The next day, Ms. Colman read “Sailing Out to Sea,” “The Little Flower,” and two other stories to her students. On Wednesday, she read “Backwards Day,” “Juicy Lucy,” and the last two stories.
“And now,” she said, “it is time to vote. I will read the titles of the stories to you. Please vote for just one, for your favorite.”
Uh-oh, thought Ricky. That will never work. Every team is going to vote for their own story. We will have an eight-way tie. Then what will happen?
Ricky scowled. But he rested his head on his arms, the way Ms. Colman had told her students to do while they voted.
“Okay, class,” said Ms. Colman. “Here are the stories.”
Ricky waited to hear Ms. Colman call out, “Juicy Lucy.”
He raised his hand.
“Well,” said Ms. Colman a few minutes later. “We have a winner.”
We do? thought Ricky. He lifted his head. He looked at the blackboard.
Next to “Sailing Out to Sea” was the number 2. Next to “Backwards Day” was another 2. Next to “Juicy Lucy” was a 12.
Twelve? Twelve kids had voted for “Juicy Lucy”? Ricky grinned at Natalie in the front of the room. Natalie waved at him.
“Congratulations, Natalie and Ricky!” said Ms. Colman. “Your story has been chosen for Author Day. You will make it into a big book. You will be in charge of turning it into a skit. And of course, you will read it to Mr. Bennett. It is a fine story. You did a wonderful job.”
“Thank you,” said Natalie politely.
But Ricky did not say anything. He had just thought of something. He had realized he better make sure Natalie would be the one who would read the story. Because Ricky would not do it. He had not changed his mind about reading aloud. He had meant what he said.
At lunchtime, Ricky found Natalie’s table in the cafeteria.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him. Natalie was sitting with Terri and Tammy and Audrey.
“I have to talk to you,” replied Ricky. Natalie slurped her milk. “About what?”
“About our story. Will you read it to Mr. Bennett on Author Day?”
“Read it?” repeated Natalie. “No. You wrote it. And I drew the pictures. So I will be the one to hold the book, turn the pages, and show off the beautiful drawings — while you read.”
“No way,” said Ricky. “I am not going to read.”
“Well, neither am I.”
“I do not have to.”
“You better,” said Natalie.
“Yeah,” said Audrey.
“No way,” said Ricky.
“Yes way,” said Tammy.
“Talk to Ms. Colman about it,” suggested Natalie.
“All right, I will.” Ricky stood up. Girls. What pains. “You got carrots in your teeth,” Ricky called to Natalie as he left.
Ricky looked around the cafeteria. Where was Ms. Colman? Finally he saw her talking to some other teachers at the back of the room.
“Ms. Colman?” said Ricky, when he had made his way to her.
“Ricky? Is anything wrong? Why haven’t you eaten your lunch?”
“Because I need to talk to you. I am not going to read ‘Juicy Lucy’ on Author Day. I will not read aloud.”
Ms. Colman sighed. “Why don’t you eat your lunch, Ricky? Then we will talk quietly together. I will come find you in fifteen minutes.”
THE DEAL
Fifteen minutes later, Ms. Colman and Ricky were walking back to their classroom. Ricky’s friends were having fun on the playground. Ricky sighed. He wished he were outside with them.
“Okay, Ricky,” said Ms. Colman. “Why don’t you sit here, near me, in Hank’s seat?” Ms. Colman sat at her own desk. “Now, then,” she began, “I know you have been upset. I know you are embarrassed about the mistake you made the other day. And I have tried to be patient with you. I want to understand you. So tell me what is going on now.”
“I am mad. And I am never going to read aloud again,” said Ricky.
“Never again is a very long time,” replied Ms. Colman. “I do not think you really mean never again.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Ricky, this is getting out of hand. Sometimes I will need to hear you read aloud. I need to hear all my students read aloud. I cannot ask your classmates to do something, and then tell you that you do not have to do it. That is not fair to anybody.”
Ricky did not say anything. He stared down at his shirt buttons.
“Very well,” said Ms. Colman. “I cannot force you to do something you do not want to do. But I must tell you that if you will not read ‘Juicy Lucy’ aloud at the party on Author Day, then you may not come to Author Day. You will come to school, of course, but you will go to the resource room. If you change your mind, though, and decide to read, then you may come to Author Day. Is that a deal?”
“Deal,” replied Ricky. Then he muttered, “I am not going to read my story.”
“All right. That is your choice,” said Ms. Colman. “I want to make something clear to you, though. Whether or not you come to Author Day, you must do all of the Author Day classwork. You and Natalie will still make the big book. And you will still work on the ‘Juicy Lucy’ play. Do you understand?”
Ricky nodded. “Yes.”
“And you may change your mind about Author Day any time. You may even change it on the morning of Author Day.”
“Okay,” said Ricky. “But I am not going to read.” Then Ricky said to himself, “Even though I really really REALLY want to meet Mr. Bennett.”
A PRESENT FOR MR. BENNETT
After recess that day, Ms. Colman divided her students into several groups.
“We have so many things to do before Author Day,” said Ms. Colman. “Sara, your group is going to make decorations for our classroom. Chris, your group is going to make decorations for the party in the library. Nancy, your group is going to think of a gift to make for Mr. Bennett. We will give him the gift at the party. And Natalie and Ricky, you two are going to start turning ‘Juicy Lucy’ into a giant book.”
“Decorations,” said Sara to Jannie and Tammy and Hank and Ian. “What kind of decorations should we make?”
“Not party decorations,” replied Hank. “The other group gets to make those.”
“We could make a sign that says ‘Welcome, Mr. Bennett,’ ” suggested Ian.
“We could make paper flowers,” said Tammy.
“Paper flowers? No way,” said Jannie. “That is stupid.”
“We could draw pictures of the characters in Mr. Bennett’s books,” said Sara. “Like Sloppy Sam.”
“Or an awful alligator!” exclaimed Hank.
Chris’s group began making their party decorations right away. They started with paper chains. Then they decided to cut out a bunch of paper balloons. They planned to tie real strings to the balloons.
Nancy’s group had some trouble.
“What do you give an author?” wondered Audrey. “A famous author?”
“Ms. Colman said we have to make the gift,” added Karen. “I wonder if she meant that. Ms. Colman? Ms. Colman? … Ms. Colman!”
“Karen, indoor voice, please,” said Ms. Colman. She sat down with Nancy’s group. “Do you need help?” she asked.
“Do we really have to make Mr. Bennett’s gift?” said Karen.
“I think it would be nice.”
“But what can we make?” asked Audrey.
“Maybe something with Popsicle sticks,” said Omar. “Like a box for his pencils.”
“I bet he writes on a computer,” said Nancy.
“Then how about a pillow for him to sit on while he works?” suggested Omar.
“A pillow? No way. I am not sewing a pillow,” said Bobby.
“I know you will think of something,” said Ms. Colman.
Ms. Colman stood up. She watched Natalie and Ricky for awhile. She had given them an enormous blank book. The pages were made of heavy cardboard. Ricky was copying his story onto the pages, and Na
talie was copying her pictures.
Ms. Colman smiled. She was proud of her students. And she was looking forward to Author Day as much as they were.
THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER
Mr. Bennett’s visit was getting closer and closer. The kids in Ms. Colman’s room had been working hard. Sara’s group had finished the decorations for the classroom. Ms. Colman had set them carefully in a large box marked CLASS DECS. Chris’s group had finished their decorations, too. Ms. Colman had put them in another box, marked PARTY DECS. Nancy’s group had finished their present. It had taken a long time for them to decide on a gift. At last they had made a book for Mr. Bennett. But they did not write a story on the pages they stapled together. Instead, they left the pages blank. The book was a diary for Mr. Bennett. He could write about a trip he took or a special event or maybe his visit to Stoneybrook Academy. The kids decorated the cover of the diary, and put a ribbon in it for a bookmark. They were very proud of their gift.
Ricky and Natalie had finished their big book. That had been a hard job. Ricky did not want any mistakes in it. Natalie got tired of copying her pictures. But they worked until they were proud of what they had done. Now the giant book was propped in the front of the classroom.
One afternoon, Ms. Colman said to her students, “It is time to begin our next project for Author Day. It is time to make ‘Juicy Lucy’ into a play. Natalie and Ricky, you are in charge of the play.”
“Cool,” said Ricky. (He was getting an idea.)
“I will help you,” Ms. Colman went on, “if you need a hand. But you are in charge. This is what you need to think about. On Author Day, someone will read the story of ‘Juicy Lucy’ aloud. Natalie will hold up the big book and turn the pages so everyone can see the pictures. Next to her, several of you will act out the story. You will not be speaking, since someone will be reading the story. But you might have costumes or props. Do you know what props are?”
“Are they things you carry?” asked Karen.
“In a way. Yes. They are things you need for the play that are not parts of your costumes. The farmer might need a pail. The goose gentleman might need an umbrella. You might need food for the dinner.
“So Ricky and Natalie, your job is to choose actors for the skit, and other kids to help you with the costumes and props. Okay?”
Ricky and Natalie nodded importantly. Then Ricky stood up. He walked to the front of the room. Natalie joined him.
“All right. Who wants to be Juicy Lucy?” asked Ricky.
Four hands shot up. Three of them belonged to Hannie, Karen, and Leslie. They had laughed especially loudly about the farting puppy. Ricky looked at the fourth person. “Okay, Audrey. You can be Lucy,” he said. “Now who wants to be the gander, Lucy’s dinner date?”
Three hands shot up. Two of them belonged to Bobby and Hank.
“Omar, you may be the gander,” said Ricky.
The kids stopped raising their hands. Even so, Ricky and Natalie chose Ian to be the farmer, and Terri to be his wife. They chose Chris to be Lucy’s goose-friend at the end of the story. They chose Nancy and Sara to be the farmer’s daughters. They choose Tammy and Jannie to be animals on the farm.
At last only Karen, Hannie, Leslie, Bobby, and Hank were left.
“What about us?” asked Leslie.
“You girls can be in charge of costumes,” said Ricky bossily. “And you boys can be in charge of props.”
“But I wanted to be in the play!” cried Karen.
“And I do not want to be in the play!” exclaimed Nancy.
“Too bad,” said Ricky.
“Wait a minute,” said Natalie suddenly. She narrowed her eyes at Ricky. “How come you did not let these guys in the play? Tell the truth,” she added.
“Well,” said Ricky, “because they laughed the loudest when I said, um … ” Ricky paused. “When I made the mistake about the dog.” (Ricky was not about to say “farting” again.)
“No fair!” said Hank.
“It was no fair when you laughed at me,” said Ricky.
“Uh-oh,” said Ms. Colman.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
Ms. Colman stood between Ricky and Natalie. “I think we better start over,” she said to her students. “But first I would like Karen, Hannie, Leslie, Bobby, and Hank to apologize to Ricky for laughing.”
“I’m sorry,” said the kids.
“And now I would like Ricky to apologize to Karen, Hannie, Leslie, Bobby, and Hank.”
“Why?” cried Ricky. “I do not want them in the play. And it is my play.”
“First of all,” said Ms. Colman, “it is your play and Natalie’s. Not just yours. Second, if you did not choose Karen, Hannie, Leslie, Bobby, and Hank to be in the play because you think they are not right for any parts, that is fine. But if you did not choose them because you wanted to hurt their feelings the way they hurt yours, then that is not fine. And I think that is what you did. So please apologize, Ricky.”
“Sorry,” muttered Ricky.
“Okay. Let’s start over again,” said Ms. Colman. “And Natalie, this time I would like you to speak up when you and Ricky are choosing the characters. You have good ideas. Ricky, please forget about who laughed. Choose the kids you think would be best for each role or job.”
Ricky and Natalie began again. When they had finished, Omar was still the gander, but Leslie was Lucy. Bobby and Terri were the farmer and his wife, Chris was still the goose-friend, Audrey and Sara were the farmer’s daughters, and Karen and Hank were the farm animals. Jannie, Ian, and Nancy were in charge of the costumes, and Tammy and Hannie were in charge of the props.
“Good,” Nancy whispered to Hannie. “I really did not want to be in the play.”
“And I really did,” Karen whispered back.
“Ahem! No talking!” called Natalie from the front of the room.
“Yeah. It is time to start rehearsing,” said Ricky.
“Already?” asked Ian. “Shouldn’t we plan the costumes first? Author Day is coming soon. Jannie and Nancy and I need to know what stuff to look for.”
“And Hannie and I need to know what props to look for,” said Tammy.
“Okay, okay. We will have a meeting first,” said Natalie.
Five days later, the kids in Ms. Colman’s class held their first dress rehearsal. (Mr. Bennett’s visit was just two days away.)
“All right,” said Natalie. She and Ricky were standing at the front of the room again. Their classmates were sitting on the floor. The desks had been pushed against the back wall. Ms. Colman was sitting with the kids. “Prop people,” Natalie went on, “did you bring all the props?”
“Yes!” called Hannie.
“And costume people,” said Ricky, “did you bring everything?”
“Yes!” called Jannie.
“Then everybody into your costumes,” said Natalie.
Jannie, Ian, and Nancy handed out the costumes. Leslie put on the red kerchief that Lucy always wore. The farmer and his wife slipped overalls over their school clothes. Then they put on straw hats. The farm animals put on mittens and masks, and tails made from rope. Tammy and Hannie handed out the props. Soon the story characters looked just the way Natalie had drawn them.
Ms. Colman smiled. “Everyone looks wonderful!” she said. “Okay. Ricky, are you ready to read the story?”
“Nope,” said Ricky.
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Then I will read it,” she said. “But I am not going to read it on Author Day.” (She glared at Ricky.)
The play began. Leslie in her red kerchief posed with the farm family. (Bobby’s hat kept slipping over his eyes.) Then Leslie posed with the farm animals. (The cow’s tail fell off.) Leslie dreamed of her dinner date.
“Omar, you are supposed to sit at that table now!” Ricky whispered loudly. “You are the dinner date.”
“I am trying to sit. But my tail feathers will not stay on!”
Natalie kept reading the story. “ ‘Run for your life!’ ” she read.
&
nbsp; Nothing happened. No one moved.
“Leslie, you are supposed to start running around the room now,” said Ricky. “The farmer is after you.”
“Oh. I forgot,” said Leslie.
“Cut!” cried Natalie.
“Do over!” cried Ricky. “This is horrible.”
But Ms. Colman smiled. “I am sure it will be fine,” she said.
MS. COLMAN’S BOO-BOO
It was the day before Author Day. The kids were getting very excited. They had had another rehearsal that morning, and “Juicy Lucy” had gone much better. Now they were sitting at their desks after recess. On Ms. Colman’s desk was a stack of colored paper. Ricky had a feeling Ms. Colman was about to give them a fun project.
Sure enough, Ms. Colman said, “Class, Mr. Bennett will be here tomorrow. We would like to make him feel at home at Stoneybrook Academy. So we are going to make welcome cards for him. We will hang them in the hallway. He will see the cards first thing in the morning as he walks through our school. I have written a message for Mr. Bennett,” Ms. Colman went on. “It is there on the board. Each of you will copy the message onto your card. Then you may get out your crayons and color your card any way you like. If you need help just raise your hand.”
Ms. Colman let Terri hand out the paper. When Terri reached Ricky’s desk, she said, “What color would you like?”
“Hmm. Green, I think,” said Ricky. “No, wait. Yellow. No, blue.” Ricky wanted to choose just the right color for Mr. Bennett. But he did not know what color famous authors liked. Finally he said, “Blue, I guess.”
Terri gave Ricky a piece of blue paper. Ricky set to work. He folded the paper in half slowly and carefully. Then he found a pencil. He began to copy Ms. Colman’s message onto the inside of the card. He wrote very lightly so he could erase his mistakes. Then he looked in his desk. He found a ballpoint pen. Ms. Colman did not usually let her students write in pen. But Ricky decided this was a special occasion. He wanted his card to look grownup (since it would be hanging in the hall where everyone would see it). Besides, he had already written in pencil. He was just going to trace over it with the pen.