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"This is the title of the story," she said at last "'How Gooney Bird Got Her Name'"

"Just like How the Leopard Got His Spots," Barry Tuckerman said in a loud whisper

"Barry, pay attention, please," Gooney Bird said "I like to have absolutely all eyes on me" Then, when the class was silent, and all eyes, except those of Felicia Ann, who always looked at the floor, were on her, she began

How Gooney Bird Got Her Nao, a man and a woman named Mr and Mrs Greene--that's Greene with a silent 'e' at the end--discovered that they were expecting a baby girl

The man's name was Gordon Greene His as Barbara Greene

They decided to nairl with their initials G for Gordon, B for Barbara

They thought of many different names

"Gail Beth," said Mrs Greene She liked short names

"Gwendolyn Belinda," said Mr Greene He liked long naued or fought But they had ht, Mrs Greene woke up She had had a dreaed Mr Greene until he woke up a little bit Then she said, "Georgina Babette"

"No," he said, and went back to sleep

One night Mr Greene woke up, nudged his wife, and told her that he had had a dreahtreed They both went back to sleep

Finally, because they could not make up their minds about a nairl was born Then they would look at the baby and soet, or Gloria Bonnie, or some other name

They waited and waited for the baby's birth It takes many months, as you know

Gooney Bird paused in her story She could see that many of the children wanted to wave their hands in the air and say things

"Class?" she said "Any comments so far? Any questions?"

"We have nine eon reminded them, "before arithmetic"

Keiko asked in a small voice, "Did he really say Gazpacho Banana?"

"Yes, he did," Gooney Bird said "I tell only absolutely true stories"

Barry Tuckerrandfather," he said "My grandfather's name was Benjamin"

"That's randfather was in college when one with her"

Tricia raised her hand "My cat's name is Fluffernutter," she said

"Four eon announced "Let's let Gooney Bird get back to her story so that we can hear the ending

"Did you notice, class," she added, "how she uses characters and dialogue? And her story is full of suspense It's a cliffhanger, isn't it? What a good storyteller Gooney Bird is!"

"Ready?" Gooney Bird asked

"Ready!" shouted the class, all but Felicia Ann, who never shouted

"Okay Here co, the baby girl was born She weighed six pounds and fourteen ounces She had red hair

"Look!" said herfor food when she's hungry Isn't that cute! It reet what"

Her father peered down at the new baby in his wife's ar feet! Isn't that cute! It reet what"

Mr and Mrs Greene looked at their sweet baby They thought and thought

"It's co back to me," Mr Greene said at last "Do you re trip to various islands in the Pacific Ocean, andall kinds of marine birds?"

"That's it!" his wife said "She looks very much like one of those birds But which one?"

"Let's get our photograph albuether they turned the pages of the album

"Doubled-crested cormorant?" Mrs Greene said They looked down at the baby No She didn't look like a double-crested corested They looked at the baby again

"She does have a red neck," Mr Greene said

"She does not!" said Mrs Greene "It's pink" They turned the pages some more Suddenly they both said, "Oh!"

Very carefully they looked at the photograph Then very carefully they looked at the baby

"Big feet," Mr Green said "Just like our baby's"

"A head that bobs around," Mrs Greene said "Just like our baby's"

"That's the one," they agreed

They read the label under the photograph "Laysan Albatross," the label said

"I don't think Laysan Albatross Greene is a very pretty nairl," Mrs Greene said sadly "It sounds too scientific"

"I agree," Mr Greene said "But look at the sether Mr and Mrs Greene read the words in the small print: OFTEN CALLED GOONEY BIRD

"Gooney Bird Greene!" they said

"I like the sound of it!" Mrs Greene said "And it has a G and a B"

"It does indeed," said Mr Greene

So they decided to nairl Gooney Bird Greene Then everyone, including a doctor, a ed and kissed and did a Viennese waltz together