Chapter Six - Room 222

As Kat walked into the front door of Edgeview Elementary she saw her art teacher, Ms. Ululani, fighting with Principal Benbrook in the front hall.

Supplies again.

“Eugene,” Ms. Ululani said flatly. “I just don’t see how my students are going to learn how to express themselves in gray pencil. Crayons don’t work right either.”

“We’ve already had this discussion Lana. No paint!”

Principal Benbrook didn’t even look like he cared. He knew the rules. No one would change his mind.

Ms. Ululani said something in Hawaiian under her breath as she walked away.

“This isn’t over,” she mumbled.

Kat passed by quickly, hoping to not grab the attention of other. There was no way she wanted any part of “The Rules” talk. Rumor had it that Principal Benbrook confiscated all art supplies that children brought into school and used them all at home. One fifth grader even claimed that Principal Benbrook took baths in glitter every night.

As Kat walked down the hallway, the idea of her principal in a tub of glitter made her ill.

Before walking into class, Kat took a deep breath.

“Brace yourself,” she said to herself. “If Lily gives you a problem. Treat her like Puff. Pull her tail.”

Kat giggled and walked through the doorway of Room 222 into the world of fourth grade.


“Good morning Kathryn,” Ms. Catarinas said as soon as she saw Kat.

If there was one person in school who made it worth coming, it was Ms. Catarinas. It was her first year of teaching and she was so fun. Learning was fun.

Kat felt her heart warm a little bit as she moved to her desk. She sat at a table of four and everyone was there already. The rest of the children were taking the morning to complete their own things.

Jacob Wilson was finishing his math homework before he had to turn it in. Kat saw his equivalent fractions weren’t right. He was drawing footballs instead of circles, so everything was off. Michael Grossman was reading a book about werewolves. His eyes were getting bigger with every page. Every so often he’d check his skin and teeth. As Kat walked by, Michael asked her if there was a full moon tonight. He was feeling itchy.

Finally Kat got to her seat and looked across to see Lily Ho hard at work in a notebook. Her desk was covered in sketches and outlines of some sort. Lily looked up with a smug smile.

“Hi Kat,” she said. It was obvious she wanted to brag on herself this morning. “What are you working on this morning?”

Kat took her backpack off and pulled out a book on electricity.

“Just reading about science,” she said. There was no way she’d get caught in a Lily brag-fest.

“Oh,” Lily said disappointedly. “Well I’m participating in NaNoWriMo.”

Kat peered over her book and looked at Lily with a puzzled look.

“Never heard of it,” she said.

Lily smiled big.

Here we go with the pride parade, Kat thought.

“Well,” Lily said with an edge to her voice, “it means that I am going to write a whole book by the end of the month. Have you ever written a book Kat?”

Kat had learned long ago that one word answers worked best with avoiding Lily.

“No,” she said curtly.

Lily and Kat continued on this way for a while.

“Well, I have to write an hour everyday to make my word count. Have you ever written that long?”

“No.”

“And when I’m finished my parents are going to take my book to a publisher and sell it. Have you ever sold a book?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll become famous and I’ll autograph everyone’s book. Do you want me to autograph your book Kat?”

Right before Kat could let those two letters go from her lips, Ms. Catarinas called the class to attention.

“Alright everyone, we’re going to get started on science first thing this morning.”
A few cheers went up in the classroom. They had been learning all about electricity.

“Are we going to get to build freeze rays today,” Michael Grossman asked.

Giggles went up from several students. Kat smiled at Michael. He was definitely one of her favorite people. Lily groaned.

“You’re not funny,” she whispered cruelly to Michael.

He frowned and went back to checking his arm hair. He could swear it was growing.

“No, no,” Ms. Catarinas laughed. “That’s sixth grade. We’re going to get to test our knowledge and play a little review game. Who’s up for some Trashball?”

The class erupted. Trashball first thing in the morning? This day couldn’t possibly go wrong.

Kat wasn’t too sure. Teams in Trashball were assigned by table. For the most part she like her teammates and of course Kat knew the answers. But there was only one problem and it was sitting right across from Kat.

Lily Ho.