The newspaper team put out their first edition, but soon realized that they need an editor. Jake, the ladybug, joined the team."It seems that they have built a big, new nest on the edge of town, pretty close to the park," Jake explained the new story idea to José. "What kind of nest?" José asked.

"I heard from a bluebird that there are giant trucks filled with fruit going to the nest all day long. But at the end of the day," Jake paused for dramatic effect, "the trucks leave… empty."

"Ok I'm off to investigate," José declared, as he took off in search of his next story. "Be careful, Junior," Cindy shouted.

"I will Grandma Cin!" José yelled back, and he was gone. Suddenly, Rocko let out a strange noise. It sounded like "Wha…hunh…wha??" as he stood staring at something odd hanging in the corner of the room. It was shaped like a bean pod, and it was green and shiny. Everyone came over to see what Rocko had found.

"What in the world is that?" Matty asked. "I have no idea!" Cindy said, unusual for a wise spider not to have a good explanation. This spooked the rest of the newspaper team.

"I know, let's ask Mary," Rocko suggested. "She's really smart. I'll bet she knows." He glanced around at the team before realizing Mary had disappeared. "Where'd she go?" Matty asked. "It's not like she can just blend in, like me!"

"And caterpillars don't move very fast, either." Jake added."Ricky, I have a mission for you," Cindy called the ant troop over to her web.
"Yes ma'am," Ricky said with his customary salute.

"Will you and your friends search the tree for Mary?" Cindy asked. "We'd be happy to, ma'am. But are you sure you don't need us to find more paper for the next edition of the Fly on the Wall Journal?" he asked.
"No way!" Rocko answered. "We have enough paper now to print 10,000 newspapers!"

And with that, Ricky and his gang immediately spread out to search the tree. Everyone watched as they swarmed the branches.

While they searched, José returned from his investigation. "What's going on with the ants?" he asked.
"Well, there's a weird growth in the corner over there, and we wanted to ask Mary what it is, but she's
missing!" Cindy told José. "So, we asked the ants to help us find her."

"Oh my," José said. "What should we do?""We should work on our next newspaper," Jake replied. "She's probably just rolled up somewhere taking a nap. She'll be back to yell at everyone soon enough. Besides, the news must go on!"

"Yeah José, what'd you find out?" Rocko asked. José excitedly pulled out his reporter's notebook, to share his story. "First I went inside the big, shiny, silver nest. I sat on the wall during a meeting of fancy dressed humans. I tried not to move at all, just like you taught me," José nodded toward Matty. And in turn, Matty gave an approving nod back. "And this time I stayed and listened to the whole conversation."
José flipped slowly through his pages, squinting at his own notes.

"Having trouble reading your own writing?" Matty asked, looking for everyone to laugh.
"At least he can write!" Rocko snapped back at Matty. "Go on José, tell us the story."
"So I found out that the structure isn't a nest at all. It's called a 'factory' and they are making… are you ready? They're producing… you guys are going to love this! They're going to …"

And right then Matty couldn't take the suspense any longer. He grabbed José's notebook and shouted, "FRESH FRUIT JAM!" The entire newspaper team erupted in applause because every insect knows that with a jam factory comes fresh fruit garbage, every bug's favourite meal!

"I'm getting to work right now!" Rocko announced, and Cindy grabbed a fresh box of bandages.
José read his notes to Rocko, staying clear of his whirling arms and sharp objects. After only a few minutes, and two small injuries, Rocko finished the front page. While Jake inspected the story, the ants came back looking disappointed.

"We looked everywhere!" Ricky said sadly. "I'm sure she'll be back," José
patted Ricky on the shoulder. "Thanks for trying."

"But now we've got a newspaper to get out!" Cindy announced. "Do you mind delivering the Journal again?" "We're on it, ma'am," Ricky said firmly. "Let's go ants!"

"Cindy," José said to his friend after the ants scattered. "I'm worried about Mary. Where do you think she went?"

To be continued ...

Written by Cathy Sewell, Illustrated by Blaise Sewell, Donated by The Curriculum Closet (www.curriculumcloset.com).