Chapter 1: The Minions Assemble

  In room 503 at West Haven Elementary, class looked a little bit different. Mrs. Marten didn’t just have typical students…she had Minions. Not the yellow, goggle-wearing kind, but a class full of energetic, creative, slightly chaotic 5th graders who could turn any normal school day into an adventure. Mrs. Marten had come to learn that this group of 5th graders was so unique that no two were the same. Now that the school year was coming to an end, she knew that this group was perhaps the most memorable she had ever taught. She glanced over the room.

     Oaklee and Faye were locked in before the bell even rang. Max and Stella were straightening up their desks. Cesar and Lazaro were already talking, while Piper and Kambree were debating something very

 serious that no one else understood. Eliza and Lilly were reading avidly, Dana was quietly observing everything, and Rowan was showing Oleg how to play spoons. Harley and Kyzer were helping pass out papers while Jordan and Jayde whispered about how fun the field trip to JA Biztown was.   

     Gage was playing with a Rubik's Cube, Ashton and Easton were solving math equations, and Lettie was getting ChapStick from the coatroom. Henry and Jaren were discussing soccer strategies for recess, while Landon and Jayda were debating whether or nots cats were better than dogs. Rachel and Hudson? They were just trying to figure out what Rowan was doing. Mrs. Marten smiled. “Alright, Minions, let’s begin!

Chapter 2: The Mystery Box

Mrs. Marten stepped to the side and the students noticed that sitting on her desk was something new. A box. A plain, brown box with a single pink sticky note on the side: “For Marten’s Minions Only.” The room immediately buzzed with excitement as the students speculated about what it could be. Mrs. Marten said nothing as she enjoyed their bubbling curiosity. She pushed the box toward them, went to sit down in her pink rolling chair, and smiled to herself.

Kyzer whispered, “Okay, that’s definitely for us.”

Oaklee narrowed her eyes. “Or it’s a trap, recalling a similar situation she had heard about when a teacher sprayed her class with silly string.”

Ashton stood up. “Either way, we should definitely investigate.”

Chapter 3: Operation: What’s in the Box

The Minions gathered together.

Rachel and Eliza organized everyone into a circle. Piper and Lettie immediately began arguing about what could possibly be inside.

“Maybe it's a lizard,” said Lazaro.

“Or a test,” said Eliza hopefully.

“Or a lizard test,” added Kyzer.

Rowan and Lilly  read the note again. Oleg  pointed out, “It says for us, but not from anyone. Hmm...”

“That's suspicious,” Dana said, raising one eyebrow.

Landon and Henry checked the sides of the box. “No holes, so it's probably not alive.”

“Probably?” Jayde squeaked nervously.

Jaren stepped back cautiously. “I’m staying over here just in case.”

Kambree studied the tape. “It’s sealed really well”

Faye and Jayda kept asking, “Are we opening it?" 

They looked at Mrs. Marten, but she only shrugged her shoulders at them. "You have to decide as a team. As I always say, teamwork makes the dreamwork!"

Meanwhile, Harley and Jordan watched as Hudson slowly reached for the box.

Chapter 4: The Opening

“Wait,” said Cesar. “We need a plan.”

Easton nodded. “I agree, bruh!”

Everyone leaned in as Cesar said, “Step one, we open it.”

Rachel blinked at him. “That’s it? That's the plan?”

Lettie gave a thumbs up. “Strong plan.”

Mrs. Marten covered a smile.

Finally, Max stepped forward. “I’ll just do it.” 

The room went completely silent as he peeled back the tape…

lifted the lid… and looked inside.