Sniffles Abound

As Carmel walked through the halls of Bet El Middle School, the noise was deafening—the unmistakable sounds of coughs and sneezes echoing off the walls like an off-key orchestra. "Achoo!" another sneeze exploded from behind. Carmel winced but kept moving.

"It's like a symphony of sickness," Sarah, her best friend, remarked, struggling to keep up.

"And a not-so-great one," Carmel replied, dodging another huddle of sniffling classmates.

"Who do you think started this?" Michal chimed in, joining their little group with her hands full of tissues.

Carmel sighed. "Finding Patient Zero sounds like a fun challenge, don't you think? Before we all catch it?"

Sarah smirked. "Sounds like an adventure," she said, with a mischievous glint in her eye. The trio huddled conspiratorially, plotting their grand investigation.

But amidst the plan-making and laughter, Carmel couldn’t help but wonder—could they solve the mystery before getting sick themselves? The clock was ticking and the sneezes... kept coming.

The Flu Crew

"Alright," Carmel declared, determinedly pacing in front of her friends. "We need to find out who Patient Zero is. It's time for some investigative interviews!"

"Do we get badges or something?" Sarah asked, half-jokingly, twirling a pen.

"Maybe a badge that says 'Flu Detective'?" Michal added, giggling as she tucked tissues into her pocket.

The trio headed toward the classroom, where a chorus of sneezes provided background music. Spots like these were ripe for investigation.

Their first stop was Yarden, known for her tall tales. "I'm immune to all cold viruses," Yarden declared with a dramatic flair, flipping her blonde hair back. "Just drink a mixture of garlic and honey."

Carmel exchanged a skeptical glance with Michal, who stifled a laugh. "Thanks, Yarden. We'll, uh, consider it," Carmel replied, making a mental note of the odd advice.

Meanwhile, Michal excused herself to the bathroom. While reaching to retrieve her fallen phone, her eyes landed on a peculiar machine tucked behind the trash can. "What's this?" she muttered, intrigued, clutching the device. The plot was thickening, and Carmel's quest had gained a new, mysterious twist.