What If ... Your Past Came Back to Haunt You by Liz Ruckdeschel Read Free Book Online

he said. “I’m looking at the effects of climate change on migratory birds. Birds all over the world have been confused by the speedy rise in temperatures, and their migrations reflect that. Some of them don’t bother to migrate at all anymore, because their nesting habitats have gotten so warm they don’t need to fly south for winter.”
    â€œDoesn’t sound so bad to me,” Alex said. “I hate commuting.”
    â€œWell,” Perry said, “they end up fighting for scarce resources, not having enough food to eat, falling victim to predators. And their schedules don’t sync with plant growth anymore, so pollination doesn’t occur, and then the plants stop growing. . . . The problem is spreading throughout the ecosystem. Watch.”
    He started showing some of his footage. Alex sat back with his arms crossed over his chest, as if nothing Perry showed him could change his mind.
    The film began with a small, beautiful songbird, with a yellow head and belly, looking for a place to land on a coastline filled with highways and beach development. “This used to be marshland, a resting stop for these birds on their way from New England to the West Indies,” Perry said. “But development has left them no safe place to stop.” One of the birds dropped into the ocean, looking exhausted. A larger, predatory seabird swooped down to snatch it up. “Their numbers are diminishing fast.”
    â€œWhat kind of bird is it?” Alex asked.
    â€œThe Cape May warbler.” The film showed the bird in a spruce tree, chirping.
    â€œCape May?” Alex said. “My family has a house in Cape May. I’ve heard that chirp when we’re down there on fall weekends.”
    Aha,
Haley thought.
Got him.
    Perry talked over the raw footage of the beautiful little bird struggling for survival. Global warming was predicted to drive up to thirty percent of all animal species to extinction by the year 2100, he explained. And the change in bird migration patterns—which meant that birds arrived at their destinations weeks earlier than in previous years—was just an early warning sign, incontrovertible proof that the climate was warming up. Alex watched the bird, so familiar from his childhood beach vacations, with growing alarm on his face.
    â€œAs you said yourself, it’s all connected,” Haley said. “The birds to the plants and insects, to the food supply, to human life on earth. How can there be any economy if there’s no food to support the population? Who needs a job when there’s nothing to eat?”
    â€œI have to admit, this is disturbing,” Alex said. Haley had to stop herself from smiling in triumph. Disturbing! His face had turned white.
    The front door opened and Joan Miller stumbled in with armloads of groceries. “Anybody home?”
    Perry hurried over to help her with the bags, as Alex jumped up and offered to assist too. “Thanks, both of you,” Joan said, casting an approving glance in Haley’s direction.
    â€œMom, this is Alex Martin,” Haley said.
    â€œNice to meet you, Mrs. Miller,” Alex said. “We were just admiring your husband’s work-in-progress.”
    â€œWere you?” Joan headed into the kitchen, and the others followed with the grocery bags. “Alex Martin? I know that name. Aren’t you captain of the debate team? With Annie Armstrong?”
    â€œGuilty as charged.” Alex set the bags on the counter and leaned against it, his confidence returning.
    â€œThat’s funny,” Joan said. “I work with Annie’s mother, Blythe.” She paused, glancing from Alex to Haley as if she wasn’t sure whether she should continue.
    â€œWhat is it?” Haley asked.
    â€œWell, I suppose you’ll hear about it from Annie eventually,” Joan continued. “It seems that Nora Metzger has moved in with your art teacher—Mr. Von, is