thinking too.

  When Mei turned to see if Frankie had sensed the cat's thoughts she caught him stifling a yawn. He looked like he could barely keep his eyes open.

  “Frankie, I can see you got about as much sleep as I did last night. I know you want to keep looking for more doors, but you are welcome to get a little nap first. Then we can try finding that other passageway. I'll give you the extend-a-box cable and you can connect it through the shimmering door so our CC's will be in contact before you take your nap. Besides, I have plenty to do to keep me busy until you wake up. Like getting out of these silly pajamas” said Mei looking down once more at her embarrassing ensemble.

  Frankie felt guilty for being so tired, but his drooping eyelids were winning out. “Thanks Mei, and thanks you two for figuring out where to look for the second passageway. I really want to get back just in case there is a message from my mom anyway," said Frankie. “I guess all three of us could use a cat nap,” he said, winking at Maow and Poo while giving them both a scratches under the chin.

  “Sounds good. Why don't you two join him since you were about to take a nap anyway,” replied Mei.

  The two cats showed their agreement by jumping off the table and racing down the stairs.

  Frankie plodded his way down the steps. Mei followed him while reattaching NORA to her wrist. When they reached her room she grabbed an extend-a-box cable from her computer junk drawer along with a handful of wireless nodes and handed them to Frankie.

  Frankie gave Mei a tired smile. “Give me a half hour and I'll be back up and running again. I'll have RADAR, my CC talk with NORA as soon as I hook them up and they can set a reminder call for both of us. NORA, will you give Mei a confirmation once the connection is set?" asked Frankie.

  "Sure thing, Frankie."

  "If either of our parents shows up the CC’s will let us know. I'll see you over at my place in a little while. I'm so glad I met you Mei.” said Frankie.

  A serious tone had crept into his voice. Mei thwarted Frankie’s attempt to try and shake her hand and turned it into a quick hug.

  “I'm glad too, Frankie. Now go get some sleep and I’m going to get started on my chores,” replied Mei.

  Mei carefully closed the secret door leaving it open a crack to be sure the wireless connection could come through. She watched Frankie depart, placing a wireless node on the wall as he turned a corner in the hall. It only took a minute for the connection to be confirmed by NORA. Mei had NORA send a quick reply back to RADAR to let Frankie know she received the confirmation.

  Taking a shower, getting dressed and most of all getting out of her bunny slippers were Mei's new priorities. Once dressed, Mei got to work making a surprise picnic meal for Frankie. She found all the ingredients for her favorite picnic salads, filling her arms with food from the storage area and programming the rest to be plucked from the greenhouse and sent down the retrieval chute to the kitchenette. She set about chopping the peppers, onions and celery and cooking the potatoes and noodles for the p
otato and tuna and macaroni salads she decided to make. Cooking was the best way for her to keep her mind off her father who still had not returned. Maow and Poo were more than eager to help with the taste testing. Before Mei knew it, the salads were finished.

  Chapter 4