I knew that once I finished writing 'Bob' I wanted to take some time to reflect back on what it was that I was doing. Bob isn't my first novel. Bob is actually the fourth novel that I have written, but it is the first that I have written to completion with the confidence that it is actually good writing.
About a week ago, I felt like I would never finish Bob. I felt like a terrible writer. I kept thinking back to everything that I was teaching my own students and wondering where in the world I was pulling it into my own writing. I felt like a failing author. Like someone who couldn't ever publish a book.
I know that there aren't many people who are reading my blog, but for those who are, I appreciate it. There hasn't been a lot of feedback on Bob just yet, but I'm hoping there will be. I begin the editing and revising process today once the rest of the novel is printed off. The craziest part is that the revising and editing can take just as long as the writing process itself.
My hands are cramped from typing. My joints are stiff from holding a pen for too many hours this month. I realized that if I took every single hour that I worked on Bob just for this month and put it together, I would have written for over 2 days straight. Over 50 hours worth of time went into this novel just this month. That doesn't account for the planning that took place over the summer and the good 20 - 30 hours put in there.
For the first time in my life, I realized exactly how difficult it was to be a professional writer. So many times I am working on little projects (scripts, poems, picture books). But to put together a full fledged children's novel in a month. Wow!
I continue to read stories about how people were found and how they were able to start their careers as full time writers. I can only hope that that will be my story as well.
I can only thank Bob for the inspiration. The girls in my book know that it is Bob that changed their lives and that's probably because he's changing mine right now.
The passion and confidence about writing in my life has returned. There are currently two other novels in the process of being designed in my head. I'm very excited to begin work on them and create something new.
But in the mean time, I need to get back to my writers notebook. I've been neglecting it all month!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Chapter Twenty-Eight - Fred
Monday morning came too quickly like it always does, but this time Kat was ready for it. She had the spider dream again, but finally it had a happy ending. As Kat was throwing the paper airplanes out the window, her actual mother sat up in bed. Kat smiled when she saw her. The spider was finally gone.
Princess Puffball lay curled up on the blanket next to Kat and began to purr when Kat pet her. Kat got out of bed and slid on her ‘Save Bob’ shirt to give her that something extra in her report.
The car ride to school was filled with stories of home and of the past. One day Kat swore that she would write them all down.
When Kat arrived at school, Principal Ululani greeted each of the children. Her dreams of teaching around the world could wait. She had too much invested in Kat and Lily. She would just have to hold on until they left for middle school.
Kat walked down the halls to Room 222 with a new feeling towards school. This was home now too.
Outside the door of Room 222 hung the banner that the fourth graders made last week. Every ounce of the glitter still clung to the bubble letters. Kat smiled as she walked into the classroom, Home of Bob.
“Good,” Lily said running up to Kat. “You’re here! We can get started.”
Once the class was settled, the bug presentation began. Lily and Kat were saved until the very end. While they waited, Lily pulled out a big black marker.
“What is that for?” Kat whispered while Michael and Jacob talked about how people actually buy praying mantises for their gardens.
“I need to fix your shirt,” Lily said uncapping the marker. She added a quick D to Kat’s shirt.
“Saved Bob,” Kat read smiling. She looked at Lily and smiled even bigger.
“Come on,” Lily said. “We’re up.”
Kat and Lily stood in front of the class and displayed their poster on daddy long legs.
“Our project is dedicated to Bob,” Lily said proudly.
The class turned toward the window and began to cheer. Kat and Lily felt like rock stars.
“Wait a second,” Jacob called out over the class. “Something’s wrong with Bob!”
The entire class got out of their seats to get a better look.
It was true. Bob didn’t look quite like himself. Aphids were crawling all over him and he didn’t even move a muscle. His body seemed to be too clear. Bob looked dead.
“This is all Principal Benbrook’s fault!” Lily yelled.
“We really were too late,” Kat said in shock.
The classroom fell into a tizzy of angry yells and frantic tears. Ms. Catarinas had to raise her voice to finally get everyone’s attention.
“Now listen,” she said calmly. “Principal Benbrook didn’t do anything.”
“Then why is Bob dead?” Michael demanded.
“He’s not dead,” Ms. Catarinas assured him. “He’s gone.”
“Gone?” Kat asked.
“There is one interesting fact that I found out about Bobs,” Ms. Catarinas said. “Every ten days they shed their exoskeleton. Yesterday was ten days since Bob found his way into our classroom.”
The class stood around in silence. Bob was gone. All that work and Bob decided it was time to go. A sinking feeling hit the class right in their stomachs.
“What are we going to do?” Lily asked.
“What do you mean?” Ms. Catarinas asked.
“Without Bob what’s the point of school?”
Ms. Catarinas laughed. The class stayed quiet.
“Come on now,” she said cheerfully. “You all sound like a bunch of crickets.”
A silent chirp rang through the classroom.
Ms. Catarinas strained her ears. She really did hear a cricket. The class watched as Ms. Catarinas moved closer to the sink and towards the sound. She looked in the sink and began to laugh.
“Well wouldn’t you know it,” she said laughing so hard that she was crying. “A cricket!”
Jacob jumped into the air.
“Let’s name him Fred!”
Princess Puffball lay curled up on the blanket next to Kat and began to purr when Kat pet her. Kat got out of bed and slid on her ‘Save Bob’ shirt to give her that something extra in her report.
The car ride to school was filled with stories of home and of the past. One day Kat swore that she would write them all down.
When Kat arrived at school, Principal Ululani greeted each of the children. Her dreams of teaching around the world could wait. She had too much invested in Kat and Lily. She would just have to hold on until they left for middle school.
Kat walked down the halls to Room 222 with a new feeling towards school. This was home now too.
Outside the door of Room 222 hung the banner that the fourth graders made last week. Every ounce of the glitter still clung to the bubble letters. Kat smiled as she walked into the classroom, Home of Bob.
“Good,” Lily said running up to Kat. “You’re here! We can get started.”
Once the class was settled, the bug presentation began. Lily and Kat were saved until the very end. While they waited, Lily pulled out a big black marker.
“What is that for?” Kat whispered while Michael and Jacob talked about how people actually buy praying mantises for their gardens.
“I need to fix your shirt,” Lily said uncapping the marker. She added a quick D to Kat’s shirt.
“Saved Bob,” Kat read smiling. She looked at Lily and smiled even bigger.
“Come on,” Lily said. “We’re up.”
Kat and Lily stood in front of the class and displayed their poster on daddy long legs.
“Our project is dedicated to Bob,” Lily said proudly.
The class turned toward the window and began to cheer. Kat and Lily felt like rock stars.
“Wait a second,” Jacob called out over the class. “Something’s wrong with Bob!”
The entire class got out of their seats to get a better look.
It was true. Bob didn’t look quite like himself. Aphids were crawling all over him and he didn’t even move a muscle. His body seemed to be too clear. Bob looked dead.
“This is all Principal Benbrook’s fault!” Lily yelled.
“We really were too late,” Kat said in shock.
The classroom fell into a tizzy of angry yells and frantic tears. Ms. Catarinas had to raise her voice to finally get everyone’s attention.
“Now listen,” she said calmly. “Principal Benbrook didn’t do anything.”
“Then why is Bob dead?” Michael demanded.
“He’s not dead,” Ms. Catarinas assured him. “He’s gone.”
“Gone?” Kat asked.
“There is one interesting fact that I found out about Bobs,” Ms. Catarinas said. “Every ten days they shed their exoskeleton. Yesterday was ten days since Bob found his way into our classroom.”
The class stood around in silence. Bob was gone. All that work and Bob decided it was time to go. A sinking feeling hit the class right in their stomachs.
“What are we going to do?” Lily asked.
“What do you mean?” Ms. Catarinas asked.
“Without Bob what’s the point of school?”
Ms. Catarinas laughed. The class stayed quiet.
“Come on now,” she said cheerfully. “You all sound like a bunch of crickets.”
A silent chirp rang through the classroom.
Ms. Catarinas strained her ears. She really did hear a cricket. The class watched as Ms. Catarinas moved closer to the sink and towards the sound. She looked in the sink and began to laugh.
“Well wouldn’t you know it,” she said laughing so hard that she was crying. “A cricket!”
Jacob jumped into the air.
“Let’s name him Fred!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven - New Jobs
Kat could not believe that it only took thirty minutes worth of protesting to win. Everyone was hopeful that they would save Bob, but no one expected it to happen so quickly. After Principal Benbrook left, huge wheels were set in motion.
The superintendent of schools quickly got in contact with both Ms. Ululani and Ms. Catarinas. He offered Ms. Ululani the job of principal at Edgeview, hopeful that she would set things right. The budget would need some tweaking, but he promised her whatever kind of supplies she needed.
For Ms. Catarinas the story was a little different. She broke down on the phone and explained her situation. The superintendent was mortified by Principal Benbrook’s actions.
“Don’t even worry about your review,” he told her. “My family lives in Texas and my brother is a principal down there. I’m sure we can work something out.”
As for the fourth graders at Edgeview Elementary, this was a time to party. They had made the local news and parents from all over took their complaints to the school board. Bob was safe and
‘The Rules’ were broken forever.
An impromptu celebration was had at Jacob’s house. The children danced and laughed out in the mid-November air. Only nine days ago, Bob had made his appearance. It was all because of Bob that things changed.
Kat and Lily stood off to the side of the party and watched. The girl scouts were teaching others how to make their very own Bobs. Michael was showing Fluffy off to everyone. Even Ms. Catarinas and Ms. Ululani showed up. Uncle Chad tried to work his magic with Ms. Ululani and explain exactly what went in to being the World’s Strongest Man.
Kat laughed and enjoyed the fact that she finally felt at home.
“So,” Ms. Catarinas said coming up to the friends. “It looks like my plan worked all along.”
“Plan?” Kat asked.
“For the project,” Ms. Catarinas said with a knowing smile.
“You planned for all of this to happen?” Lily asked in shock.
Ms. Catarinas laughed. “This is pretty amazing, but no. I planned for this,” she said pointing at Lily and Kat.
Lily and Kat looked at each other. Only a week ago they wouldn’t have been within ten feet of each other.
“You mean you set us up as partners on purpose?” Kat asked.
“The sticks never lie,” Ms. Catarinas said repeating herself.
Lily looked at her in disbelief. “How did you know we’d become friends?”
“I didn’t,” Ms. Catarinas said. “I could only hope.”
Kat and Lily smiled. Some teachers were just too amazing for words.
“Although I do hope your project is finished,” Ms. Catarinas said. “You present first thing Monday morning.”
Kat and Lily looked at each other with alarm. They had spent so much time trying to save Bob that they hadn’t really researched Bob. They only had today and tomorrow to finish.
“Not a problem,” Lily said.
“Definitely,” Kat agreed. “I’ve got a great partner!”
The superintendent of schools quickly got in contact with both Ms. Ululani and Ms. Catarinas. He offered Ms. Ululani the job of principal at Edgeview, hopeful that she would set things right. The budget would need some tweaking, but he promised her whatever kind of supplies she needed.
For Ms. Catarinas the story was a little different. She broke down on the phone and explained her situation. The superintendent was mortified by Principal Benbrook’s actions.
“Don’t even worry about your review,” he told her. “My family lives in Texas and my brother is a principal down there. I’m sure we can work something out.”
As for the fourth graders at Edgeview Elementary, this was a time to party. They had made the local news and parents from all over took their complaints to the school board. Bob was safe and
‘The Rules’ were broken forever.
An impromptu celebration was had at Jacob’s house. The children danced and laughed out in the mid-November air. Only nine days ago, Bob had made his appearance. It was all because of Bob that things changed.
Kat and Lily stood off to the side of the party and watched. The girl scouts were teaching others how to make their very own Bobs. Michael was showing Fluffy off to everyone. Even Ms. Catarinas and Ms. Ululani showed up. Uncle Chad tried to work his magic with Ms. Ululani and explain exactly what went in to being the World’s Strongest Man.
Kat laughed and enjoyed the fact that she finally felt at home.
“So,” Ms. Catarinas said coming up to the friends. “It looks like my plan worked all along.”
“Plan?” Kat asked.
“For the project,” Ms. Catarinas said with a knowing smile.
“You planned for all of this to happen?” Lily asked in shock.
Ms. Catarinas laughed. “This is pretty amazing, but no. I planned for this,” she said pointing at Lily and Kat.
Lily and Kat looked at each other. Only a week ago they wouldn’t have been within ten feet of each other.
“You mean you set us up as partners on purpose?” Kat asked.
“The sticks never lie,” Ms. Catarinas said repeating herself.
Lily looked at her in disbelief. “How did you know we’d become friends?”
“I didn’t,” Ms. Catarinas said. “I could only hope.”
Kat and Lily smiled. Some teachers were just too amazing for words.
“Although I do hope your project is finished,” Ms. Catarinas said. “You present first thing Monday morning.”
Kat and Lily looked at each other with alarm. They had spent so much time trying to save Bob that they hadn’t really researched Bob. They only had today and tomorrow to finish.
“Not a problem,” Lily said.
“Definitely,” Kat agreed. “I’ve got a great partner!”
Friday, November 26, 2010
Very Proud
Alright, well I know that I still have two more chapters to write with Bob, but they are the easiest out of the 28 total.
It seems pretty crazy that Bob started as a real daddy long legs that found himself in the sink in my own fourth grade classroom. He got stuck above our door frame for two days before we let him go. But he inspired a book in me.
It started as a picture book, but grew to be something bigger. I'm excited to start on my next two novel ideas as well.
But more than anything I feel so proud of myself for earning this!
Chapter Twenty-Six - A Revelation and A Revolution
“Good morning Fairfax, this is Deborah Grossman, coming to you live outside of Edgeview Elementary, where it seems that the whole school is gathered to save one of their own. His name is Bob and he’s not your typical fourth grader. These children today are out here fighting against the unfair treatment of a daddy long legs.”
The cameraman panned across the crowd of rioting children. Their picket signs were painted in vivid colors and coated in clouds of glitter. As the students tromped around and shook their signs, glitter rained down onto the sidewalk below them. Their signs were about more than saving Bob. Some said ‘Insects have feelings too’. While others said ‘Paint and Glitter Forever’. It was an amazing thing to see so many children fighting for their rights.
“Here we have Ms. Lana Ululani,” Michael’s mother continued. “She teaches art here at Edgeview. Can you tell us exactly a little more about this protest going on today.”
Mrs. Grossman shirked away from Buttercup and chose to give Ms. Ululani the microphone.
“We’re here to restore things to their proper place,” Ms. Ululani said. “Children need to be able to explore, to learn, to get messy. School is a safe environment for that. Principal Benbrook’s strict no art supply and no animal policy harms our children. We’re here to save Bob, Buttercup, and Art!”
Ms. Ululani threw another passionate fist in the air and joined the throng again.
Lost in the middle of the crowd, Kat stood staring at her father.
“I don’t understand what is going on Kat,” he said. “This isn’t you.”
Kat frowned. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying.
“I know I’m letting you down, but I can’t let another person die.”
“Another?” her father asked even more confused.
“I left the window open the night mom was bitten by the spider,” Kat finally admitted. “It’s my fault we’re here.”
The rest of the protest seemed to fall away for Kat and her father. Months of grief came pouring back over them.
“Honey,” her father said taking her hand. “It’s not your fault.”
Kat let the tears run. “Yes it is.”
Her father held her tight and kissed the top of her head.
“Kathryn, you mother was bit outside in the garden. She was in bed that night because she didn’t feel well.”
Kat looked up at her father in awe. For months, she had been carrying something that didn’t belong to her.
“Your mother got an infection from the bite. She was actually listening to you play the airplane game while she was in bed. She loved that game more than anything else. She was happy the window was left open. That was one of her favorite memories.”
“Me too,” Kat said trying to regain herself.
Her father placed his hand under Kat’s chin and looked her in the eyes. “Is this bug really that important to you?”
Kat looked around her. Lily was on her side. People were finally breaking ‘The Rules’ on purpose. In the distance, she saw Ms. Catarinas walking towards her class. Two words were proudly displayed across her shirt. SAVE BOB.
“More than you know,” Kat whispered.
“And you don’t mind living with Uncle Chad a little longer?” her father asked.
“I think there are still a lot of stories I need to hear,” Kat said.
Her father smiled. “Then hand me a sign.”
“We’re still here bringing you the latest on the protest at Edgeview Elementary. We’ve spoken with various parents on the subject of Eugene’s Benbrook’s rules and here is what just a few have to say about it.”
The cameraman turned to the left and focused his shot on three parents. One held a screaming baby and looked like she wished she could just go change his diaper.
“I think these rules are outrageous,” one father said.
“Who bans art supplies,” one mother said. “Is that even legal?”
The mother with the baby cringed as he went into another set of wails. “I heard even babies are banned. And Jonathan really needs to be changed!”
Principal Benbrook stood in front of the school taking the verbal assault form his students. As soon as he saw Daniel Westwood grab a protest sign, Eugene Benbrook was pushed off the edge. He stormed through the crowd and confronted him face to face.
“What do you think you are doing Mr. Westwood?” Principal Benbrook demanded.
“Focusing on my family,” Kat's father said smiling at Kat. Even Uncle Chad had picked up a protest sign and was marching hand in hand with Ms. Ululani and Buttercup.
“I will make sure you get first this instant,” Principal Benbrook screamed as he pulled out his cell phone. “Protesting over bugs. You’re just as dumb as your daughter.”
The entire protest went quiet. Sophie looked at the home made Bob in her hand. It wasn’t heavy, but it was enough. Out of the silence, she threw her crafty daddy long legs at Principal Benbrook. It hit him square in the eye and temporarily blinded him. The other girl scouts took their cue and soon dozens of little black daddy long legs bombs were being launched at Principal Benbrook.
The crowd of students fell into chaos. Several had brought contained of glitter and were throwing them around. The air around the protest shimmered like snow.
“And here we are with Elizabeth Catarinas, homeroom teacher of Bob himself,” Mrs. Grossman continued on. “What do you think of this chaos?”
“When Bob first came to us, he caused nothing but trouble. It wasn’t his fault, it was the rules. That is the monarchy of King Eugene Benbrook. I try to tie my teaching to everyday life and to the past. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but Bob was just another example. History has a funny way of repeating itself. Just like in 1776, it’s a revolution.”
A student ran by and bombed the cameraman in glitter.
“No fumigation without representation,” he screamed.
At the doors, parents began to ask Principal Benbrook angry questions.
“Why aren’t they allowed to have paint?”
“My daughter even had her lip gloss confiscated by you for glitter. She’s seven!”
“Can I please bring Jonathan in to change him? He’s really starting to smell.”
The noise was getting louder and louder. It seemed as if the whole school were outside screaming for equal right and equal supplies.
Above the chaos, someone yelled, “STOP!” It took a few tries to get everyone’s attention, but finally the crowd settled. Michael stood in the middle of the crowd, ready to talk terms to Principal Benbrook. He moved confidently towards Principal Benbrook until he was toe to toe with him.
“We’ll make you a deal Principal Benbrook,” Michael said. “You give us something, we’ll give you something.”
“What are you doing?” Lily said through gritted teeth.
“Trust me,” Michael whispered. “I’ve got this.”
“You better praying mantis boy!” Lily said and took a step back.
“Like I said Benbrook let’s make a deal.”
Principal Benbrook furrowed his eyebrows and frowned at Michael. The cameraman came in close and Mrs. Grossman leaned her microphone in as close as possible.
“What do you want?” Principal Benbrook asked regrettably.
Michael grinned. “You let us keep Bob and give Ms. Ululani all the paint she wants and we’ll walk away.”
Everyone held their breath. Kat held her father’s hand. She could even feel his own heartbeat racing.
“And that’s all?” Principal Benbrook asked folding his arms.
“Well,” Michael said stretching the negotiations. “There is one more piece. An offer of good will is what I think they call it on T.V.” Michael winked at the camera. His mom gave him a quick thumbs up and refocused the microphone.
“And what do I have to do?” Principal Benbrook asked.
“Just take a picture with my pet Fluffy,” Michael said calmly. “Show us that animals aren’t all that bad.”
Principal Benbrook laughed out loud. What kind of deal was this. Of course they could never hold him to it, he didn’t sign a contract.
Kids are so dumb, he thought.
“Fine, bring on Fluffy,” Principal Benbrook agreed.
“Are you nuts?” Lily asked Michael.
“Have a little faith,” he said as Jacob handed him Fluffy.
Lily took one look at Fluffy and had to hold back her laughter. “Oh! You’re good!”
Principal Benbrook was so focused on the camera that he never noticed that Michael had place Fluffy on his shoulder.
“There we go,” Michael said. “Now that makes a nice picture. Isn’t she pretty up there!”
Principal Benbrook looked away from the camera and froze when he saw Fluffy. He didn’t have to turn his head very far to see the hairy legs or to feel the furry body nuzzle against his face. Principal Benbrook looked down in terror at the eight large eyes of Fluffy the tarantula.
“Aw, they’re friends,” Sophie laughed.
“AH!” Principal Benbrook screamed.
Fluffy tensed up on his shoulder which caused to him scream even more.
“Get it off! Get it off!”
Michael gently removed Fluffy and everyone began to laugh.
“I quit!” he screamed. Principal Benbrook didn’t waste any time. He pushed over several sixth graders and a girl scout to get out of the mob. He didn’t stop running until he reached his car.
Within in seconds, he was gone.
“I guess that means we won,” Michael said smiling into the camera.
The cameraman panned across the crowd of rioting children. Their picket signs were painted in vivid colors and coated in clouds of glitter. As the students tromped around and shook their signs, glitter rained down onto the sidewalk below them. Their signs were about more than saving Bob. Some said ‘Insects have feelings too’. While others said ‘Paint and Glitter Forever’. It was an amazing thing to see so many children fighting for their rights.
“Here we have Ms. Lana Ululani,” Michael’s mother continued. “She teaches art here at Edgeview. Can you tell us exactly a little more about this protest going on today.”
Mrs. Grossman shirked away from Buttercup and chose to give Ms. Ululani the microphone.
“We’re here to restore things to their proper place,” Ms. Ululani said. “Children need to be able to explore, to learn, to get messy. School is a safe environment for that. Principal Benbrook’s strict no art supply and no animal policy harms our children. We’re here to save Bob, Buttercup, and Art!”
Ms. Ululani threw another passionate fist in the air and joined the throng again.
Lost in the middle of the crowd, Kat stood staring at her father.
“I don’t understand what is going on Kat,” he said. “This isn’t you.”
Kat frowned. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying.
“I know I’m letting you down, but I can’t let another person die.”
“Another?” her father asked even more confused.
“I left the window open the night mom was bitten by the spider,” Kat finally admitted. “It’s my fault we’re here.”
The rest of the protest seemed to fall away for Kat and her father. Months of grief came pouring back over them.
“Honey,” her father said taking her hand. “It’s not your fault.”
Kat let the tears run. “Yes it is.”
Her father held her tight and kissed the top of her head.
“Kathryn, you mother was bit outside in the garden. She was in bed that night because she didn’t feel well.”
Kat looked up at her father in awe. For months, she had been carrying something that didn’t belong to her.
“Your mother got an infection from the bite. She was actually listening to you play the airplane game while she was in bed. She loved that game more than anything else. She was happy the window was left open. That was one of her favorite memories.”
“Me too,” Kat said trying to regain herself.
Her father placed his hand under Kat’s chin and looked her in the eyes. “Is this bug really that important to you?”
Kat looked around her. Lily was on her side. People were finally breaking ‘The Rules’ on purpose. In the distance, she saw Ms. Catarinas walking towards her class. Two words were proudly displayed across her shirt. SAVE BOB.
“More than you know,” Kat whispered.
“And you don’t mind living with Uncle Chad a little longer?” her father asked.
“I think there are still a lot of stories I need to hear,” Kat said.
Her father smiled. “Then hand me a sign.”
“We’re still here bringing you the latest on the protest at Edgeview Elementary. We’ve spoken with various parents on the subject of Eugene’s Benbrook’s rules and here is what just a few have to say about it.”
The cameraman turned to the left and focused his shot on three parents. One held a screaming baby and looked like she wished she could just go change his diaper.
“I think these rules are outrageous,” one father said.
“Who bans art supplies,” one mother said. “Is that even legal?”
The mother with the baby cringed as he went into another set of wails. “I heard even babies are banned. And Jonathan really needs to be changed!”
Principal Benbrook stood in front of the school taking the verbal assault form his students. As soon as he saw Daniel Westwood grab a protest sign, Eugene Benbrook was pushed off the edge. He stormed through the crowd and confronted him face to face.
“What do you think you are doing Mr. Westwood?” Principal Benbrook demanded.
“Focusing on my family,” Kat's father said smiling at Kat. Even Uncle Chad had picked up a protest sign and was marching hand in hand with Ms. Ululani and Buttercup.
“I will make sure you get first this instant,” Principal Benbrook screamed as he pulled out his cell phone. “Protesting over bugs. You’re just as dumb as your daughter.”
The entire protest went quiet. Sophie looked at the home made Bob in her hand. It wasn’t heavy, but it was enough. Out of the silence, she threw her crafty daddy long legs at Principal Benbrook. It hit him square in the eye and temporarily blinded him. The other girl scouts took their cue and soon dozens of little black daddy long legs bombs were being launched at Principal Benbrook.
The crowd of students fell into chaos. Several had brought contained of glitter and were throwing them around. The air around the protest shimmered like snow.
“And here we are with Elizabeth Catarinas, homeroom teacher of Bob himself,” Mrs. Grossman continued on. “What do you think of this chaos?”
“When Bob first came to us, he caused nothing but trouble. It wasn’t his fault, it was the rules. That is the monarchy of King Eugene Benbrook. I try to tie my teaching to everyday life and to the past. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but Bob was just another example. History has a funny way of repeating itself. Just like in 1776, it’s a revolution.”
A student ran by and bombed the cameraman in glitter.
“No fumigation without representation,” he screamed.
At the doors, parents began to ask Principal Benbrook angry questions.
“Why aren’t they allowed to have paint?”
“My daughter even had her lip gloss confiscated by you for glitter. She’s seven!”
“Can I please bring Jonathan in to change him? He’s really starting to smell.”
The noise was getting louder and louder. It seemed as if the whole school were outside screaming for equal right and equal supplies.
Above the chaos, someone yelled, “STOP!” It took a few tries to get everyone’s attention, but finally the crowd settled. Michael stood in the middle of the crowd, ready to talk terms to Principal Benbrook. He moved confidently towards Principal Benbrook until he was toe to toe with him.
“We’ll make you a deal Principal Benbrook,” Michael said. “You give us something, we’ll give you something.”
“What are you doing?” Lily said through gritted teeth.
“Trust me,” Michael whispered. “I’ve got this.”
“You better praying mantis boy!” Lily said and took a step back.
“Like I said Benbrook let’s make a deal.”
Principal Benbrook furrowed his eyebrows and frowned at Michael. The cameraman came in close and Mrs. Grossman leaned her microphone in as close as possible.
“What do you want?” Principal Benbrook asked regrettably.
Michael grinned. “You let us keep Bob and give Ms. Ululani all the paint she wants and we’ll walk away.”
Everyone held their breath. Kat held her father’s hand. She could even feel his own heartbeat racing.
“And that’s all?” Principal Benbrook asked folding his arms.
“Well,” Michael said stretching the negotiations. “There is one more piece. An offer of good will is what I think they call it on T.V.” Michael winked at the camera. His mom gave him a quick thumbs up and refocused the microphone.
“And what do I have to do?” Principal Benbrook asked.
“Just take a picture with my pet Fluffy,” Michael said calmly. “Show us that animals aren’t all that bad.”
Principal Benbrook laughed out loud. What kind of deal was this. Of course they could never hold him to it, he didn’t sign a contract.
Kids are so dumb, he thought.
“Fine, bring on Fluffy,” Principal Benbrook agreed.
“Are you nuts?” Lily asked Michael.
“Have a little faith,” he said as Jacob handed him Fluffy.
Lily took one look at Fluffy and had to hold back her laughter. “Oh! You’re good!”
Principal Benbrook was so focused on the camera that he never noticed that Michael had place Fluffy on his shoulder.
“There we go,” Michael said. “Now that makes a nice picture. Isn’t she pretty up there!”
Principal Benbrook looked away from the camera and froze when he saw Fluffy. He didn’t have to turn his head very far to see the hairy legs or to feel the furry body nuzzle against his face. Principal Benbrook looked down in terror at the eight large eyes of Fluffy the tarantula.
“Aw, they’re friends,” Sophie laughed.
“AH!” Principal Benbrook screamed.
Fluffy tensed up on his shoulder which caused to him scream even more.
“Get it off! Get it off!”
Michael gently removed Fluffy and everyone began to laugh.
“I quit!” he screamed. Principal Benbrook didn’t waste any time. He pushed over several sixth graders and a girl scout to get out of the mob. He didn’t stop running until he reached his car.
Within in seconds, he was gone.
“I guess that means we won,” Michael said smiling into the camera.
Chapter Twenty-Five - Watching the Clock
Kat sat at the breakfast table Saturday morning, slowly chewing on a strawberry Pop-tart. She looked at the clock. 8:15 am. That left only forty-five minutes until she had to be at the school.
Yesterday, she and Lily had spent all of recess and nearly an hour after school with Ms. Ululani. They designed colorful posters and even came up with chants to use at the protest. Ms. Ululani brought out Buttercup and introduced him to the girls. Although he was scary at first, Kat and Lily could see how beautiful he really was.
“It’s funny how people are always scared of what’s different,” Ms. Ululani said stroking Buttercup.
Lily looked at Kat. “I know what you mean.”
By 4:00 pm, the girls had made posters for all of the fourth graders in their class. They could only hope that they would all show up.
Kat took another slow bite of the Pop-tart and swirled it around her moth. She had to string out breakfast as long as possible. Dad hadn’t left yet.
“Hey there kiddo,” Uncle Chad said coming into the kitchen. “You sure are eating that Pop-tart slowly.”
“Guess I’m not hungry,” Kat said. She took another look at the clock. 8:20 am.
When is he going to leave, she thought.
“It’s cause of all that sugar,” Uncle Chad winked. “You’ll be too sweet if you finish it all.”
Uncle Chad laughed to himself and went about making his protein shake for the morning.
Kat smiled and began to tap her fingers on the table. Dad was never late.
“Is there a keyboard on that table or are you waiting on something?” Uncle Chad asked.
Kat curled her fingers up and smiled, embarrassed.
“Just waiting for my dad,” Kat said.
“Oh, he left ages ago,” Uncle Chad said sitting down at the table with his shake.
“What?” Kat said dropping her Pop-tart on the floor. Princess Puffball scurried under the table and pulled the Pop-tart away in her teeth.
“Yeah,” Uncle Chad said taking a drink. “He had to make sure that he had the right tools for the job. Said it’s a pretty big one this time. Lots of dead bugs.”
Kat hadn’t planned on this. Dad never left this early for a job. All of her plans were throw off now. She had to move quickly.
“Oh, we was supposed to drive me to school this morning,” Kat said slyly. She knew Uncle Chad wouldn’t catch on. The last time Kat and her dad had talked about Bob, Uncle Chad had been at the hardware store tossing fifty pound sand bags for fun.
“You still working on that bug project with that pest Lily?” Uncle Chad asked.
Kat froze.
“How’d you remember that?” Kat asked a little alarmed.
Uncle Chad laughed. “I do have more than just muscles you know,” he said. “I did get a college degree in history.”
“Is that why you’re so good at telling stories?” Kat asked.
“Telling stories and taking nieces to school,” Uncle Chad said.
Kat breathed a sigh of relief. 8:30 am. She’d be at school before her father. That’s all that mattered.
Kat ran to her room quickly and slid on her ‘Save Bob’ shirt. She took a look in the mirror and smiled. For once in her life she knew what a superhero felt like.
As Kat and Uncle Chad pulled up in front of Edgeview Elementary, they were greeted by more than just Lily.
Outside of the school, almost every single fourth grader stood in front of the school. Jacob stood with his sister Sophie at his side. She had invited her whole girl scout troupe to help save Bob. Each girl had made their very own Bob out of pom poms and pipe cleaners.
“What is going on?” Uncle Chad asked suspiciously.
Kat looked around at all of the students. Nearly half of the school was here.
“We’re going to save Bob,” Kat said proudly.
Uncle Chad parked the car and Kat quickly unbuckled herself. She ran to the front of the school and hugged Lily.
“This is amazing,” Kat said.
“I know,” Lily agreed.
All around them, kids were plastered in ‘Save Bob’ t-shirts. Confused parents waited around, ready to see exactly what their children were so angry about. In the bus loop, a lone reporter geared up with her cameraman.
“Wait a second,” Uncle Chad said once he caught up to Kat. “Isn’t this the school that your father is working on today?”
Kat turned to her uncle and nodded. It was the first time in her life that Kat had ever tried to stop her father from doing something.
“I don’t think this is such a great idea,” Uncle Chad said. “Your dad already has enough on his plate.”
Kat’s mind had already been made up. This wasn’t going to stop until Bob was safe and ‘The Rules’ were broken forever.
“Hi there,” Ms. Ululani said coming over to break the tension. She wore a bright yellow shirt that said ‘Save Buttercup’ across the front. Strung around her neck was Buttercup, flicking his tongue and tasting the air around him.
“Hi,” Uncle Chad said completely entranced. “I’m Kat’s uncle, Chad. Chad Westwood.”
“I’m Lana,” Ms. Ululani said. “The art teacher.”
“Art teacher?” Uncle Chad said. “You know I’ve got a great story about Picasso. You like nachos?”
Kat laughed. It was funny watching her uncle flirt. Uncle Chad looked at Kat and scowled.
“Maybe we can stay for a little bit,” Uncle Chad said, smiling to Ms. Ululani.
Yes, Kat thought.
The doors to the school clicked and unbolted suddenly. All of the children turned around and started to chant.
“One, two, three, four, we won’t squish Bob on the floor.”
Principal Eugene Benbrook stood in the main doorway of Edgeview Elementary. He stood calmly looking at the screaming children and their interested parents.
“Five, Six, Seven, Eight, we won’t kick him out to be bird bait.”
Principal Benbrook’s calm stare warmed into an evil smile as he looked past everyone there. A pick-up truck pulled into the parking lot in front of the school. Kat swallowed hard as she watched her father storm out of the car.
“What is going on here,” he said looking at the ever growing group of students. “There must be at least three hundred people here!”
Kat fixed her eyes on her father.
Sorry, she thought.
“We’re saving Bob!”
Yesterday, she and Lily had spent all of recess and nearly an hour after school with Ms. Ululani. They designed colorful posters and even came up with chants to use at the protest. Ms. Ululani brought out Buttercup and introduced him to the girls. Although he was scary at first, Kat and Lily could see how beautiful he really was.
“It’s funny how people are always scared of what’s different,” Ms. Ululani said stroking Buttercup.
Lily looked at Kat. “I know what you mean.”
By 4:00 pm, the girls had made posters for all of the fourth graders in their class. They could only hope that they would all show up.
Kat took another slow bite of the Pop-tart and swirled it around her moth. She had to string out breakfast as long as possible. Dad hadn’t left yet.
“Hey there kiddo,” Uncle Chad said coming into the kitchen. “You sure are eating that Pop-tart slowly.”
“Guess I’m not hungry,” Kat said. She took another look at the clock. 8:20 am.
When is he going to leave, she thought.
“It’s cause of all that sugar,” Uncle Chad winked. “You’ll be too sweet if you finish it all.”
Uncle Chad laughed to himself and went about making his protein shake for the morning.
Kat smiled and began to tap her fingers on the table. Dad was never late.
“Is there a keyboard on that table or are you waiting on something?” Uncle Chad asked.
Kat curled her fingers up and smiled, embarrassed.
“Just waiting for my dad,” Kat said.
“Oh, he left ages ago,” Uncle Chad said sitting down at the table with his shake.
“What?” Kat said dropping her Pop-tart on the floor. Princess Puffball scurried under the table and pulled the Pop-tart away in her teeth.
“Yeah,” Uncle Chad said taking a drink. “He had to make sure that he had the right tools for the job. Said it’s a pretty big one this time. Lots of dead bugs.”
Kat hadn’t planned on this. Dad never left this early for a job. All of her plans were throw off now. She had to move quickly.
“Oh, we was supposed to drive me to school this morning,” Kat said slyly. She knew Uncle Chad wouldn’t catch on. The last time Kat and her dad had talked about Bob, Uncle Chad had been at the hardware store tossing fifty pound sand bags for fun.
“You still working on that bug project with that pest Lily?” Uncle Chad asked.
Kat froze.
“How’d you remember that?” Kat asked a little alarmed.
Uncle Chad laughed. “I do have more than just muscles you know,” he said. “I did get a college degree in history.”
“Is that why you’re so good at telling stories?” Kat asked.
“Telling stories and taking nieces to school,” Uncle Chad said.
Kat breathed a sigh of relief. 8:30 am. She’d be at school before her father. That’s all that mattered.
Kat ran to her room quickly and slid on her ‘Save Bob’ shirt. She took a look in the mirror and smiled. For once in her life she knew what a superhero felt like.
As Kat and Uncle Chad pulled up in front of Edgeview Elementary, they were greeted by more than just Lily.
Outside of the school, almost every single fourth grader stood in front of the school. Jacob stood with his sister Sophie at his side. She had invited her whole girl scout troupe to help save Bob. Each girl had made their very own Bob out of pom poms and pipe cleaners.
“What is going on?” Uncle Chad asked suspiciously.
Kat looked around at all of the students. Nearly half of the school was here.
“We’re going to save Bob,” Kat said proudly.
Uncle Chad parked the car and Kat quickly unbuckled herself. She ran to the front of the school and hugged Lily.
“This is amazing,” Kat said.
“I know,” Lily agreed.
All around them, kids were plastered in ‘Save Bob’ t-shirts. Confused parents waited around, ready to see exactly what their children were so angry about. In the bus loop, a lone reporter geared up with her cameraman.
“Wait a second,” Uncle Chad said once he caught up to Kat. “Isn’t this the school that your father is working on today?”
Kat turned to her uncle and nodded. It was the first time in her life that Kat had ever tried to stop her father from doing something.
“I don’t think this is such a great idea,” Uncle Chad said. “Your dad already has enough on his plate.”
Kat’s mind had already been made up. This wasn’t going to stop until Bob was safe and ‘The Rules’ were broken forever.
“Hi there,” Ms. Ululani said coming over to break the tension. She wore a bright yellow shirt that said ‘Save Buttercup’ across the front. Strung around her neck was Buttercup, flicking his tongue and tasting the air around him.
“Hi,” Uncle Chad said completely entranced. “I’m Kat’s uncle, Chad. Chad Westwood.”
“I’m Lana,” Ms. Ululani said. “The art teacher.”
“Art teacher?” Uncle Chad said. “You know I’ve got a great story about Picasso. You like nachos?”
Kat laughed. It was funny watching her uncle flirt. Uncle Chad looked at Kat and scowled.
“Maybe we can stay for a little bit,” Uncle Chad said, smiling to Ms. Ululani.
Yes, Kat thought.
The doors to the school clicked and unbolted suddenly. All of the children turned around and started to chant.
“One, two, three, four, we won’t squish Bob on the floor.”
Principal Eugene Benbrook stood in the main doorway of Edgeview Elementary. He stood calmly looking at the screaming children and their interested parents.
“Five, Six, Seven, Eight, we won’t kick him out to be bird bait.”
Principal Benbrook’s calm stare warmed into an evil smile as he looked past everyone there. A pick-up truck pulled into the parking lot in front of the school. Kat swallowed hard as she watched her father storm out of the car.
“What is going on here,” he said looking at the ever growing group of students. “There must be at least three hundred people here!”
Kat fixed her eyes on her father.
Sorry, she thought.
“We’re saving Bob!”
Chapter Twenty-Four - Buttercup
At recess, the four made a plan of attack to get ready for the protest. It was Michael’s and Jacob’s job to go outside and talk to every single fourth grader. They all had to come to the protest if it was going to work. Hopefully, word would spread beyond the playground and everyone in the school would turn out for Bob.
Lily and Kat were to take on Ms. Ululani. They knew it wouldn’t be too hard to convince her. Every morning since the beginning of school she was fighting with Principal Benbrook. She wanted supplies so badly, she even taught the second graders how to paint with mustard and ketchup from the cafeteria.
Kat knocked on Ms. Ululani’s door and looked at Lily. This speech had to be perfect.
“Aloha girls,” Ms. Ululani said energetically. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
Kat took in a breath before she spoke. “We need some poster board.”
“And paint,” Lily added. “If you have any.”
Ms. Ululani sighed and frowned. She ushered the girls into the room silently and shut the door.
“You are honestly asking me for paint,” Ms. Ululani said.
“We thought you might have some hidden,” Lily said looking from side to side. She wouldn’t put it passed Benbrook to bug the place.
“Hidden,” Ms. Ululani laughed, repeating the word slowly to herself.
“We’re having a protest tomorrow,” Kat said. “To save Bob.”
Ms. Ululani smiled at the girls. The idea amused her. “Protest for Bob?”
“For Bob,” Kat said firmly. “And against ‘The Rules’.”
“Hot dog!” Ms. Ululani shouted. She jumped into the air and triumphantly pumped her first.
“Now that’s my kind of protest!”
Kat and Lily smiled. With Ms. Ululani on their side there was no way they could lose.
“So do you have any paint?” Lily probed.
“Wahine, I’ve got way more than that,” Ms. Ululani said. She ushered the girls to the art room supply closet and flipped a switch.
Inside the supply room were several shelves full of nothing but pencils and paper.
“Those are the shelves Eugene knows about,” Ms. Ululani said and went deeper into the storage room. They passed by shelves that held sand, leaves, and even some small shells. Copper wires, yarn, and pipe cleaners poked out from a box marked ‘BANNED’.
“I thought only paint and glitter were against ‘The Rules’,” Kat said.
Ms. Ululani stopped at another door in the storage room. It was hidden behind a shelf of industrial size buckets of cleaner.
“It’s amazing what that man sees as trouble,” Ms. Ululani said.
Kat could relate. Daddy long legs then tipped library books and glitter. It was like being illegal to be a kid.
“Now let me show you something no one else knows about,” Ms. Ululani said taking a small key from her pocket and unlocking the door.
A strange red glow filtered out of the room. It took a moment for Kat and Lily to realize that it was coming from a large glass cage in the room.
“Is that a heat lamp?” Lily asked.
“Is that a snake?” Kat nearly yelled.
“Girls, meet me my baby boy Buttercup.”
Four feet of yellow and white scales slithered along the bottom of the out of place fish tank.
“That thing belongs in a zoo,” Lily yelled.
“Aw not Buttercup,” Ms. Ululani said reaching her hand into the tank and petting Buttercup like a puppy. “He’s only a baby.”
“Ms. Ululani,” Kat said. “Why is Buttercup hidden back here?”
Ms. Ululani looked fondly at Buttercup and frowned.
“I’ve been teaching for nearly ten years now,” she said. “I began in Hawaii where I was born and have taught in a new state every year. My goal is to teach around the world. I’ve taken so many classes that I am trained to teach art, CPR, cake decorating, how to use power tools, and I’m even certified to be a principal if I ever wanted to leave teaching. Buttercup here was a gift from a friend back home on the islands. Buttercup is home to me. In every school I’ve ever taught in I was allowed to keep pets. Every school except Edgeview.”
“Because of ‘The Rules’,” Kat spat.
Ms. Ululani grinned. “Which is exactly why I’m here to help you with the protest!”
“You will?” Lily gasped.
“Of course!” Ms. Ululani said ruffling Lily’s hair. “Any chance to get back at Eugene Benbrook’s
rules is a chance I’ll take.”
Kat and Lily high-fived one another. When they worked together they made quiet a team. By this time tomorrow Bob would be safe.
“Buttercup isn’t the only thing hidden away in here,” Ms. Ululani said finally flipping on the light switch.
Kat and Lily gasped. Three towering shelved lined the wall opposite of Buttercup’s cage. Each shelf was bursting with hundreds of different colors of paints and glitters. Every shade of every color eve known seemed to be there. They had the strangest names as well.
Caramel macaroni and cheese.
Purple sugar marshmallows.
Kat’s favorite was the clear glitter named ‘Shattering Glass’.
“What is this place?” Kat asked.
“After the whole science fair incident, this is where they locked up all the supplies,” Ms. Ululani said. “Benbrook thinks they were thrown away.”
“Wow,” Lily gasped.
Ms. Ululani smiled. “Let’s protest!”
Lily and Kat were to take on Ms. Ululani. They knew it wouldn’t be too hard to convince her. Every morning since the beginning of school she was fighting with Principal Benbrook. She wanted supplies so badly, she even taught the second graders how to paint with mustard and ketchup from the cafeteria.
Kat knocked on Ms. Ululani’s door and looked at Lily. This speech had to be perfect.
“Aloha girls,” Ms. Ululani said energetically. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
Kat took in a breath before she spoke. “We need some poster board.”
“And paint,” Lily added. “If you have any.”
Ms. Ululani sighed and frowned. She ushered the girls into the room silently and shut the door.
“You are honestly asking me for paint,” Ms. Ululani said.
“We thought you might have some hidden,” Lily said looking from side to side. She wouldn’t put it passed Benbrook to bug the place.
“Hidden,” Ms. Ululani laughed, repeating the word slowly to herself.
“We’re having a protest tomorrow,” Kat said. “To save Bob.”
Ms. Ululani smiled at the girls. The idea amused her. “Protest for Bob?”
“For Bob,” Kat said firmly. “And against ‘The Rules’.”
“Hot dog!” Ms. Ululani shouted. She jumped into the air and triumphantly pumped her first.
“Now that’s my kind of protest!”
Kat and Lily smiled. With Ms. Ululani on their side there was no way they could lose.
“So do you have any paint?” Lily probed.
“Wahine, I’ve got way more than that,” Ms. Ululani said. She ushered the girls to the art room supply closet and flipped a switch.
Inside the supply room were several shelves full of nothing but pencils and paper.
“Those are the shelves Eugene knows about,” Ms. Ululani said and went deeper into the storage room. They passed by shelves that held sand, leaves, and even some small shells. Copper wires, yarn, and pipe cleaners poked out from a box marked ‘BANNED’.
“I thought only paint and glitter were against ‘The Rules’,” Kat said.
Ms. Ululani stopped at another door in the storage room. It was hidden behind a shelf of industrial size buckets of cleaner.
“It’s amazing what that man sees as trouble,” Ms. Ululani said.
Kat could relate. Daddy long legs then tipped library books and glitter. It was like being illegal to be a kid.
“Now let me show you something no one else knows about,” Ms. Ululani said taking a small key from her pocket and unlocking the door.
A strange red glow filtered out of the room. It took a moment for Kat and Lily to realize that it was coming from a large glass cage in the room.
“Is that a heat lamp?” Lily asked.
“Is that a snake?” Kat nearly yelled.
“Girls, meet me my baby boy Buttercup.”
Four feet of yellow and white scales slithered along the bottom of the out of place fish tank.
“That thing belongs in a zoo,” Lily yelled.
“Aw not Buttercup,” Ms. Ululani said reaching her hand into the tank and petting Buttercup like a puppy. “He’s only a baby.”
“Ms. Ululani,” Kat said. “Why is Buttercup hidden back here?”
Ms. Ululani looked fondly at Buttercup and frowned.
“I’ve been teaching for nearly ten years now,” she said. “I began in Hawaii where I was born and have taught in a new state every year. My goal is to teach around the world. I’ve taken so many classes that I am trained to teach art, CPR, cake decorating, how to use power tools, and I’m even certified to be a principal if I ever wanted to leave teaching. Buttercup here was a gift from a friend back home on the islands. Buttercup is home to me. In every school I’ve ever taught in I was allowed to keep pets. Every school except Edgeview.”
“Because of ‘The Rules’,” Kat spat.
Ms. Ululani grinned. “Which is exactly why I’m here to help you with the protest!”
“You will?” Lily gasped.
“Of course!” Ms. Ululani said ruffling Lily’s hair. “Any chance to get back at Eugene Benbrook’s
rules is a chance I’ll take.”
Kat and Lily high-fived one another. When they worked together they made quiet a team. By this time tomorrow Bob would be safe.
“Buttercup isn’t the only thing hidden away in here,” Ms. Ululani said finally flipping on the light switch.
Kat and Lily gasped. Three towering shelved lined the wall opposite of Buttercup’s cage. Each shelf was bursting with hundreds of different colors of paints and glitters. Every shade of every color eve known seemed to be there. They had the strangest names as well.
Caramel macaroni and cheese.
Purple sugar marshmallows.
Kat’s favorite was the clear glitter named ‘Shattering Glass’.
“What is this place?” Kat asked.
“After the whole science fair incident, this is where they locked up all the supplies,” Ms. Ululani said. “Benbrook thinks they were thrown away.”
“Wow,” Lily gasped.
Ms. Ululani smiled. “Let’s protest!”
Chapter Twenty-Three - Protest and Plans
“We’ve got to do something,” Lily repeated.
Michael slowly made his way back to the table, rubbing his nose. He carried his empty container and dumped it unceremoniously at his desk.
“Lily is right,” Jacob agreed. “We need to stop Benbrook once and for all.”
“What are you talking about?” Michael said holding his nose.
Kat repeated this disturbing details of how Benbrook hired her father to bug bomb the school. Kat waited in silence, afraid that she’d have to fight for her father. It did matter that he was going to get Bob, but first and foremost he was her father.
“It’s not like he wants to kill Bob,” Kat countered. “It’s just his job and Benbrook is paying him a lot. I don’t know what to do.”
“Protest,” Michael said.
“What?” Kat asked.
“Protest,” Michael said again. He took his hand from his nose and grinned. “My dad protested when he was a kid.”
“What happened?” Lily asked.
“He was six and his parents wouldn’t let him have his favorite ice cream after dinner because he didn’t finish his vegetables. He sat on the steps, telling them he was protesting sleep until he had ice cream.”
“Did he get the ice cream?” Jacob asked.
“I don’t think so,” Michael said, trying to recall the story. “I think he actually fell asleep on the stairs.”
“So he didn’t get any ice cream?” Lily asked.
“Um, no. But he made his point! Well until he fell asleep.”
Lily rolled her eyes. This wasn’t the time to be silly. They needed a plan and soon. The end of the school day was only four hours away.
“But if we get a bunch of people, we could protest,” Kat said putting two and two together. “We
could even block the doors.”
“And make signs,” Lily chimed in.
“And more t-shirts,” Jacob said.
“And my mom could get us on T.V.,” Michael said like it was no big thing.
“T.V.?” Kat and Lily said together.
“There’s no way we can fail,” Jacob said.
Kat looked over at Ms. Catarinas. Perhaps she would help them out by giving them supplies. It wasn’t very likely that Kat’s father would take her out for poster board to protest his job.
Kat waited through the rest of science before approaching Ms. Catarinas. It was DEAR time and she was supposed to be reading, but the protest plans just couldn’t wait.
“Excuse me Ms. Catarinas,” Kat whispered. “I have a question.”
“Yes?” Ms. Catarinas whispered, putting down her own book.
“You see, we have a problem. Principal Benbrook hired my dad to get rid of all the bugs in the school.”
Ms. Catarinas sighed. No teaching classes or her student teaching could have prepared her for this. She had always been taught to let children pursue what impassioned them, but she wasn’t so sure anymore.
“And you see,” Kat continued, “we’re going to protest tomorrow in front of the school. We were wondering if we could have some poster board to make signs.”
“Kat,” Ms. Catarinas began.
“I promise we’ll do it outside of school,” Kat swore. “No paint and no glitter in here.”
Ms. Catarinas smiled sadly.
“Kat,” she began again. “Remember when you and Lily had the glitter two days ago?”
“Yes,” Kat said not proud of herself.
“You weren’t the only one who was punished because of it.”
“What do you mean?” Kat asked. She had never heard of a teacher getting in trouble because of a student.
“After school, Principal Benbrook tipped over every shelf in the library that had books with bugs. He stamped over them and told me that the only good bug is a dead one. Then I had to reshelf them all.”
“What?” Kat gasped loudly. Several students turned toward her, jolted out of their reading books.
“I wish I could help you out Kat, I really do,” Ms. Catarinas said spinning her engagement ring.
“But if I don’t get a good review I may not have a job when I get married and move.”
Kat looked crushed.
“But I do know someone who might be able to help you,” Ms. Catarinas said hinting at something more. “I know the art room is in need of some help, if you catch my drift.”
Kat smiled. She respected Ms. Catarinas so much. Even though she faced so many problems from the abominable Benbrook, she was still there trying to help.
“Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow,” Ms. Catarinas said winking.
“Nine AM,” Kat giggled. “I’ll make you a t-shirt just in case.”
Ms. Catarinas smiled appreciatively.
Kat returned to her desk full of new hope.
“What she say?” Lily asked immediately.
“She said she can’t help us because Benbrook is a monster and might ruin her job. But I know where we’ll go for recess!”
“Where,” Jacob, Lily, and Michael asked together.
“Art.”
Michael slowly made his way back to the table, rubbing his nose. He carried his empty container and dumped it unceremoniously at his desk.
“Lily is right,” Jacob agreed. “We need to stop Benbrook once and for all.”
“What are you talking about?” Michael said holding his nose.
Kat repeated this disturbing details of how Benbrook hired her father to bug bomb the school. Kat waited in silence, afraid that she’d have to fight for her father. It did matter that he was going to get Bob, but first and foremost he was her father.
“It’s not like he wants to kill Bob,” Kat countered. “It’s just his job and Benbrook is paying him a lot. I don’t know what to do.”
“Protest,” Michael said.
“What?” Kat asked.
“Protest,” Michael said again. He took his hand from his nose and grinned. “My dad protested when he was a kid.”
“What happened?” Lily asked.
“He was six and his parents wouldn’t let him have his favorite ice cream after dinner because he didn’t finish his vegetables. He sat on the steps, telling them he was protesting sleep until he had ice cream.”
“Did he get the ice cream?” Jacob asked.
“I don’t think so,” Michael said, trying to recall the story. “I think he actually fell asleep on the stairs.”
“So he didn’t get any ice cream?” Lily asked.
“Um, no. But he made his point! Well until he fell asleep.”
Lily rolled her eyes. This wasn’t the time to be silly. They needed a plan and soon. The end of the school day was only four hours away.
“But if we get a bunch of people, we could protest,” Kat said putting two and two together. “We
could even block the doors.”
“And make signs,” Lily chimed in.
“And more t-shirts,” Jacob said.
“And my mom could get us on T.V.,” Michael said like it was no big thing.
“T.V.?” Kat and Lily said together.
“There’s no way we can fail,” Jacob said.
Kat looked over at Ms. Catarinas. Perhaps she would help them out by giving them supplies. It wasn’t very likely that Kat’s father would take her out for poster board to protest his job.
Kat waited through the rest of science before approaching Ms. Catarinas. It was DEAR time and she was supposed to be reading, but the protest plans just couldn’t wait.
“Excuse me Ms. Catarinas,” Kat whispered. “I have a question.”
“Yes?” Ms. Catarinas whispered, putting down her own book.
“You see, we have a problem. Principal Benbrook hired my dad to get rid of all the bugs in the school.”
Ms. Catarinas sighed. No teaching classes or her student teaching could have prepared her for this. She had always been taught to let children pursue what impassioned them, but she wasn’t so sure anymore.
“And you see,” Kat continued, “we’re going to protest tomorrow in front of the school. We were wondering if we could have some poster board to make signs.”
“Kat,” Ms. Catarinas began.
“I promise we’ll do it outside of school,” Kat swore. “No paint and no glitter in here.”
Ms. Catarinas smiled sadly.
“Kat,” she began again. “Remember when you and Lily had the glitter two days ago?”
“Yes,” Kat said not proud of herself.
“You weren’t the only one who was punished because of it.”
“What do you mean?” Kat asked. She had never heard of a teacher getting in trouble because of a student.
“After school, Principal Benbrook tipped over every shelf in the library that had books with bugs. He stamped over them and told me that the only good bug is a dead one. Then I had to reshelf them all.”
“What?” Kat gasped loudly. Several students turned toward her, jolted out of their reading books.
“I wish I could help you out Kat, I really do,” Ms. Catarinas said spinning her engagement ring.
“But if I don’t get a good review I may not have a job when I get married and move.”
Kat looked crushed.
“But I do know someone who might be able to help you,” Ms. Catarinas said hinting at something more. “I know the art room is in need of some help, if you catch my drift.”
Kat smiled. She respected Ms. Catarinas so much. Even though she faced so many problems from the abominable Benbrook, she was still there trying to help.
“Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow,” Ms. Catarinas said winking.
“Nine AM,” Kat giggled. “I’ll make you a t-shirt just in case.”
Ms. Catarinas smiled appreciatively.
Kat returned to her desk full of new hope.
“What she say?” Lily asked immediately.
“She said she can’t help us because Benbrook is a monster and might ruin her job. But I know where we’ll go for recess!”
“Where,” Jacob, Lily, and Michael asked together.
“Art.”
Chapter Twenty-Two - Firday Morning Karate
The ride to school in the morning was a quiet one. The entire ride Kat continued to replay the conversation from yesterday.
I’ll show him, she thought. He won’t kill Bob.
Kat proudly wore her ‘Save Bob’ shirt in the car. It had been through the wash cycle several times this week and was already looking faded. Kat knew if she ran into Benbrook she’d be in even bigger trouble, but he had gone too far this time.
When Kat showed up at school, the normal crowd outside of Room 222 was no more than two people. Sophie had dragged along her best friend to talk to Lily. Sophie had a homemade ‘Save Bob’ shirt on as well. She proudly stood in the hall and pestered Lily for facts.
Lily looked forlornly at Sophie’s t-shirt and sighed. She pulled at the collar of the sweater she was wearing. A slight bit of blue peeked out, rebelling against eh web of sweater fibers.
“I just need to know a couple of things about Bob to finish my nature badge,” Sophie whined loudly.
“I have already given you a bunch of facts,” Lily said trying to get back into the classroom.
“But I need to know about his children,” Sophie whine even louder.
“Children?” Lily asked.
“Yeah. He’s a daddy isn’t he?”
Lily snorted and slapped her hand to her forehead.
“This conversation is over,” she said sending Sophie away.
Kat walked up to Lily and smiled. It was good to be in school again.
Lily smiled until she saw Kat’s shirt.
“Benbrook put a ban on the shirts,” she said. “If he sees it you’ll have to change and give up your shirt.”
“We’ve got bigger problems,” Kat said bustling into the classroom.
Lily followed quickly on her heels. For the first time in her life, Lily was a follower instead of a lead. And for the first time in her life, Lily didn’t care.
Kat threw her backpack down quickly at her desk and gathered Lily and Jacob. Michael had still not arrived, but this could not wait.
Kat glanced toward the window, but Bob was gone. Kat stopped.
“Kat?” Lily asked.
“Where did he go?” Kat frantically demanded. She was already too late.
“Don’t worry,” Lily said. “He’s safe.”
Close to the bottom of the window Bob was eating away at a pile of fresh aphids.
“Ms. Catarinas brought them for him yesterday,” Jacob said. “She figured he would be safer if he was out of sight.”
Kat breathed out and pushed her hair out of her face. There was just too much going on.
“Principal Benbrook is trying to get Bob tomorrow,” Kat said.
Jacob and Lily raised their eyebrows.
“What are you talking about?” Lily asked.
“My dad is an exterminator and Benbrook hired him,” Kat said sadly.
“What?” Jacob screamed.
Half of the class turned toward Jacob. Ms. Catarinas stood up from her desk where she was taking attendance.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
As Jacob began to answer, Michael burst into the classroom.
“Look what I brought,” he yelled triumphantly. Above his head he held a terrarium with a small green object.
“Praying mantis,” he yelled out. “Hiya, hiya, hiya!”
Michael streaked around the classroom, stirring everyone up.
Kat, Lily, and Jacob started in disbelief as Michael came to their table. Before Ms. Catarinas could stop him, Michael opened the container.
“Mom said he wouldn’t get along with my other pets,” Michael said. “So I thought I’d share him here.”
Michael put his face to the edge of the container and blew onto the praying mantis. The tiny bug bobbed and weaved like Bruce Lee. It began to size Michael up as he blue on it again. It crouched down and like a ninja attacked with praying mantis style.
“AH!” Michael screamed as the praying mantis hooked onto his nose. Had he done any real research, he would have known that praying mantises can fly.
“This is what I’m talking about,” Lily said as Michael ran around the classroom. “He pulled this kind of stuff yesterday too.”
Kat watched as Ms. Catarinas gently tried to pull the praying mantis from Michael’s nose.
“We need a plan,” Kat said.
“Be careful,” Jacob called over to Ms. Catarinas. “It’s illegal to kill them.”
Lily stared in disbelief.
“What?” Jacob complained. “I’ve been doing my research!”
The gears in Kat’s head were turning.
“We need a plan and distractions,” she said smiling.
Kat, Lily, and Jacob all stared at Michael. He streaked as Ms. Catarinas finally removed the mantis. It fluttered quickly in the air and flew out through the open window.
I’ll show him, she thought. He won’t kill Bob.
Kat proudly wore her ‘Save Bob’ shirt in the car. It had been through the wash cycle several times this week and was already looking faded. Kat knew if she ran into Benbrook she’d be in even bigger trouble, but he had gone too far this time.
When Kat showed up at school, the normal crowd outside of Room 222 was no more than two people. Sophie had dragged along her best friend to talk to Lily. Sophie had a homemade ‘Save Bob’ shirt on as well. She proudly stood in the hall and pestered Lily for facts.
Lily looked forlornly at Sophie’s t-shirt and sighed. She pulled at the collar of the sweater she was wearing. A slight bit of blue peeked out, rebelling against eh web of sweater fibers.
“I just need to know a couple of things about Bob to finish my nature badge,” Sophie whined loudly.
“I have already given you a bunch of facts,” Lily said trying to get back into the classroom.
“But I need to know about his children,” Sophie whine even louder.
“Children?” Lily asked.
“Yeah. He’s a daddy isn’t he?”
Lily snorted and slapped her hand to her forehead.
“This conversation is over,” she said sending Sophie away.
Kat walked up to Lily and smiled. It was good to be in school again.
Lily smiled until she saw Kat’s shirt.
“Benbrook put a ban on the shirts,” she said. “If he sees it you’ll have to change and give up your shirt.”
“We’ve got bigger problems,” Kat said bustling into the classroom.
Lily followed quickly on her heels. For the first time in her life, Lily was a follower instead of a lead. And for the first time in her life, Lily didn’t care.
Kat threw her backpack down quickly at her desk and gathered Lily and Jacob. Michael had still not arrived, but this could not wait.
Kat glanced toward the window, but Bob was gone. Kat stopped.
“Kat?” Lily asked.
“Where did he go?” Kat frantically demanded. She was already too late.
“Don’t worry,” Lily said. “He’s safe.”
Close to the bottom of the window Bob was eating away at a pile of fresh aphids.
“Ms. Catarinas brought them for him yesterday,” Jacob said. “She figured he would be safer if he was out of sight.”
Kat breathed out and pushed her hair out of her face. There was just too much going on.
“Principal Benbrook is trying to get Bob tomorrow,” Kat said.
Jacob and Lily raised their eyebrows.
“What are you talking about?” Lily asked.
“My dad is an exterminator and Benbrook hired him,” Kat said sadly.
“What?” Jacob screamed.
Half of the class turned toward Jacob. Ms. Catarinas stood up from her desk where she was taking attendance.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
As Jacob began to answer, Michael burst into the classroom.
“Look what I brought,” he yelled triumphantly. Above his head he held a terrarium with a small green object.
“Praying mantis,” he yelled out. “Hiya, hiya, hiya!”
Michael streaked around the classroom, stirring everyone up.
Kat, Lily, and Jacob started in disbelief as Michael came to their table. Before Ms. Catarinas could stop him, Michael opened the container.
“Mom said he wouldn’t get along with my other pets,” Michael said. “So I thought I’d share him here.”
Michael put his face to the edge of the container and blew onto the praying mantis. The tiny bug bobbed and weaved like Bruce Lee. It began to size Michael up as he blue on it again. It crouched down and like a ninja attacked with praying mantis style.
“AH!” Michael screamed as the praying mantis hooked onto his nose. Had he done any real research, he would have known that praying mantises can fly.
“This is what I’m talking about,” Lily said as Michael ran around the classroom. “He pulled this kind of stuff yesterday too.”
Kat watched as Ms. Catarinas gently tried to pull the praying mantis from Michael’s nose.
“We need a plan,” Kat said.
“Be careful,” Jacob called over to Ms. Catarinas. “It’s illegal to kill them.”
Lily stared in disbelief.
“What?” Jacob complained. “I’ve been doing my research!”
The gears in Kat’s head were turning.
“We need a plan and distractions,” she said smiling.
Kat, Lily, and Jacob all stared at Michael. He streaked as Ms. Catarinas finally removed the mantis. It fluttered quickly in the air and flew out through the open window.
Chapter Twenty One - Home and Heartache
Kat hung up the phone as her father walked in the front door. Tucked away in his armpit was a folder. He was whistling like he was a Broadway performer. Kat listened closely and realized that he was humming Christmas carols.
Kat smiled.
“Isn’t it early for Christmas?” she asked.
“Not today,” her father said excitedly. He picked Kat up and spun her around. He could care less that a fourth grader is too cool to spin with her father in the living room. This was a moment for celebration.
“What’s going on?” Kat asked.
Her father sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to him. Kat obediently took a seat and stared at her father. He beamed and made his eyebrows dance.
“You’re being so weird,” Kat giggled.
“Merry Christmas!” he said handing the folder under his arm to Kat.
Kat read the name on the cover slowly: Serendipity Designs. She had seen signs with the name on it before, but couldn’t remember what they sold.
“What is it?” she asked with a smile.
“Open it,” her father said. “I promise it doesn’t bite.”
Kat grinned and opened the folder. Inside, she found a business card with a picture of a perky blond woman. Her name was Sandy Evans and she was here to ‘Make Every House a Home’. Kat pulled out other papers: blue prints, floor plans, and pictures.
“I don’t understand,” Kat said as she flipped though photos of bathrooms and kitchens.
“That’s our new house,” her father said softly. He seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief at the word ‘house’.
“House?” Kat yelled in excitement. “You mean, we, I, us. House?”
She couldn’t catch her breath. Her mind raced at what all of this meant.
Her father reached over and pulled out a picture of a cozy light blue room. Outside the windows was a forest and Kat could swear she could see a family of squirrels living in the trees.
“This’ll be your room,” her father said. He paused and looked at Kat. She stared at the photo like it was a precious treasure.
“Now I know it’s only a townhouse,” her father said. “But it comes right up to the park land. Just down the street is a little pond. The realtor said that it’s full of turtles in spring.”
Kat hugged the picture and closed her eyes. She’d have a new home, another new start.
“What about Uncle Chad and Princess Puffball?” Kat asked suddenly concerned.
Her father laughed out loud.
“Are you really worried about the Gray Terror?”
Kat smiled softly. Things had been getting better. Princess Puffball was sleeping next to her every morning now. Lily and she were friends. It was strange to have her enemies grow to like her, but Kat was finally happy.
“But Dad how can you afford it?” Kat asked as a thought struck her mind.
He smiled big and looked at the pictures of the house one more time.
“I landed the job of a lifetime,” he said. “In one weekend I’ll be able to pay off our first two months mortgage.”
Kat gasped in excitement. “Where did you find a job like that?” she asked her eyes awash in wonder.
“Your school,” he said proudly.
Kat let the bedroom photo drop from her finders. She felt as if she had been punched in the stomach.
“Your principal called me today and I was certain that you were in trouble for something else. Honestly this whole glitter business is absurd. Now your uncle got suspended or a good reason. Eggs and scaling the school is a good reason to get in trouble.”
“What did he tell you?” Kat asked panic rising in her voice.
“He said he’s got a pest problem in the fourth grade. Whole bunch of pests.” He winked at Kat and grinned at his joke.
“Ha ha,” Kat said clearly not amused.
“He said that whole school needs to be bug bombed,” her father said seriously. “Kat I don’t understand why this is such a big problem. Your principal is helping to pay for our new home!”
“And he’s doing it by killing Bob,” Kat said pushing the rest of the house photos out of her father’s hand.
“Hey now,” her father reprimanded. “What are you talking about?”
“Bob!” Kat shrieked and stood up. “The daddy long legs. You can’t kill him. Everything is better because of him.”
Kat’s father looked at her completely confused. Killing bugs had always been his life.
“And now Puff likes me and Lily isn’t going to deck me in kickball anymore,” Kat continued to rant. “I have friends now! You can’t kill Bob because of a dumb rule. You can’t!”
Tears began to stream down Kat’s reddening cheeks. Her father hadn’t seen Kat like this since her mother had passed away.
“Kathryn” he said softly touching her hand. “I thought that you wanted a new home.”
“I do,” Kat sobbed. “But I also want Bob.”
Her father sighed hard.
“This is my job Kathryn,” he said apologetically. “And the contracts have already been put in.”
Kat shook as she silently stared at her father through tear blurred eyes. She choked on two sobs before he left the living room with the pictures of her pretty house scattered all over the floor.
She ran to her bedroom and slammed the door. Princess Puffball lay curled up on her bed. She mewed softly and walked towards Kat. She rubbed up against Kat’s side as Kat sat down on the bed.
Kat looked at her dresser and tried to force the tears out of her eyes. Sitting on top of her dresser was the one thing that meant more than anything else right now: a t-shirt.
Kat reached over and slide the fabric over her head. She looked down and knew what she would do as soon as she got done with being suspended over some stupid glitter.
Save Bob!
Kat smiled.
“Isn’t it early for Christmas?” she asked.
“Not today,” her father said excitedly. He picked Kat up and spun her around. He could care less that a fourth grader is too cool to spin with her father in the living room. This was a moment for celebration.
“What’s going on?” Kat asked.
Her father sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to him. Kat obediently took a seat and stared at her father. He beamed and made his eyebrows dance.
“You’re being so weird,” Kat giggled.
“Merry Christmas!” he said handing the folder under his arm to Kat.
Kat read the name on the cover slowly: Serendipity Designs. She had seen signs with the name on it before, but couldn’t remember what they sold.
“What is it?” she asked with a smile.
“Open it,” her father said. “I promise it doesn’t bite.”
Kat grinned and opened the folder. Inside, she found a business card with a picture of a perky blond woman. Her name was Sandy Evans and she was here to ‘Make Every House a Home’. Kat pulled out other papers: blue prints, floor plans, and pictures.
“I don’t understand,” Kat said as she flipped though photos of bathrooms and kitchens.
“That’s our new house,” her father said softly. He seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief at the word ‘house’.
“House?” Kat yelled in excitement. “You mean, we, I, us. House?”
She couldn’t catch her breath. Her mind raced at what all of this meant.
Her father reached over and pulled out a picture of a cozy light blue room. Outside the windows was a forest and Kat could swear she could see a family of squirrels living in the trees.
“This’ll be your room,” her father said. He paused and looked at Kat. She stared at the photo like it was a precious treasure.
“Now I know it’s only a townhouse,” her father said. “But it comes right up to the park land. Just down the street is a little pond. The realtor said that it’s full of turtles in spring.”
Kat hugged the picture and closed her eyes. She’d have a new home, another new start.
“What about Uncle Chad and Princess Puffball?” Kat asked suddenly concerned.
Her father laughed out loud.
“Are you really worried about the Gray Terror?”
Kat smiled softly. Things had been getting better. Princess Puffball was sleeping next to her every morning now. Lily and she were friends. It was strange to have her enemies grow to like her, but Kat was finally happy.
“But Dad how can you afford it?” Kat asked as a thought struck her mind.
He smiled big and looked at the pictures of the house one more time.
“I landed the job of a lifetime,” he said. “In one weekend I’ll be able to pay off our first two months mortgage.”
Kat gasped in excitement. “Where did you find a job like that?” she asked her eyes awash in wonder.
“Your school,” he said proudly.
Kat let the bedroom photo drop from her finders. She felt as if she had been punched in the stomach.
“Your principal called me today and I was certain that you were in trouble for something else. Honestly this whole glitter business is absurd. Now your uncle got suspended or a good reason. Eggs and scaling the school is a good reason to get in trouble.”
“What did he tell you?” Kat asked panic rising in her voice.
“He said he’s got a pest problem in the fourth grade. Whole bunch of pests.” He winked at Kat and grinned at his joke.
“Ha ha,” Kat said clearly not amused.
“He said that whole school needs to be bug bombed,” her father said seriously. “Kat I don’t understand why this is such a big problem. Your principal is helping to pay for our new home!”
“And he’s doing it by killing Bob,” Kat said pushing the rest of the house photos out of her father’s hand.
“Hey now,” her father reprimanded. “What are you talking about?”
“Bob!” Kat shrieked and stood up. “The daddy long legs. You can’t kill him. Everything is better because of him.”
Kat’s father looked at her completely confused. Killing bugs had always been his life.
“And now Puff likes me and Lily isn’t going to deck me in kickball anymore,” Kat continued to rant. “I have friends now! You can’t kill Bob because of a dumb rule. You can’t!”
Tears began to stream down Kat’s reddening cheeks. Her father hadn’t seen Kat like this since her mother had passed away.
“Kathryn” he said softly touching her hand. “I thought that you wanted a new home.”
“I do,” Kat sobbed. “But I also want Bob.”
Her father sighed hard.
“This is my job Kathryn,” he said apologetically. “And the contracts have already been put in.”
Kat shook as she silently stared at her father through tear blurred eyes. She choked on two sobs before he left the living room with the pictures of her pretty house scattered all over the floor.
She ran to her bedroom and slammed the door. Princess Puffball lay curled up on her bed. She mewed softly and walked towards Kat. She rubbed up against Kat’s side as Kat sat down on the bed.
Kat looked at her dresser and tried to force the tears out of her eyes. Sitting on top of her dresser was the one thing that meant more than anything else right now: a t-shirt.
Kat reached over and slide the fabric over her head. She looked down and knew what she would do as soon as she got done with being suspended over some stupid glitter.
Save Bob!
Chapter Twenty - Phone Calls and Friendships
Kat woke up late on Thursday morning. There was no point in getting up if there was no school. Early this morning she had the spider dream again, but it was taking on new twists.
The spider now had the face of Lily and it continued to scream at her about Bob.
“Why won’t you save him,” the Lily-spider shrieked.
When Kat would try to escape through the windows, the Lily-spider would grab her. Kat awoke when the Lily-spider would begin to eat her.
Kat spent her morning finally researching her facts about Bob. She found out that daddy leg legs were also known as vibrating spiders. They live in huge nests and when attacked they vibrate together.
“Gross,” Kat said.
She was reading at the kitchen table, nibbling at a Pop-tart when Uncle Chad walked in with a gym bag over his shoulder. He looked like he had just returned from the swimming pool. He smelled like the pool was full of garbage.
“Training?” Kat asked.
Uncle Chad dumped his things on the kitchen floor and smiled. Princess Puffball slinked over to investigate, but was quickly scared off by the smell.
“You better believe it,” Uncle Chad said.
He ruffled Kat’s hair and began to make himself a protein shake.
“You were in bed late,” he said over the whir of the blender. “Why are you home again? You sick?”
“Suspended,” Kat grimaced.
Uncle Chad stopped the blender and looked at Kat.
“Did you finally sock that Lily girl?”
“No,” Kat said playing with the corners of her insect book. “Apparently having glitter is the same as defacing school property.”
“Is that part of ‘The Rules’ too?” Uncle Chad asked.
“Yup,” Kat said. “No paint, no glitter, no animals, and especially no bugs.”
“And no life,” Uncle Chad laughed. “I wonder what he would do if someone showed up in body
paint.”
Kat smiled and closed her book. There was never a chance of focusing when Uncle Chad was home.
Uncle Chad finished his shake and poured in it a glass. He sat down with Kat, closed his eyes and smiled.
Another Uncle Chad story, Kat thought.
“I remember when I got suspended from school once. It was back in the fifth grade and we were doing this egg drop experiment. We had to design a ‘ship’ for our eggs to keep them safe when landing. Everyone made sure that they put a lot of padding into their projects. We were supposed to be learning about physics, but I just wanted to watch those suckers splatter.
“Well, my friend Sammy and I decided that we wanted to test them early. We managed to make it on the roof of the school by climbing up a tree with our projects under our chins. Sammy’s design was flawless. It was so solid that there was no way his egg would crack. It would have broken someone’s foot because it was so heavy and protected. Me, I brought a whole carton of eggs just to see them smack on the pavement below.”
Kat giggled. Who knew her uncle was such a rule breaker.
“We walked around the roof for a while, trying to find the best place to drop. We played tag and Sammy nearly pushed me off the roof. Found out at that moment exactly how afraid of heights I really am!”
“You’re afraid of heights?” Kat marveled.
“Why do you think we live on the first floor?” Uncle Chad asked.
Kat sat back in shock.
“When we finally found the tallest point of the roof, we were found out by the principal. Guess somebody called him. He was so mad he was shaking like a wet hen.
“’Drop what you have and get down here,’ he yelled at us. Sammy and I couldn’t resist. He let go of his project and I let go of my eggs.
“Sammy’s project hit him first. Right in the foot. The egg didn’t break, but the principal’s foot sure did. As he was leaning over, the eggs cracked all down his back and head. Yolk ran everywhere. Can’t eat eggs without thinking of him!”
Uncle Chad laughed to himself as Kat quietly giggled. Maybe suspension wasn’t as bad when Uncle Chad was around. He was great for making your problems seem a lot better than you thought.
“Well I’m off to see a man about a Mack truck,” Uncle Chad said. “Trying some new moves tomorrow.”
Uncle Chad left the kitchen and Kat got back to researching. Even though Bob was in trouble, she knew her grade would be too if she didn’t get this project done.
At four o’clock Kat was still sitting at the table reading. She had spent the last two hours reading all about the things daddy long legs eat. Including bird poop.
The phone rang and pulled Kat out of her giggles.
“Hello,” Kat answered.
“Hi, is this Kat?”
“Lily?” Kat asked.
“Yeah, hi.”
Kat stared at the receiver blankly for a moment. How on earth did Lily get her phone number? And why was she calling her?
“Kat you there?” Lily asked.
“Oh, yeah. What’s going on?” Kat said coming back to reality.
“You will never believe what happened today. Things are getting crazy!”
Kat listened intently to the whole story. Her heart raced faster and faster as Lily spoke.
“When we came in this morning, the whole room was a disaster. The bug books were everywhere and someone had shut the window. Bob had no food to eat.
“When Michael came in he had a big smile on his face and a bump under his shirt. The crazy kid brought a turtle in to the school. He and Jacob thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to Bob.”
“You’re kidding,” Kat said.
“No,” Lily continued. “But the turtle was so afraid of the room that he refused to come out of his shell. Ms. Catarinas took the turtle and kept it in a box until recess. But it gets worse.”
“Worse?” Kat asked.
“At recess, Michael found a toad and thought it would be great to bring it back inside too. He begged Ms. Catarinas and she told him that her classroom wasn’t a zoo. He tried to smuggle the toad it, but it went to the bathroom all over him.”
Kat laughed out loud. She imagined Michael standing there with a warm pool of toad urine in his hand.
“Things are getting crazy,” Lily finished. “I cannot wait until you get back.”
Kat froze.
“I mean, you’re the only one who really understands,” Lily continued.
Kat stared at the phone again.
“Are you sure this is Lily?” she asked.
“I know,” Lily blushed. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been treating you. It’s just that my parents keep telling me that I need to have good grades or I won’t get into a good college.”
“You’re ten,” Kat said flatly.
“Try telling my parents that,” Lily complained. “My dad started college at fourteen. They don’t understand things like glitter and friends.”
“Friends?” Kat said taken aback.
“You’re the closest thing I have to one,” Lily said sadly. “No one would have taken the fall with the glitter for me.”
Kat smiled.
“Thank you,” Lily said.
It was the first time Kat had heard those words from Lily. And she knew Lily meant it.
The spider now had the face of Lily and it continued to scream at her about Bob.
“Why won’t you save him,” the Lily-spider shrieked.
When Kat would try to escape through the windows, the Lily-spider would grab her. Kat awoke when the Lily-spider would begin to eat her.
Kat spent her morning finally researching her facts about Bob. She found out that daddy leg legs were also known as vibrating spiders. They live in huge nests and when attacked they vibrate together.
“Gross,” Kat said.
She was reading at the kitchen table, nibbling at a Pop-tart when Uncle Chad walked in with a gym bag over his shoulder. He looked like he had just returned from the swimming pool. He smelled like the pool was full of garbage.
“Training?” Kat asked.
Uncle Chad dumped his things on the kitchen floor and smiled. Princess Puffball slinked over to investigate, but was quickly scared off by the smell.
“You better believe it,” Uncle Chad said.
He ruffled Kat’s hair and began to make himself a protein shake.
“You were in bed late,” he said over the whir of the blender. “Why are you home again? You sick?”
“Suspended,” Kat grimaced.
Uncle Chad stopped the blender and looked at Kat.
“Did you finally sock that Lily girl?”
“No,” Kat said playing with the corners of her insect book. “Apparently having glitter is the same as defacing school property.”
“Is that part of ‘The Rules’ too?” Uncle Chad asked.
“Yup,” Kat said. “No paint, no glitter, no animals, and especially no bugs.”
“And no life,” Uncle Chad laughed. “I wonder what he would do if someone showed up in body
paint.”
Kat smiled and closed her book. There was never a chance of focusing when Uncle Chad was home.
Uncle Chad finished his shake and poured in it a glass. He sat down with Kat, closed his eyes and smiled.
Another Uncle Chad story, Kat thought.
“I remember when I got suspended from school once. It was back in the fifth grade and we were doing this egg drop experiment. We had to design a ‘ship’ for our eggs to keep them safe when landing. Everyone made sure that they put a lot of padding into their projects. We were supposed to be learning about physics, but I just wanted to watch those suckers splatter.
“Well, my friend Sammy and I decided that we wanted to test them early. We managed to make it on the roof of the school by climbing up a tree with our projects under our chins. Sammy’s design was flawless. It was so solid that there was no way his egg would crack. It would have broken someone’s foot because it was so heavy and protected. Me, I brought a whole carton of eggs just to see them smack on the pavement below.”
Kat giggled. Who knew her uncle was such a rule breaker.
“We walked around the roof for a while, trying to find the best place to drop. We played tag and Sammy nearly pushed me off the roof. Found out at that moment exactly how afraid of heights I really am!”
“You’re afraid of heights?” Kat marveled.
“Why do you think we live on the first floor?” Uncle Chad asked.
Kat sat back in shock.
“When we finally found the tallest point of the roof, we were found out by the principal. Guess somebody called him. He was so mad he was shaking like a wet hen.
“’Drop what you have and get down here,’ he yelled at us. Sammy and I couldn’t resist. He let go of his project and I let go of my eggs.
“Sammy’s project hit him first. Right in the foot. The egg didn’t break, but the principal’s foot sure did. As he was leaning over, the eggs cracked all down his back and head. Yolk ran everywhere. Can’t eat eggs without thinking of him!”
Uncle Chad laughed to himself as Kat quietly giggled. Maybe suspension wasn’t as bad when Uncle Chad was around. He was great for making your problems seem a lot better than you thought.
“Well I’m off to see a man about a Mack truck,” Uncle Chad said. “Trying some new moves tomorrow.”
Uncle Chad left the kitchen and Kat got back to researching. Even though Bob was in trouble, she knew her grade would be too if she didn’t get this project done.
At four o’clock Kat was still sitting at the table reading. She had spent the last two hours reading all about the things daddy long legs eat. Including bird poop.
The phone rang and pulled Kat out of her giggles.
“Hello,” Kat answered.
“Hi, is this Kat?”
“Lily?” Kat asked.
“Yeah, hi.”
Kat stared at the receiver blankly for a moment. How on earth did Lily get her phone number? And why was she calling her?
“Kat you there?” Lily asked.
“Oh, yeah. What’s going on?” Kat said coming back to reality.
“You will never believe what happened today. Things are getting crazy!”
Kat listened intently to the whole story. Her heart raced faster and faster as Lily spoke.
“When we came in this morning, the whole room was a disaster. The bug books were everywhere and someone had shut the window. Bob had no food to eat.
“When Michael came in he had a big smile on his face and a bump under his shirt. The crazy kid brought a turtle in to the school. He and Jacob thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to Bob.”
“You’re kidding,” Kat said.
“No,” Lily continued. “But the turtle was so afraid of the room that he refused to come out of his shell. Ms. Catarinas took the turtle and kept it in a box until recess. But it gets worse.”
“Worse?” Kat asked.
“At recess, Michael found a toad and thought it would be great to bring it back inside too. He begged Ms. Catarinas and she told him that her classroom wasn’t a zoo. He tried to smuggle the toad it, but it went to the bathroom all over him.”
Kat laughed out loud. She imagined Michael standing there with a warm pool of toad urine in his hand.
“Things are getting crazy,” Lily finished. “I cannot wait until you get back.”
Kat froze.
“I mean, you’re the only one who really understands,” Lily continued.
Kat stared at the phone again.
“Are you sure this is Lily?” she asked.
“I know,” Lily blushed. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been treating you. It’s just that my parents keep telling me that I need to have good grades or I won’t get into a good college.”
“You’re ten,” Kat said flatly.
“Try telling my parents that,” Lily complained. “My dad started college at fourteen. They don’t understand things like glitter and friends.”
“Friends?” Kat said taken aback.
“You’re the closest thing I have to one,” Lily said sadly. “No one would have taken the fall with the glitter for me.”
Kat smiled.
“Thank you,” Lily said.
It was the first time Kat had heard those words from Lily. And she knew Lily meant it.
Chapter Nineteen - Late Night Meeting
Long after the students and teachers left for the day, Principal Benbrook sat in his office. He ignored the hunger pains in his stomach crying out for dinner. Usually he never stayed this late at school, but there was something that had to be taken care of.
A custodian moved by his door with an industrial powered vacuum. He heard no pings or pangs as debris was sucked up into the vacuum.
Clean, he thought.
Principal Benbrook stared at his desk again and reread the letter one more time. The request so ridiculous that he couldn’t believe it was real.
Dear Principal Benbrook,
We would really like a class pet. Spiders are too scary. Can we have a hamster?
Love,
Kindergarten
Principal Benbrook thought back to the science fair and pushed the letter off his desk. This was going too far.
The motto at Edgeview Elementary had always been that a clean classroom leads to a clean mind. All of this trouble with Bob would lead to low test scores for the school.
“This ends tonight,” Principal Benbrook said getting up from his chair.
Principal Benbrook strolled down the halls of his school as a leisurely pace. Outside of the kindergarten classrooms dozens of pictures of hamsters were taped to the wall. Several were named Steven. At the very end of the pictures was a black blob with eight straight legs. Only one word labeled it: Bob.
Principal Benbrook put his hand up to pull down the picture, but thought better of it. It was one thing to go after fourth graders, but kindergartners didn’t know any better. Principal Benbrook walked on, holding his hands behind his back.
He passed by the library and grit his teeth. After Kat had been picked up early by her uncle who had to turn sideways to fit in the door, Mrs. Connors had a family emergency. Fiona, her pet bulldog, spent the afternoon curled up in the picture book section after eating some underwear.
Edgeview Elementary was out of control.
Finally Principal Benbrook reached Ms. Catarinas’ classroom. He peered inside the window, but the classroom was dark. He pulled out his keys and slowly unlocked the door.
“Alright Bob,” he said as he slowly walked in. “Time’s up!”
Principal Benbrook left the door open in case he was cornered by Bob and had to make a mad dash to safety.
The classroom was a completely different scene with the children gone. Chairs were stacked nicely by tables and the floors had been swept clean. This was a room for learning. Minus one small creature.
Principal Benbrook headed straight for the window. It was still open, slowly letting in cold aphids and excited moths. He shut the window and locked it tight. Now Bob had no escape. Principal Benbrook smiled devilishly and looked up to the top of the window. Where Bob should have been was an empty space. Principal Benbrook huffed and began to flow the line of aphids.
“Come on out little bug,” Principal Benbrook said sweetly. He crouched down and peered under bookcase after bookcase. The aphids were there, but no Bob.
“You know you won’t win this Bob,” Principal Benbrook said to the empty classroom. “I’ll find you!”
Principal Benbrook continued to search, but could find nothing. No cobwebs, no dead aphids, no detached legs. It was like Bob had disappeared.
“You know why you’re vile and disgusting Bob? Because you’re just like the spiders I met out at my grandfather’s house.”
Principal Benbrook pulled down a chair from the stack and made himself comfortable.
“I was five and we were blueberry picking. Papa had told me that the darker the berry, the sweeter the taste. I remember running around stuffing blueberries in my mouth until the juices stained my clothes.
“After nearly half a day of berry picking I found the darkest berry I had ever seen. It was enormous and I knew I had to eat it. I plucked it form the bush and brought it to my mouth. Inches from my open mouth the berry bust open and showed me what it really was.
“Spiders. A whole nest of baby spiders. They limbed everywhere. In my hair, in my clothes, in my mouth. Cockroaches are nothing compared to you eight legged monsters!”
“That’s a creepy story, Mr. Benbrook,” a late night custodian said from the doorway.
Principal Benbrook jumped out of his chair and stood.
“Jordan,” he said with a squeak in his voice. “I thought that you had left for the night.”
“No sir,” Jordan said. “Finishing cleaning up the trail of glitter from this afternoon.”
“Good. Carry on,” Principal Benbrook said fixing his tie for no reason.
Jordan smiled and left with his broom in hand.
Principal Benbrook quickly scanned the classroom again. He felt like a spy sent on a mission to take out the enemy. He checked inside of every student’s desk until he came to Lily’s. It was covered in books about insects.
“Ah ha,” Principal Benbrook said. “Hiding with your insect brethren!”
Principal Benbrook shifted the books around, trying to see if Bob had snuck in amongst the books. Near the bottom, he found the same book that Kat had chased Lily around the library with. On the cover was the enlarged face of a very unfriendly spider.
“Ah!” Principal Benbrook screamed.
He jolted so violently that the rest of the books toppled to the ground. The books opened and pages upon pages of insects stared up at Principal Benbrook. The one that sent him over the edge was the hissing cockroach that seemed to be laughing at him.
“This isn’t over bug!” Principal Benbrook yelled as he left the classroom and the books all over the floor.
A custodian moved by his door with an industrial powered vacuum. He heard no pings or pangs as debris was sucked up into the vacuum.
Clean, he thought.
Principal Benbrook stared at his desk again and reread the letter one more time. The request so ridiculous that he couldn’t believe it was real.
Dear Principal Benbrook,
We would really like a class pet. Spiders are too scary. Can we have a hamster?
Love,
Kindergarten
Principal Benbrook thought back to the science fair and pushed the letter off his desk. This was going too far.
The motto at Edgeview Elementary had always been that a clean classroom leads to a clean mind. All of this trouble with Bob would lead to low test scores for the school.
“This ends tonight,” Principal Benbrook said getting up from his chair.
Principal Benbrook strolled down the halls of his school as a leisurely pace. Outside of the kindergarten classrooms dozens of pictures of hamsters were taped to the wall. Several were named Steven. At the very end of the pictures was a black blob with eight straight legs. Only one word labeled it: Bob.
Principal Benbrook put his hand up to pull down the picture, but thought better of it. It was one thing to go after fourth graders, but kindergartners didn’t know any better. Principal Benbrook walked on, holding his hands behind his back.
He passed by the library and grit his teeth. After Kat had been picked up early by her uncle who had to turn sideways to fit in the door, Mrs. Connors had a family emergency. Fiona, her pet bulldog, spent the afternoon curled up in the picture book section after eating some underwear.
Edgeview Elementary was out of control.
Finally Principal Benbrook reached Ms. Catarinas’ classroom. He peered inside the window, but the classroom was dark. He pulled out his keys and slowly unlocked the door.
“Alright Bob,” he said as he slowly walked in. “Time’s up!”
Principal Benbrook left the door open in case he was cornered by Bob and had to make a mad dash to safety.
The classroom was a completely different scene with the children gone. Chairs were stacked nicely by tables and the floors had been swept clean. This was a room for learning. Minus one small creature.
Principal Benbrook headed straight for the window. It was still open, slowly letting in cold aphids and excited moths. He shut the window and locked it tight. Now Bob had no escape. Principal Benbrook smiled devilishly and looked up to the top of the window. Where Bob should have been was an empty space. Principal Benbrook huffed and began to flow the line of aphids.
“Come on out little bug,” Principal Benbrook said sweetly. He crouched down and peered under bookcase after bookcase. The aphids were there, but no Bob.
“You know you won’t win this Bob,” Principal Benbrook said to the empty classroom. “I’ll find you!”
Principal Benbrook continued to search, but could find nothing. No cobwebs, no dead aphids, no detached legs. It was like Bob had disappeared.
“You know why you’re vile and disgusting Bob? Because you’re just like the spiders I met out at my grandfather’s house.”
Principal Benbrook pulled down a chair from the stack and made himself comfortable.
“I was five and we were blueberry picking. Papa had told me that the darker the berry, the sweeter the taste. I remember running around stuffing blueberries in my mouth until the juices stained my clothes.
“After nearly half a day of berry picking I found the darkest berry I had ever seen. It was enormous and I knew I had to eat it. I plucked it form the bush and brought it to my mouth. Inches from my open mouth the berry bust open and showed me what it really was.
“Spiders. A whole nest of baby spiders. They limbed everywhere. In my hair, in my clothes, in my mouth. Cockroaches are nothing compared to you eight legged monsters!”
“That’s a creepy story, Mr. Benbrook,” a late night custodian said from the doorway.
Principal Benbrook jumped out of his chair and stood.
“Jordan,” he said with a squeak in his voice. “I thought that you had left for the night.”
“No sir,” Jordan said. “Finishing cleaning up the trail of glitter from this afternoon.”
“Good. Carry on,” Principal Benbrook said fixing his tie for no reason.
Jordan smiled and left with his broom in hand.
Principal Benbrook quickly scanned the classroom again. He felt like a spy sent on a mission to take out the enemy. He checked inside of every student’s desk until he came to Lily’s. It was covered in books about insects.
“Ah ha,” Principal Benbrook said. “Hiding with your insect brethren!”
Principal Benbrook shifted the books around, trying to see if Bob had snuck in amongst the books. Near the bottom, he found the same book that Kat had chased Lily around the library with. On the cover was the enlarged face of a very unfriendly spider.
“Ah!” Principal Benbrook screamed.
He jolted so violently that the rest of the books toppled to the ground. The books opened and pages upon pages of insects stared up at Principal Benbrook. The one that sent him over the edge was the hissing cockroach that seemed to be laughing at him.
“This isn’t over bug!” Principal Benbrook yelled as he left the classroom and the books all over the floor.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Chapter Eighteen - Suspended
After a terrible Tuesday afternoon, Kat hoped that her Wednesday would be better. She had even found Princess Puffball curled up next to her in bed this morning.
Kat smiled and stroked Puff’s head. Princess Puffball nestled into Kat and began to purr with her eyes closed. She was so loud that she sounded just like the motor on a car. Kat laughed and Princess Puffball realized where she was. She took a quick swipe at Kat’s hand and ran off the bed.
Things are getting better, Kat thought as she slid on her ‘Save Bob’ shirt.
When Kat arrived at school, she was greeted by the same line of various students. As always Jacob’s sister, Sophie, was begging Lily.
“Can I have your autograph please?” Sophie pleaded.
Kat laughed out loud.
“Sophie,” she said. “Why on earth do you want her autograph?”
“You’re famous,” Sophie said beaming like a flashlight.
“Famous?” Kat asked with a puzzled look.
“Ugh,” Lily huffed. “Come on Kat.”
Lily pulled Kat into the classroom. Protests went up from outside in the hallway.
“Door’s closed,” Lily snapped. “Come back tomorrow.”
Lily slammed the door in Sophie’s face and walked away. Sophie stood with her face to the window in the door and continued to ask for autographs.
“Come on Lily! Please! Please!”
Inside the classroom, the students were in an even greater frenzy. All around, children were shrieking and pushing around a newspaper. Ms. Catarinas laughed to herself as she finished getting supplies pulled together for math class.
“What is going on?” Kat asked Lily.
“Don’t you read the newspaper?” Lily asked. “We’re in it!”
Kat’s jaw dropped. She was in the newspaper?
“Well, not really us,” Lily said grabbing the newspaper from Michael. “Bob is in the article. But he is in our class and that makes us famous too!”
Kat scanned the newspaper looking for a big heading and maybe even a big class picture. All she found was a small three by two little piece by Michael’s mother.
“Perhaps Principal Benbrook’s greatest rule of ‘No Bugs’ has finally been exterminated,” Kat read aloud.
Lily beamed proudly at Kat.
“That’s why Sophie wanted my autograph,” Lily bragged. “After all, I’m like an ambassador for Bob.”
Kat tried to hide a snicker behind her hand. Ever since Bob had become an endangered animal in their class, Lily had taken it upon herself to make sure everyone was well informed about Bob. If anyone asked to touch him, she made sure to let them know his leg might fall off.
“And how would he live then?” Lily would say. “Can you deal with that kind of guilt?”
Now people were asking for her autograph too.
Lily pulled on Kat again to show her what was going on.
“Come on Kat,” she said again. “We’re making a banner.”
Kat looked at Lily with a perplexed stare. It seemed that every morning there was some new activity that Lily was orchestrating for Bob. Before you knew it they’d be having a telethon sponsored by PBS to raise funds for ‘Unfair Rules Awareness’.
Kat and Lily walked to their table and saw Jacobs and Veronica outlining huge bubble letters that said ‘Home of Bob’.
“Ms. Catarinas said that we should keep it in the classroom,” Jacob said. “Just to be safe.”
Lily flipped her hair over her shoulder confidently.
“But when they come for the next newspaper article, we’ll have it ready,” she said.
Kat looked over at the banner and smiled. She was a part of Team Bob!
“This looks awesome,” Kat told Jacob.
“I have something to make it even better,” Lily said slyly.
She pulled a plastic container out of her backpack and shook it proudly. Inside the jar, colors shifted like a rainbow. Greens, golds, blues, and silvers. Lily had treasure in a jar.
“Glitter,” Jacob gasped.
Lily quickly grabbed a bottle of glue and set to work outlining each letter in Elmer’s. She shook the glitter carefully as if she were lovingly making sugar cookies, instead of breaking ‘The Rules’.
“Voila,” Lily said as they shook the excess glitter to the floor and saw their finished work.
Kat, Jacob, and Michael smiled. Bob now had a proper home. High above the open window, Bob stood still. The extra commotion and noise sent him into a panic. He stayed as still as possible, hoping that everyone would ignore him.
That was the last thing that Principal Eugene Benbrook had in mind.
The door to Room 222 opened with a bang. Principal Benbrook stood there red-faced, with a newspaper under his arm.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded as he waved the paper in the air.
Kat and Lily hid the banner as fast as they could. Kat grabbed Lily’s container of glitter and stuffed it in her own backpack before Principal Benbrook could see it.
“Well?” Principal Benbrook roared.
The whole class froze. Principal Benbrook’s face looked like an overly ripe tomato as he huffed into the room.’
“I read the paper at dinner last night,” he continued, “and what do I find?”
“A hair in your soup?” Michael joked.
“No!” Principal Benbrook yelled as he threw the paper to the floor. “I find that a daddy long legs is still taking up residence in my school.”
Principal Benbrook looked around the classroom menacingly. He checked every corner of the ceiling, checking for cobwebs that Bob could not possibly make.
Kat shook quietly in her seat. A coldness began to creep u her toes. Principal Benbrook finally turned toward the window and flared his nostrils.
“This ends now,” he said.
“Eugene,” Ms. Catarinas said trying to pull Principal Benbrook out of his anger. “Be rational about this!”
Principal Benbrook stomped towards bob. Nothing would get in his way. No teacher, no student, nothing. As he stormed passed Lily and Kat’s table, he heard an unmistakable crunch under his feet.
Kat and Lily held their breath as they stared up at Principal Benbrook. He turned slowly, like and alien in a horror moved ready to suck out your brains. He didn’t even have to look down to know what was there.
“Who?” Principal Benbrook asked.
The class became a set of statues.
“Eugene,” Ms. Catarinas tried again. “Let’s talk about this later.”
“No one then?” Principal Benbrook asked recomposing himself. He smoothed down his hair and pulled this tie back into place. “Fine, we’ll just check the backpacks.”
Lily handed over her back to Principal Benbrook first. He tipped the whole thing over onto her desk. Papers for her novel flew everywhere. She scrambled to pick them all up, but no glitter.
Principal Benbrook slowly moved around the table as the rest of the class watched on. He dumped Michael’s backpack upside down: a book on the Loch Ness Monster and thirteen pencils. Michael smiled as he picked up all the pencils and shoved them back into his backpack.
“I like to write,” he said unconvincingly.
Principal Benbrook’s shoes clicked as he walked next to Jacob’s desk and tipped his backpack as well. Three novels and a social textbook fell out before Jacob’s football hit the floor and wobbled away awkwardly. Still no glitter.
Kat gripped the sides of her chair until her knuckles turned white. She knew this would be the last straw. She’d be kicked out of school and forced to stay at home with her uncle. Maybe she could become his own personal trainer and they would all move to Hawaii for the Strong Man competitions.
Principal Benbrook made the final approach towards Kat. He grinned like a hungry shark as he pulled the zipper down and unloaded the backpack on Kat’s desk. The glitter container struck the desk and opened. Glitter spewed out and color coated Kat’s desk.
“It’s like fireworks,” Michael said gleefully.
Principal Benbrook took a step back and shook some of the glitter off of his feet.
“Care to explain why you have broken another of my rules Ms. Westwood?” he asked.
Kat looked around the room. Scared faces stared back at his. It was only yesterday that she was hiding her t-shirt from Principal Benbrook. She thought about her uncle and her father. She thought about what Lily had told her about saving a life. Mostly Kat thought about her mother.
I couldn’t save you, Kat thought. But I can save him.
“I’m saving Bob,” Kat said proudly. She stood tall and made sure that Principal Benbrook could see her shirt.
“Suspended,” Principal Benbrook pronounced.
Kat felt her heart skip a beat. Her face showed no sign of backing down. She was determined more than ever to keep their daddy long legs safe. Ms. Catarinas closed her eyes, crest fallen.
“Grab your things and head to my office,” Principal Benbrook said.
He looked around at the classroom before walking Kat to the door like a prisoner.
“A few more things before I go,” he said to the class. “I do not want to see anymore ‘Save Bob’ shirts. Any student who is caught wearing them is in suspicion of inciting protest which is against school safety policy. All t-shirts will be collected and students will be put into after school detention.”
Lily looked at her own t-shirt. Slowly she put on the sweatshirt that was on the back of her chair. For once in her life she wished she were as brave as Kat.
“Ms. Catarinas, I will talk with you this afternoon.”
Principal Benbrook narrowed his eyes and focused on Bob.
“And I will see you later.”
Mantis
So I'm writing a silly scene where a praying mantis hooks itself into a kid's nose. Yah, I know. But it's a kids book remember.
Took some time to look at praying mantises. Could not believe what I found!
20,000 words!
While I know that I still have the rest of my novel to finish (6 chapters left) I would just like to share the exuberant feeling of finally hitting my goal today.
Right now the count stands at 20,061 words. There is still a lot to go and still a lot to type up.
But honestly...right now....I'm happy!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Chapter Seventeen - Quick Thinking
All day Monday the students in Room 222 read, wrote, and even multiplied with insects. The room was changing quickly and it was all because of Bob. Multiplication charts and maps of Virginia were soon covered over with mosquitoes and moths. On every wall six legs reached out and thousands of eyes followed you blankly around the room. By Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Catarinas’ students were itching to be taught how to precisely draw insects.
An hour before dismissal, Ms. Catarinas dropped her students off at art where Ms. Ululani was ready to create. When she told them that they would be drawing their bugs today, the class went off like fireworks.
Every student at Edgeview agreed that Ms. Ululani was the best art teacher that they had ever had. She had grown up in Hawaii and loved to keep fresh flowers in her classroom. It was the best smelling place in the whole school.
The other reason she was the best was that she let each student really create. If someone was making a beach, she had sand at the ready. If someone needed a better forest, Ms. Ululani had real leaves. She found art in everything and the students loved her.
Kat and Lily sat together, both trying to sketch Bob as best as they cool. Both were still wearing their ‘Save Bob’ t-shirts as they worked. Michael and Jacob sat in the back, drawing martial artists doing flying kicks.
“Mantis style,” Michael told Ms. Ululani when she came around.
She smiled and handed Michael another piece of paper.
“Now draw me mantis,” she said.
Kat looked at her own picture. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t seem to draw Bob just right. It looked like a Picasso, everything in the wrong place.
The idea of Picasso brought back the nacho story from a few days ago. Kat dry heaved thinking about nachos thrown up all over her drawing.
Gross, Kat thought. I’ll never be able to look at art again.
“You alright?” Ms. Ululani asked Kat sweetly.
Before she could answer, the door to the art room opened. Principal Benbrook stood and surveyed the room before entering. He had a clipboard in his hand and looked as if this were the last place on earth he wanted to be.
“Hello Eugene,” Ms. Ululani said with forced courtesy. “How can I help you today?”
“Just doing an observation,” Principal Benbrook said tapping his clipboard. “I’m not here.”
Ms. Ululani tightened her ponytail and smiled. Observations in art class with paper and pencil. There was no way she could lose.
Principal Benbrook moved around the classroom slowly. As he peaked over shoulders, his eyes grew three times in size. He hid his fear and continued around the room.
Kat kept her head down and tried to redraw the legs on her daddy long legs. The joints weren’t coming out right and he looked more like a mutated snowflake than an insect.
Please don’t let him come over here, Kat prayed.
“And what are you drawing Ms. Westwood?” Principal Benbrook asked as he stopped in front of Kat and Lily.
“It’s a daddy long legs Mr. Benbrook,” she said trying to cover up her shirt.
“I hope that’s the same one you got rid of,” Principal Benbrook questioned.
“It’s the one we’re researching sir. Lily and me,” Kat said trying to avoid the truth.
Bob was still in the classroom. The supply of aphids wasn’t going anywhere. Once again the line of students outside the door waited for Lily to tell them all about Bob. Some of them had even brought money to buy ‘Save Bob’ shirts.
Kat crossed her arms in front of her t-shirt as Principal Benbrook continued to stare at her picture. She grinned and leaned back over her work, making sure to keep her body close to the table in front of her.
Lily leaned back, one arm slung over the chair and admired her own work. She would not hide her pride for Bob.
“Save Bob?” Principal Benbrook asked forcefully. His frustration bubbled over and he accidentally spit on Lily’s drawing as he finished his question.
Lily looked in shock at her work. She watched as her paper absorbed the tiny bubbles of saliva.
“Well?” Principal Benbrook demanded.
Lily felt her heart jump into her throat for the first time in her life.
“It’s a band,” Michael chimed in.
The rest of the class sat quietly in expectation. Jacob stared wide-eyed at Michael. Kat prayed that Principal Benbrook wouldn’t notice her own shirt. Ms. Ululani stood with her fingers to her mouth. Things were going too far.
“A band huh?” Principal Benbrook asked seemingly convinced.
“Yeah,” Michael said making a big show of it. “They’re kind of like the Beatles.”
Jacob snorted and covered his mouth to stop the laughing. Michael grinned at his joke and Principal Benbrook.
“Carry on,” Principal Benbrook said eyeing Michael. He picked up his clipboard and quickly exited the room.
Ms. Ululani blew a sign of relief. Even though Principal Benbrook had been in the room for less than five minutes, the tension that he created was as thick as fog in the early morning.
“Beatles?” Ms. Ululani asked Michael sarcastically.
The art class cracked up at Michael quick save. Kat shook her head and giggled. Lily only shook her head.
“I can’t believe you hid your shirt,” she said to Kat.
Kat’s smile melted off her face. Lily knew how to ruin every good moment.
Kat turned away from Lily and looked at Veronica.
“Some people never change,” she said loud enough for Lily to hear.
Lily twisted her pencil in her hand and stared at her own drawing. Ms. Ululani stopped by her table and admired her work.
“This is fantastic work Lily,” Ms. Ululani said approvingly. “You should be really proud.”
Lily glanced around her. Kat kept shading in her daddy long legs. No one was paying attention to her. No one cared.
“Thank you,” Lily said quietly.
An hour before dismissal, Ms. Catarinas dropped her students off at art where Ms. Ululani was ready to create. When she told them that they would be drawing their bugs today, the class went off like fireworks.
Every student at Edgeview agreed that Ms. Ululani was the best art teacher that they had ever had. She had grown up in Hawaii and loved to keep fresh flowers in her classroom. It was the best smelling place in the whole school.
The other reason she was the best was that she let each student really create. If someone was making a beach, she had sand at the ready. If someone needed a better forest, Ms. Ululani had real leaves. She found art in everything and the students loved her.
Kat and Lily sat together, both trying to sketch Bob as best as they cool. Both were still wearing their ‘Save Bob’ t-shirts as they worked. Michael and Jacob sat in the back, drawing martial artists doing flying kicks.
“Mantis style,” Michael told Ms. Ululani when she came around.
She smiled and handed Michael another piece of paper.
“Now draw me mantis,” she said.
Kat looked at her own picture. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t seem to draw Bob just right. It looked like a Picasso, everything in the wrong place.
The idea of Picasso brought back the nacho story from a few days ago. Kat dry heaved thinking about nachos thrown up all over her drawing.
Gross, Kat thought. I’ll never be able to look at art again.
“You alright?” Ms. Ululani asked Kat sweetly.
Before she could answer, the door to the art room opened. Principal Benbrook stood and surveyed the room before entering. He had a clipboard in his hand and looked as if this were the last place on earth he wanted to be.
“Hello Eugene,” Ms. Ululani said with forced courtesy. “How can I help you today?”
“Just doing an observation,” Principal Benbrook said tapping his clipboard. “I’m not here.”
Ms. Ululani tightened her ponytail and smiled. Observations in art class with paper and pencil. There was no way she could lose.
Principal Benbrook moved around the classroom slowly. As he peaked over shoulders, his eyes grew three times in size. He hid his fear and continued around the room.
Kat kept her head down and tried to redraw the legs on her daddy long legs. The joints weren’t coming out right and he looked more like a mutated snowflake than an insect.
Please don’t let him come over here, Kat prayed.
“And what are you drawing Ms. Westwood?” Principal Benbrook asked as he stopped in front of Kat and Lily.
“It’s a daddy long legs Mr. Benbrook,” she said trying to cover up her shirt.
“I hope that’s the same one you got rid of,” Principal Benbrook questioned.
“It’s the one we’re researching sir. Lily and me,” Kat said trying to avoid the truth.
Bob was still in the classroom. The supply of aphids wasn’t going anywhere. Once again the line of students outside the door waited for Lily to tell them all about Bob. Some of them had even brought money to buy ‘Save Bob’ shirts.
Kat crossed her arms in front of her t-shirt as Principal Benbrook continued to stare at her picture. She grinned and leaned back over her work, making sure to keep her body close to the table in front of her.
Lily leaned back, one arm slung over the chair and admired her own work. She would not hide her pride for Bob.
“Save Bob?” Principal Benbrook asked forcefully. His frustration bubbled over and he accidentally spit on Lily’s drawing as he finished his question.
Lily looked in shock at her work. She watched as her paper absorbed the tiny bubbles of saliva.
“Well?” Principal Benbrook demanded.
Lily felt her heart jump into her throat for the first time in her life.
“It’s a band,” Michael chimed in.
The rest of the class sat quietly in expectation. Jacob stared wide-eyed at Michael. Kat prayed that Principal Benbrook wouldn’t notice her own shirt. Ms. Ululani stood with her fingers to her mouth. Things were going too far.
“A band huh?” Principal Benbrook asked seemingly convinced.
“Yeah,” Michael said making a big show of it. “They’re kind of like the Beatles.”
Jacob snorted and covered his mouth to stop the laughing. Michael grinned at his joke and Principal Benbrook.
“Carry on,” Principal Benbrook said eyeing Michael. He picked up his clipboard and quickly exited the room.
Ms. Ululani blew a sign of relief. Even though Principal Benbrook had been in the room for less than five minutes, the tension that he created was as thick as fog in the early morning.
“Beatles?” Ms. Ululani asked Michael sarcastically.
The art class cracked up at Michael quick save. Kat shook her head and giggled. Lily only shook her head.
“I can’t believe you hid your shirt,” she said to Kat.
Kat’s smile melted off her face. Lily knew how to ruin every good moment.
Kat turned away from Lily and looked at Veronica.
“Some people never change,” she said loud enough for Lily to hear.
Lily twisted her pencil in her hand and stared at her own drawing. Ms. Ululani stopped by her table and admired her work.
“This is fantastic work Lily,” Ms. Ululani said approvingly. “You should be really proud.”
Lily glanced around her. Kat kept shading in her daddy long legs. No one was paying attention to her. No one cared.
“Thank you,” Lily said quietly.
Chapter Sixteen - Two-faces and T-shirts
Monday morning came too fast like it always does. Kat dragged herself out of bed, careful to keep an eye out for Princess Puffball. Sunday morning she had actually wanted Kat to pet her. It was strange and Kat felt like the enemy was trying to trick her.
When she arrived at school, she found Ms. Ululani fighting with Principal Benbrook again.
“Eugene, I did not move across an ocean and work in thirteen different states to work like this,” she said.
“No paint,” Principal Benbrook said matter of factly.
Kat walked by, making sure that Principal Benbrook didn’t notice her. She was already banned in the library. She didn’t need to be banned from the hallway too.
As she walked down the work covered hallways, Kat hoped that Bob was still there. It was his fault after that she got into trouble. Who thought that eight little legs would cause such a problem?
Kat was stopped before she even went into the classroom. Outside the door were a line of about twenty students. They stood trying to look over each others’ heads. At the front of the line, talking to each person was Lily. She was wearing a homemade t-shirt that said ‘Save Bob’ across the front.
Monday mornings are always difficult in elementary school. Two days away from the rules of teachers and all the training was erased. It seemed like this morning was exactly the same.
Kat looked at the clock in the hallway and watched the second hand tick closer and closer to the second bell. If Bob’s fans didn’t leave soon, they would be counted late for school.
A wide variety of students waited by the door. Kat saw second graders, third graders, and even some sixth graders in line. At the very front was Jacob’s little sister. She was getting into it with Lily.
“I’ve already answered your question Sophie,” Lily complained.
“But I got back in line and waited,” Sophie protested. She was trying to use her big puppy dog eyes to convince Lily, but it wasn’t working.
“I have other customers,” Lily said. She wouldn’t budge. Not even for a girl scout.
“But I need to take a picture of him! I need it for my nature badge!”
Sophie held her camera tightly in her hands. It was her mother’s and she knew she was only allowed to take one picture. If she didn’t get Bob’s photo today, then her mom would take the camera back.
Lily narrowed her eyes and thought.
“Fine,” she finally said allowing Sophie into the room. All the children stared in awe as she walked through the door.
“Can I touch him,” the next girl in line asked.
“No,” Lily said sharply. “Next!”
The little girl walked away with her shoulders slumped forward.
Kat side stepped the Bob fan club and headed for the door. A first grader stopped her near the front of the line.
“Hey! No cutting!” he said with his arm out.
“This is my class,” Kat said to the mini bouncer. “I’m trying to learn.”
“She’s alright Frankie,” Lily called out. “Let her pass.”
The first grader eyed Kat suspiciously, but put his arm down. Kat laughed at the first grader and walked up to Lily in the doorway.
“What is going on,” Kat asked Lily.
Lily smiled proudly. “Can’t you see we’re famous Kat? And I didn’t even have to publish my book!”
“But what are you doing?” Kat asked.
The line of students was getting longer again and school started any second.
“I’m the expert in class since this weekend. Didn’t you do any research?” Lily asked.
Kat looked to the floor. “I, uh.”
“Honestly Kat?” Lily demanded.
Kat had spent the weekend watching old kung fu movies with Uncle Chad while her dad worked. They talked a little bit about Bob and ‘The Rules’. Kat was just thankful for some time that was happy again.
“I found out that their legs grow back if they get pulled off,” Kat offered.
Lily huffed and rolled her eyes.
“Here,” she said handing a rolled piece of cloth to Kat. “I thought you’d be ready to save his life. You better be worthy of this!”
Kat walked into the classroom completely confused about what just happened. Kat unrolled the cloth and realized it was a t-shirt just like Lily’s.
‘Save Bob’ was written across it in dark black letters.
Kat smiled and looked over at Lily who was still answering questions in the doorway.
Maybe she’s not all bad, Kat thought.
Kat put down her backpack and slid the new t-shirt over her own shirt.
Michael gasped from across the desk.
“Is that glitter paint?” he asked.
Kat looked down and watched the S sparkle. She glanced back at Lily again and smiled.
“Yup,” Kat said proudly. “A double whammy!”
Sophie snuck around the classroom with her camera and snapped a picture of Kat.
“I’m going to have my mom make me one too,” she said.
The final bell rang to tell everyone that they should be in their own classes.
“Uh oh,” Sophie said dashing from the room.
Kat laughed. She took another look at her new shirt as Lily left the doorway to take her seat.
Kat looked at Michael and beamed.
“If you excuse me, I have a life to save!”
When she arrived at school, she found Ms. Ululani fighting with Principal Benbrook again.
“Eugene, I did not move across an ocean and work in thirteen different states to work like this,” she said.
“No paint,” Principal Benbrook said matter of factly.
Kat walked by, making sure that Principal Benbrook didn’t notice her. She was already banned in the library. She didn’t need to be banned from the hallway too.
As she walked down the work covered hallways, Kat hoped that Bob was still there. It was his fault after that she got into trouble. Who thought that eight little legs would cause such a problem?
Kat was stopped before she even went into the classroom. Outside the door were a line of about twenty students. They stood trying to look over each others’ heads. At the front of the line, talking to each person was Lily. She was wearing a homemade t-shirt that said ‘Save Bob’ across the front.
Monday mornings are always difficult in elementary school. Two days away from the rules of teachers and all the training was erased. It seemed like this morning was exactly the same.
Kat looked at the clock in the hallway and watched the second hand tick closer and closer to the second bell. If Bob’s fans didn’t leave soon, they would be counted late for school.
A wide variety of students waited by the door. Kat saw second graders, third graders, and even some sixth graders in line. At the very front was Jacob’s little sister. She was getting into it with Lily.
“I’ve already answered your question Sophie,” Lily complained.
“But I got back in line and waited,” Sophie protested. She was trying to use her big puppy dog eyes to convince Lily, but it wasn’t working.
“I have other customers,” Lily said. She wouldn’t budge. Not even for a girl scout.
“But I need to take a picture of him! I need it for my nature badge!”
Sophie held her camera tightly in her hands. It was her mother’s and she knew she was only allowed to take one picture. If she didn’t get Bob’s photo today, then her mom would take the camera back.
Lily narrowed her eyes and thought.
“Fine,” she finally said allowing Sophie into the room. All the children stared in awe as she walked through the door.
“Can I touch him,” the next girl in line asked.
“No,” Lily said sharply. “Next!”
The little girl walked away with her shoulders slumped forward.
Kat side stepped the Bob fan club and headed for the door. A first grader stopped her near the front of the line.
“Hey! No cutting!” he said with his arm out.
“This is my class,” Kat said to the mini bouncer. “I’m trying to learn.”
“She’s alright Frankie,” Lily called out. “Let her pass.”
The first grader eyed Kat suspiciously, but put his arm down. Kat laughed at the first grader and walked up to Lily in the doorway.
“What is going on,” Kat asked Lily.
Lily smiled proudly. “Can’t you see we’re famous Kat? And I didn’t even have to publish my book!”
“But what are you doing?” Kat asked.
The line of students was getting longer again and school started any second.
“I’m the expert in class since this weekend. Didn’t you do any research?” Lily asked.
Kat looked to the floor. “I, uh.”
“Honestly Kat?” Lily demanded.
Kat had spent the weekend watching old kung fu movies with Uncle Chad while her dad worked. They talked a little bit about Bob and ‘The Rules’. Kat was just thankful for some time that was happy again.
“I found out that their legs grow back if they get pulled off,” Kat offered.
Lily huffed and rolled her eyes.
“Here,” she said handing a rolled piece of cloth to Kat. “I thought you’d be ready to save his life. You better be worthy of this!”
Kat walked into the classroom completely confused about what just happened. Kat unrolled the cloth and realized it was a t-shirt just like Lily’s.
‘Save Bob’ was written across it in dark black letters.
Kat smiled and looked over at Lily who was still answering questions in the doorway.
Maybe she’s not all bad, Kat thought.
Kat put down her backpack and slid the new t-shirt over her own shirt.
Michael gasped from across the desk.
“Is that glitter paint?” he asked.
Kat looked down and watched the S sparkle. She glanced back at Lily again and smiled.
“Yup,” Kat said proudly. “A double whammy!”
Sophie snuck around the classroom with her camera and snapped a picture of Kat.
“I’m going to have my mom make me one too,” she said.
The final bell rang to tell everyone that they should be in their own classes.
“Uh oh,” Sophie said dashing from the room.
Kat laughed. She took another look at her new shirt as Lily left the doorway to take her seat.
Kat looked at Michael and beamed.
“If you excuse me, I have a life to save!”
Monday, November 15, 2010
Chapter Fifteen - Major News
Kat’s weekend was calm in comparison to the buzz going on in the neighborhoods that went to Edgeview Elementary.
All of the fourth graders in Ms. Catarinas’ class were excited about their classroom pet. But there was one person who was more excited than any other: Jacob Wilson. Every night, his little sister Sophie would ask him about Bob. What did he eat? How big was he? Did he ever bite? Jacob felt like he was the one writing the report on Bob.
“Can I come see him?” Sophie asked.
“Fourth graders only,” Jacob said proudly. “Besides there are a million of them in our backyard.”
“But he has a name,” Sophie complained. “Bob is special!”
“Maybe I’ll let you see him on Monday,” Jacob said.
“Really?” Sophie clasped her hand together. She looked like someone had told her that unicorns were real and there was one in her room.
“If you bring me some extra girl scout cookies from your meeting tonight,” Jacob bargained.
“Deal!”
At girl scouts, Sophie told all of her friends how Jacob’s class had a pet. They thought it was a hamster or maybe one of those pretty fish with the fancy fins. When they found out it was a daddy long legs, they all squealed.
News passed swiftly around after the troupe of seven year olds told everyone they knew about Bob. Every student at Edgeview who heard the news began to think about their own classroom pets.
By Sunday night, the news finally made it to Michael’s house. Jacob’s mother called Michael’s mother in shock over the change in rules at Edgeview Elementary. They had both attended Edgeview when the Charlie Lambert incident had happened. Now their own children were dealing with “The Rules.”
“Did Michael tell you about Bob?” Jacob’s mother asked.
“No,” Michael’s mother laughed. “All I’ve seen all weekend is praying mantis kung fu. Something about a bug report.”
“And Benbrook is actually letting them have a bug in the room,” Jacob’s mother said in shock.
Michael’s mother worked for the local news and wrote for the community newspaper. This news was world shattering.
“I think I have my next article,” she said.
Jacob’s mother laughed. “Were you there when Charlie lost Gizmo?”
“Of course I was,” Michael’s mom replied. “The art carts exploded like piñatas.”
Mrs. Grossman spent the rest of her weekend on her Tuesday article for the community newspaper.
Bob was becoming famous.
Creepy Crawly Changes
Things are changing at Edgeview Elementary. Since the early years of Eugene Benbrook’s time as principal, there have been certain rules. This week major changes are going on, including the induction of a new student named Bob.
Bob is not your average student. While he does have two eyes, he has eight legs and a body the size of a pencil eraser. Bob is a daddy long legs.
Ms. Elizabeth Catarinas in the fourth grade is bringing learning to life for our students by bringing the outside in. Perhaps Principal Benbrook’s greatest rule of “No bugs” has finally been exterminated.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Chapter Fourteen - Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Bug?
Kat was hopeful that the weekend would be better than her week at school. The last thing she wanted to do was think about Lily. The worst part was that Kat couldn’t even work on her project over the weekend because her library card was taken away. No books meant no research. No research meant no helping Bob.
Kat was still in shock over how strict Principal Benbrook was about “The Rules.” One daddy long legs wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, Kat was beginning to think Bob was kind of cute. She had looked at dozens of up close pictures of daddy long legs yesterday and there didn’t seem to be any reason to be afraid of them. In comparison to a spider, they were nothing.
Kat had already found out that daddy long legs were not true spiders. They only had two eyes and didn’t even make webs. Bob wanted to be a spider, but wasn’t.
Just like Lily, Kat thought. She wants to be everybody’s favorite, but she’s not.
When Kat had gotten home from school on Friday, Kat knew she was going to be in big trouble. Thankfully, Dad worked long shifts on Fridays. Kat knew she had some time before he would have to talk with her. Dinner would be only her and Uncle Chad.
Dinner with Uncle Chad was always about protein and carbs.
“Can’t live your life on orange juice and pop-tarts,” he told Kat every morning.
Kat loved her uncle, but his training for the World’s Strongest Man Competition took over everything else. His strength was so great that Kat was too easy to lift. He was always looking for new challenges now to train.
Just last week, the new refrigerator had gone missing. Four coolers full of food sat on the kitchen table instead. Outside of the two bedroom apartment, Uncle Chad had strapped the empty refrigerator to his back and was running laps around the community pool. He looked like a mutant turtle.
Saturday morning came quicker than Kat would have liked it to. Finally she did not have the spider nightmare. Instead, she dreamt that she was back in Kentucky with her mother. They were out in the garden talking all about “Bobs.” She wished she could have stretched the dream on for hours. It was nice to have a mother again.
Kat slowly threw the covers off of her bed and sat up in bed. She scanned around the room. No Puff in sight. She smiled again. This looked like a good morning.
Kat twisted her body and put her feet down on the floor. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep.
“Things will get better,” she said out loud. “Today will be a good day. No spiders. No Lily. No -”
Claws streaked out from under the bed and caught onto Kat’s foot.
“Ow!”
Puff pulled a sneak attack. There was no way she would be hit with a pillow this morning. She was now ‘The Under the Bed Monster.’ Everyone should live in terror of what lives under the bed. Especially if that thing is a four month old kitten with claws as sharp as a hibachi chef’s knives.
Princess Puffball pulled back her paws and waited for another strike. Kat pulled her feet back up into the bed and made a plan of attack. It had two very key parts. Step one: jump. Step two: run. Kat made it out the door and into the kitchen in four seconds flat.
“Wow, where’s the fire?” her father said from the kitchen table. Uncle Chad and her father were eating breakfast together this morning. This was a rare event to see, the brothers side by side. Dad was working more and Uncle Chad was always training. Kat had forgotten that all three of them actually lived in the same house together.
Kat heard the padding of little feet behind her trotting into the kitchen. Princess Puffball rubbed up against Uncle Chad’s leg and mewed softly.
“Oh,” Kat’s father said with a tired smile.
Kat looked at her father. He had been working so many extra hours at work that she now saw the wear and tear. Her uncle on the other hand was like the Energizer Bunny. He was twice the width of Kat’s father, even though they both stood six feet tall. Kat’s mother always said that she had married the brains. Perhaps someone would marry Chad for his muscles.
“I got a phone call yesterday,” Kat’s dad said seriously. Kat bit her lip and looked at the floor. She had never been in trouble at school before. Lily was going to ruin everything.
“Well?” her father prodded.
“It was Lily,” Kat said. Her eyes were stinging. She knew the tears would start soon.
Kat’s father put down his spoon and looked more directly at her.
“I heard you talked back to the principal,” he said.
Uncle Chad laughed and egg flew out of his mouth. Puff quickly ran to it and smelled it. She began to bat the egg around the floor like a play toy. At least now Kat had an excuse to keep her eyes down.
“Kathryn,” her father said. “What is going on? First this Lily girl and no talking back to the principal? He said that you told him his school rules were dumb.”
Kat squeezed the tears from her eyes and looked away from Princess Puffball.
“He was mad because we had a bug in our classroom.”
“And?” her father asked waiting for the end of the story.
Kat looked from him to Uncle Chad and back again. There were no more words.
“That’s all,” she said.
“Wait,” Uncle Chad said. “You mean you got in trouble because the rule is no bugs?”
Kat nodded her head. It seemed silly, but she was in trouble for a bug that came after here.
Both Uncle Chad and her father burst out into laughter. Kat jumped at the noise. There must have been something in their breakfasts to change them so quickly.
“Those are dumb rules!” Kat’s father agreed.
Kat smiled and her heart beat slowed. She wasn’t in trouble.
“It’s because we have to do this project in class,” Kat said taking a seat at the table. She had been standing this whole time and felt as if her knees would buckle under her if one more thing happened. “Lily and I have to do a project on Bob.”
“Bob?” Uncle Chad asked.
“He’s a daddy long legs we found in the sink,” Kat said. She remembered the feeling of being pushed against the sink. Bob’s legs had felt like claws sinking into her face at first. Now she knew it was all nervousness.
“And you’re working with the girl you don’t like?” her father asked.
“Yeah,” Kat said.
Uncle Chad began to laugh again. This time he didn’t even seem to be interested in the conversation. Finally, he looked at Kat and her father and explained.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was just thinking about this project I had to do with a guy in my school that I didn’t like. We were building three dimensional models of Egypt. He stomped all over the project.”
“Why?” Kat asked.
“Well, he got really mad because we had wrapped him in toilet paper like a mummy. When he got back to class, he started stepping all over my pyramids. It was like watching a mummy Godzilla destroy all of the Nile River.”
Uncle Chad grabbed his stomach and began to laugh again. If there was one thing that the Westwood brothers were good at it was story telling.
“So how did it all work out?” Kat asked.
“Your uncle had to rebuild the whole thing from scratch,” her father said remembering the whole thing.
“But we got extra credit for his costume,” Uncle Chad laughed again. “We must have covered him in at least four whole rolls!”
A timer went off in the kitchen and Uncle Chad stopped.
“Time for training,” he said. “And my new weight set is finally here!”
Uncle Chad put his dishes in the sink and left Kat and her father together. Even though the morning started on a sour note, Kat was glad to have some time with her dad. He was gone most nights until after dinnertime. Most nights Kat would fall asleep next to him on the couch. Being without Mom was hard on everyone.
“Is everything okay Kat?” he finally asked. “You never would have talked back to a principal before.”
Kat thought about what she should say. Would he understand that she felt responsible for her mother’s death? Would he understand that Bob was her only chance to make things right again?
“It wasn’t fair,” she said finally. “Bob didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m just worried about you Kathryn. Maybe I’m working too many hours. Maybe your uncle’s influence is too macho.”
“I’m fine Dad,” Kat said softly. “You’ve always told me to go after what I love. I know I don’t love Bob, but it’s not fair to kill him because he has more than two legs.”
“Hey now,” her dad countered. “You keep thinking that way and you’ll put me out of a job!”
Kat giggled. It was the business of bug squishing that would help her get a new home. Then again, Bob was different.
Bob was Bob.
Kat’s father stood up and put his dishes in the sink.
“I’m off to work,” he said giving Kat a kiss on the forehead. “Promise me you’ll be good.”
“I will,” Kat said.
Kat’s father padded down his pants to find his car keys. His pockets came up empty.
“That’s strange,” he said looking around the kitchen. “I could have sworn I had my keys. They were on the table this morning.”
He walked to the window and instantly ran out of the house.
Kat stared at the front door. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she turned towards the kitchen window. She stood and looked outside. What she saw sent her to the floor in a sea of giggles.
Uncle Chad was training outside with his new set of weights just like he promised. Too bad he had strapped her father’s extermination truck to his back and was hauling it down the street.
Kat’s father screamed after Uncle Chad and began to chase him. It only made Uncle Chad move faster. On his muscles alone, the car was beginning to pick up speed.
New weights, Kat thought. Sure.
Kat was still in shock over how strict Principal Benbrook was about “The Rules.” One daddy long legs wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, Kat was beginning to think Bob was kind of cute. She had looked at dozens of up close pictures of daddy long legs yesterday and there didn’t seem to be any reason to be afraid of them. In comparison to a spider, they were nothing.
Kat had already found out that daddy long legs were not true spiders. They only had two eyes and didn’t even make webs. Bob wanted to be a spider, but wasn’t.
Just like Lily, Kat thought. She wants to be everybody’s favorite, but she’s not.
When Kat had gotten home from school on Friday, Kat knew she was going to be in big trouble. Thankfully, Dad worked long shifts on Fridays. Kat knew she had some time before he would have to talk with her. Dinner would be only her and Uncle Chad.
Dinner with Uncle Chad was always about protein and carbs.
“Can’t live your life on orange juice and pop-tarts,” he told Kat every morning.
Kat loved her uncle, but his training for the World’s Strongest Man Competition took over everything else. His strength was so great that Kat was too easy to lift. He was always looking for new challenges now to train.
Just last week, the new refrigerator had gone missing. Four coolers full of food sat on the kitchen table instead. Outside of the two bedroom apartment, Uncle Chad had strapped the empty refrigerator to his back and was running laps around the community pool. He looked like a mutant turtle.
Saturday morning came quicker than Kat would have liked it to. Finally she did not have the spider nightmare. Instead, she dreamt that she was back in Kentucky with her mother. They were out in the garden talking all about “Bobs.” She wished she could have stretched the dream on for hours. It was nice to have a mother again.
Kat slowly threw the covers off of her bed and sat up in bed. She scanned around the room. No Puff in sight. She smiled again. This looked like a good morning.
Kat twisted her body and put her feet down on the floor. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep.
“Things will get better,” she said out loud. “Today will be a good day. No spiders. No Lily. No -”
Claws streaked out from under the bed and caught onto Kat’s foot.
“Ow!”
Puff pulled a sneak attack. There was no way she would be hit with a pillow this morning. She was now ‘The Under the Bed Monster.’ Everyone should live in terror of what lives under the bed. Especially if that thing is a four month old kitten with claws as sharp as a hibachi chef’s knives.
Princess Puffball pulled back her paws and waited for another strike. Kat pulled her feet back up into the bed and made a plan of attack. It had two very key parts. Step one: jump. Step two: run. Kat made it out the door and into the kitchen in four seconds flat.
“Wow, where’s the fire?” her father said from the kitchen table. Uncle Chad and her father were eating breakfast together this morning. This was a rare event to see, the brothers side by side. Dad was working more and Uncle Chad was always training. Kat had forgotten that all three of them actually lived in the same house together.
Kat heard the padding of little feet behind her trotting into the kitchen. Princess Puffball rubbed up against Uncle Chad’s leg and mewed softly.
“Oh,” Kat’s father said with a tired smile.
Kat looked at her father. He had been working so many extra hours at work that she now saw the wear and tear. Her uncle on the other hand was like the Energizer Bunny. He was twice the width of Kat’s father, even though they both stood six feet tall. Kat’s mother always said that she had married the brains. Perhaps someone would marry Chad for his muscles.
“I got a phone call yesterday,” Kat’s dad said seriously. Kat bit her lip and looked at the floor. She had never been in trouble at school before. Lily was going to ruin everything.
“Well?” her father prodded.
“It was Lily,” Kat said. Her eyes were stinging. She knew the tears would start soon.
Kat’s father put down his spoon and looked more directly at her.
“I heard you talked back to the principal,” he said.
Uncle Chad laughed and egg flew out of his mouth. Puff quickly ran to it and smelled it. She began to bat the egg around the floor like a play toy. At least now Kat had an excuse to keep her eyes down.
“Kathryn,” her father said. “What is going on? First this Lily girl and no talking back to the principal? He said that you told him his school rules were dumb.”
Kat squeezed the tears from her eyes and looked away from Princess Puffball.
“He was mad because we had a bug in our classroom.”
“And?” her father asked waiting for the end of the story.
Kat looked from him to Uncle Chad and back again. There were no more words.
“That’s all,” she said.
“Wait,” Uncle Chad said. “You mean you got in trouble because the rule is no bugs?”
Kat nodded her head. It seemed silly, but she was in trouble for a bug that came after here.
Both Uncle Chad and her father burst out into laughter. Kat jumped at the noise. There must have been something in their breakfasts to change them so quickly.
“Those are dumb rules!” Kat’s father agreed.
Kat smiled and her heart beat slowed. She wasn’t in trouble.
“It’s because we have to do this project in class,” Kat said taking a seat at the table. She had been standing this whole time and felt as if her knees would buckle under her if one more thing happened. “Lily and I have to do a project on Bob.”
“Bob?” Uncle Chad asked.
“He’s a daddy long legs we found in the sink,” Kat said. She remembered the feeling of being pushed against the sink. Bob’s legs had felt like claws sinking into her face at first. Now she knew it was all nervousness.
“And you’re working with the girl you don’t like?” her father asked.
“Yeah,” Kat said.
Uncle Chad began to laugh again. This time he didn’t even seem to be interested in the conversation. Finally, he looked at Kat and her father and explained.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was just thinking about this project I had to do with a guy in my school that I didn’t like. We were building three dimensional models of Egypt. He stomped all over the project.”
“Why?” Kat asked.
“Well, he got really mad because we had wrapped him in toilet paper like a mummy. When he got back to class, he started stepping all over my pyramids. It was like watching a mummy Godzilla destroy all of the Nile River.”
Uncle Chad grabbed his stomach and began to laugh again. If there was one thing that the Westwood brothers were good at it was story telling.
“So how did it all work out?” Kat asked.
“Your uncle had to rebuild the whole thing from scratch,” her father said remembering the whole thing.
“But we got extra credit for his costume,” Uncle Chad laughed again. “We must have covered him in at least four whole rolls!”
A timer went off in the kitchen and Uncle Chad stopped.
“Time for training,” he said. “And my new weight set is finally here!”
Uncle Chad put his dishes in the sink and left Kat and her father together. Even though the morning started on a sour note, Kat was glad to have some time with her dad. He was gone most nights until after dinnertime. Most nights Kat would fall asleep next to him on the couch. Being without Mom was hard on everyone.
“Is everything okay Kat?” he finally asked. “You never would have talked back to a principal before.”
Kat thought about what she should say. Would he understand that she felt responsible for her mother’s death? Would he understand that Bob was her only chance to make things right again?
“It wasn’t fair,” she said finally. “Bob didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m just worried about you Kathryn. Maybe I’m working too many hours. Maybe your uncle’s influence is too macho.”
“I’m fine Dad,” Kat said softly. “You’ve always told me to go after what I love. I know I don’t love Bob, but it’s not fair to kill him because he has more than two legs.”
“Hey now,” her dad countered. “You keep thinking that way and you’ll put me out of a job!”
Kat giggled. It was the business of bug squishing that would help her get a new home. Then again, Bob was different.
Bob was Bob.
Kat’s father stood up and put his dishes in the sink.
“I’m off to work,” he said giving Kat a kiss on the forehead. “Promise me you’ll be good.”
“I will,” Kat said.
Kat’s father padded down his pants to find his car keys. His pockets came up empty.
“That’s strange,” he said looking around the kitchen. “I could have sworn I had my keys. They were on the table this morning.”
He walked to the window and instantly ran out of the house.
Kat stared at the front door. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she turned towards the kitchen window. She stood and looked outside. What she saw sent her to the floor in a sea of giggles.
Uncle Chad was training outside with his new set of weights just like he promised. Too bad he had strapped her father’s extermination truck to his back and was hauling it down the street.
Kat’s father screamed after Uncle Chad and began to chase him. It only made Uncle Chad move faster. On his muscles alone, the car was beginning to pick up speed.
New weights, Kat thought. Sure.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Chapter Thirteen - Battle Plans
When Ms. Catarinas’ class returned to the classroom, they rushed in to make sure that Bob was still there. He sat at the top of the windowsill. He ate an aphid slowly, sucking the insides out like a sunflower seed.
Kat sat down at her desk quietly. She wasn’t quite sure what she had done. She had told the principal that his rules were dumb and now her dad was going to kill her. Her weekend was over.
The craziest part was the complete revolution that she started in the fourth grade. All around Kat, her classmates were complaining about all of Principal Benbrook’s rules.
“I wasn’t even allowed to bring my lip gloss to school because it had glitter,” Veronica said.
“And at the Fun Fair, the face painter was banned,” Avery complained.
This was the strangest thing that Kat had ever seen. Of course she wanted Bob to live, but she never thought it would come to this.
At her desk, Ms. Catarinas sat quietly looking at the ring on her left hand. At the beginning of the school year, she had gotten engaged. Her fiancé was from Texas and she planned to follow him there after this school year. Her students screamed in protest, but there is no stopping true love. She would teach in Texas if she got a good review this year.
Kat watched Ms. Catarinas’ face twist in torment. She was wrestling with so many ideas that she had completely forgotten her class.
“Let’s go lazy,” Lily said suddenly.
The sound of Lily’s voice jolted Kat out of her own wonderings.
“What?” Kat asked.
Lily crossed her arms tightly and began to tap her foot on the floor.
“We have a project to finish,” Lily said. “The last thing I saw in the library was you losing your chance at the academic award for the year.”
Kat blew out through her nose and looked at Lily. She had too much going on to worry about working with Lily.
“Come on,” Lily pushed.
“Class,” Ms. Catarinas said suddenly. She stood up tall from her desk and look at each of her students as if they were adults rather than nine and ten year olds. “I’ve been thinking about what Michael said.”
“You mean about how awesome it was to watch Ms. Connors fall on her ‘bum’?” Michael asked.
A few giggled came up from the class and even Ms. Catarinas cracked a smile.
“No,” she said pulling her class back together. “About ‘The Rules’. I think it’s time to change Principal Benbrook’s mind!”
“Yeah!” the class cheered.
Ms. Catarinas raised her hand and the class went silent again.
“You’ll still have to work on your insect projects,” she said. “But I’m certain if we get a few more people on our team, then Bob will stay as long as he wants to.”
“We need a plan,” Jacob shouted.
“And paint!” Avery called out.
“And glitter!” Veronica yelled.
“And especially BUGS!” Kat said smiling.
The whole class cracked up in a fit of laughter. Partners got back to their insect research with books that were checked out of the library. Ms. Catarinas walked over to Lily and Kat and kneeled down by their desks.
“Looks like you have a big job girls,” she said proudly.
“Oh, I know,” Lily said with fake concern.
Show off, Kat thought.
“I’m trusting you with someone’s life here,” Ms. Catarinas said. She pointed to Bob and Kat felt her stomach sink again.
The last time she had been trusted with someone’s life, she had left the window open during a storm. Along came a spider and now Kat lived in Virginia.
Kat took in a deep breath very slowly.
“I’ve got this,” she assured Ms. Catarinas.
“We’ve got this,” Lily corrected her.
Ms. Catarinas smiled and left the girls to check on other students. Michael had found the group of aphids in the classroom and was trying to ‘taste test’ them.
“Lily Ho professional author and lifesaver,” Lily said. “It has a nice ring to it.”
Kat laughed out loud and quickly put her hand to her mouth. After the library incident, there was no way that she was going to get into it with Lily. Both of them were already banned from checking out books for the rest of the year.
Lily acted as if it was the greatest tragedy to ever happen. It was as if someone died.
“But Mrs. Connors,” Lily had pleaded. “I’m going to be a published author once NaNoWriMo is over. I have to have books to know how great authors write. It’s just not fair.”
“No,” Mrs. Connors had said. Her hair was still a mess and he held her neck as if she had been in a car accident.
“But Mrs. Connors,” Lily had begged.
It didn’t work.
Lily stared at Kat, narrowing her eyes like a kitten about to pounce on unsuspecting toes.
“You do your part over the weekend,” she said. “And I’ll do my part. That way we never have to look at each other.”
Kat smiled.
“Sounds great,” she said.
Kat looked up at Bob’s tiny body and eight fragile legs. She’d find some way to save him, even if it meant she’d have to work with Lily.
Kat sat down at her desk quietly. She wasn’t quite sure what she had done. She had told the principal that his rules were dumb and now her dad was going to kill her. Her weekend was over.
The craziest part was the complete revolution that she started in the fourth grade. All around Kat, her classmates were complaining about all of Principal Benbrook’s rules.
“I wasn’t even allowed to bring my lip gloss to school because it had glitter,” Veronica said.
“And at the Fun Fair, the face painter was banned,” Avery complained.
This was the strangest thing that Kat had ever seen. Of course she wanted Bob to live, but she never thought it would come to this.
At her desk, Ms. Catarinas sat quietly looking at the ring on her left hand. At the beginning of the school year, she had gotten engaged. Her fiancé was from Texas and she planned to follow him there after this school year. Her students screamed in protest, but there is no stopping true love. She would teach in Texas if she got a good review this year.
Kat watched Ms. Catarinas’ face twist in torment. She was wrestling with so many ideas that she had completely forgotten her class.
“Let’s go lazy,” Lily said suddenly.
The sound of Lily’s voice jolted Kat out of her own wonderings.
“What?” Kat asked.
Lily crossed her arms tightly and began to tap her foot on the floor.
“We have a project to finish,” Lily said. “The last thing I saw in the library was you losing your chance at the academic award for the year.”
Kat blew out through her nose and looked at Lily. She had too much going on to worry about working with Lily.
“Come on,” Lily pushed.
“Class,” Ms. Catarinas said suddenly. She stood up tall from her desk and look at each of her students as if they were adults rather than nine and ten year olds. “I’ve been thinking about what Michael said.”
“You mean about how awesome it was to watch Ms. Connors fall on her ‘bum’?” Michael asked.
A few giggled came up from the class and even Ms. Catarinas cracked a smile.
“No,” she said pulling her class back together. “About ‘The Rules’. I think it’s time to change Principal Benbrook’s mind!”
“Yeah!” the class cheered.
Ms. Catarinas raised her hand and the class went silent again.
“You’ll still have to work on your insect projects,” she said. “But I’m certain if we get a few more people on our team, then Bob will stay as long as he wants to.”
“We need a plan,” Jacob shouted.
“And paint!” Avery called out.
“And glitter!” Veronica yelled.
“And especially BUGS!” Kat said smiling.
The whole class cracked up in a fit of laughter. Partners got back to their insect research with books that were checked out of the library. Ms. Catarinas walked over to Lily and Kat and kneeled down by their desks.
“Looks like you have a big job girls,” she said proudly.
“Oh, I know,” Lily said with fake concern.
Show off, Kat thought.
“I’m trusting you with someone’s life here,” Ms. Catarinas said. She pointed to Bob and Kat felt her stomach sink again.
The last time she had been trusted with someone’s life, she had left the window open during a storm. Along came a spider and now Kat lived in Virginia.
Kat took in a deep breath very slowly.
“I’ve got this,” she assured Ms. Catarinas.
“We’ve got this,” Lily corrected her.
Ms. Catarinas smiled and left the girls to check on other students. Michael had found the group of aphids in the classroom and was trying to ‘taste test’ them.
“Lily Ho professional author and lifesaver,” Lily said. “It has a nice ring to it.”
Kat laughed out loud and quickly put her hand to her mouth. After the library incident, there was no way that she was going to get into it with Lily. Both of them were already banned from checking out books for the rest of the year.
Lily acted as if it was the greatest tragedy to ever happen. It was as if someone died.
“But Mrs. Connors,” Lily had pleaded. “I’m going to be a published author once NaNoWriMo is over. I have to have books to know how great authors write. It’s just not fair.”
“No,” Mrs. Connors had said. Her hair was still a mess and he held her neck as if she had been in a car accident.
“But Mrs. Connors,” Lily had begged.
It didn’t work.
Lily stared at Kat, narrowing her eyes like a kitten about to pounce on unsuspecting toes.
“You do your part over the weekend,” she said. “And I’ll do my part. That way we never have to look at each other.”
Kat smiled.
“Sounds great,” she said.
Kat looked up at Bob’s tiny body and eight fragile legs. She’d find some way to save him, even if it meant she’d have to work with Lily.
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