Janelle listened as Professor Ichihara explained why they were learning Transfiguration spells. She hadn't really been completely clueless about the "why's", but she she had no idea how to express her thoughts clearly. Anyway, Janelle was glad that the professor was able to make sense of the rest of the answer she'd given.

So it seemed that they were going to get to know some little buggy critters. That was ok with Janelle because she wasn't particularly bothered by them. In fact, as long as they weren't inside of her home, she was totally cool with the bugs. Watching Professor Ichihara handle the tarantula was interesting. Then the class was going to get their chance........and they got to choose which bug they wanted to play with.

Janelle went over to the tank and peered inside. At first, she thought she would observe the tarantula. The she saw him, her, it........she wasn't quite sure which. Janelle was going to choose the Spiny Leaf Bug. She made that choice because he (she'd decided he looked like a he) was pretty much the most peculiar bug she had ever seen. He had a cricket head, a leaf tail and a shrimp on his back. As she always did, Janelle thought it best to warn him before she made a move. She came closer to the tank and said, "Hi there." "I'm Janelle. I think we're going to be friends. I'm going to take you out of the tank now, so we can get to know each other."

Janelle reached into the tank and verrrry carfully moved her hand toward the bug. She got close to him and waited to see if it would approach. She didn't want to frighten him, by grabbing him suddenly. Thinking for a moment, Janelle said, "Now what should I call you?" Of course her new friend needed a name, but what should it be? Hit by sudden inspiration, she came up with a name. "Brownie, that's it. You'll be my Brownie." Janelle gently nudged the bug with her finger. "Come on Brownie. Do you want to crawl on my finger?" She was a little bit afraid to pick him up because he looked a bit delicate. Somehow Janelle was able to get Brownie up and out of the tank. She sat on the floor and put him down next to her. She would have put him on her desk, but she didn't want to risk him falling to the floor accidentally. So they would just hang out on the floor.

At first, Brownie seemed afraid to do anything. Then he began to crawl, a little. Janelle watched him, studied his every move like she was supposed to. He really was a weird little bug. That was ok because Janelle was a weird little girl. They were perfect for each other. "So Brownie, show me what you can do", Janelle said to the bug. Yeah, this was going to be a fun class.