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There was a new student in the Watertower Elementary School She arrived in October, after the first rade classroo and appeared there all alone, without even apaja a dictionary and a lunch box

"Hello," Mrs Pidgeon, the second grade teacher, said "We’re in thelesson"

"Good," said the girl in pajaht my dictionary Where’s eon asked politely

"I’m your new student My name is Gooney Bird Greene--that’s Greene with a silent ’e’ at the end--and I just ht sht s"

The class stared at the new girl with admiration They had never ood student She sat down at the desk Mrs Pidgeon provided, right srade spelling She did all her work neatly and quickly, and she followed instructions

But soon it was clear that Gooney Bird wasHer clothes were unusual Her hairstyles were unusual Even her lunches were very unusual

At lunchtime on Wednesday, her first day in the school, she opened her lunch box and brought out sushi and a pair of bright green chopsticks On Thursday, her second day at Watertower Ele a pink ballet tutu over green stretch pants, and she had three srapes, an avocado, and an oatmeal cookie for lunch

On Thursday afternoon, after lunch, Mrs Pidgeon stood in front of the class with a piece of chalk in her hand "Today," she said, "we are going to continue talking about stories"

"Yay!" the second-graders said in very loud voices, all but Felicia Ann, who never spoke, and Malcol attention He was under his desk, as usual

"Gooney Bird, you weren’t here for the firstabout what eon said Everyone nodded All but Malcol with scissors

"Class? What does a story need eon had her chalk hand in the air, ready to write so on the board

The children were silent for aFinally Chelsea raised her hand

"Chelsea? What does a story need?"

"A book," Chelsea said

Mrs Pidgeon put her chalk hand down "There are many stories that don’t need a book," she said pleasantly, "aren’t there, class? If your grandirl, she doesn’t have that story in a book, does she?"

The class stared at her All but Malcolm, as still under his desk, and Felicia Ann, who always looked at the floor, never raised her hand, and never spoke

Beanie said, "My grandrandrand, Pennsylvania!"

Tricia shouted, "My grandeon "Shhh!" Then, in a quieter voice, she explained, "Another tiht now--" She stopped talking and looked at Barry Tuckerman Barry was up on his knees in his seat, and his hand aving in the air as hard as he could eon said "Do you have so that cannot possibly wait?"

Barry nodded yes His hand waved

"And what is so important?"

Barry stood up beside his desk Barry Tuckerman liked to make very important speeches, and they always required that he stand

"My grandma," Barry Tuckerman said, "went to jail once She enty years old and she went to jail for civil disobedience" Then Barry sat down

"Thank you, Barry Now look at what I’ on the board Who can read this word?"

Everyone, all but Malcol word Then they shouted it out "BEGINNING!"

"Good!" said Mrs Pidgeon "Now I’ain

"MIDDLE!" the children shouted

"Good And can you guess what the last ill be?" She held up her chalk and waited

"END!"

"Correct!" Mrs Pidgeon said "Good for you, second-graders! Those are the parts that a story needs: a beginning, ato write another very long word on the board Let’s see what good readers you are" She wrote a C, then an H

"Mrs Pidgeon!" someone called

She wrote an A, and then an R

"MRS PIDGEON!" Several children were calling now

She turned to see as so i

"Malcoleon!" Beanie said

Mrs Pidgeon went to Malcolm and knelt beside him "What’s the trouble, Malcol

"I know, I know!" Nicholas said Nicholas always knew everything, and his desk was beside Malcolm’s

"Tell me, Nicholas"