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"That isn't exactly what I meant, Barry You do not own the word We may all use it And in fact, class, I wish you would all try a littleat home This is the only class in Watertower Elementary School that does not have a roo a little iht to start our preparations for the Thanksgiving pageant The Muriel--Ito learn, and costumes to make, and I have to select the cast"

"I already have a cast!" Ben called out, holding up his arm Ben had fallen from his bike a month earlier and broken his wrist All of the children, and Mrs Pidgeon, and even the principal, Mr Leroy, had signed their na different colored markers The names were faded now, and the cast itself, which had once been white, was gray and dirty, with bits of string like dental floss dangling from it

Keiko wrinkled her nose and said, "Your cast s a face "But next week the doctor takes it off"

"Your arm will be all skinny and wrinkled inside it when they take it off," Barry Tuckerman told him "My cousin had a cast on his arm and his areon?" Ben asked nervously

"Your arreen," Barry added

Ben's face began to pucker up "My arm is dead? Green? he wailed

"Children, children," Mrs Pidgeon said "No, Ben, your ar about a different kind of cast We need a cast of characters for the pageant We need Pilgrims and Native Americans We also need a turkey, and, let me see, some succotash, and a pus"

"I want to be Squanto!" Gooney Bird said "I love Squanto He was always absolutely right s"

"Squanto's a boy!" Barry called loudly "Only a boy can be Squanto! Right, Mrs Pidgeon?"

"Actually," Mrs Pidgeon said, "I've already made a list So put your hands down, everyone"

She read the list aloud There were twenty-two children in the classroorims Eleven Native Americans

"But who is Squanto?" the children asked

Mrs Pidgeon looked around the class Now every child, not just Gooney Bird and Barry, aving an arerly to be Squanto

"I haven't decided that yet," Mrs Pidgeon said "But I have an idea"

She went to the board, to the list of words

REWARD, she wrote "You all knohat a reward is," Mrs Pidgeon said

"Money!" shouted Ben "A thousand dollars if you catch a crieon said, "it could be that But a reward doesn't have to be about criminals Let's look it up"

Everyone opened the dictionaries and turned the pages Chelsea raised her hand first "That which is given in appreciation," she read aloud to the class

"You see, it doesn't have to be eon explained "And in this case, the reward I aeant Soet that role in appreciation It will be that person's reward"

"Reward for what?" several children asked at the saeon said She sighed "For finding me a room mother"

An hour later, after lunch, the second-graders were learning one of the songs for the Thanksgiving pageant It was a cori was about food

"Succotash, succotash, lima beans and corn" Mrs

Gooney Bird and the Rooeon played the notes on the piano and sang the words "To the tune of 'Jingle Bells,'" she explained "Ready, Native Americans? This is your part Try it withGooney Bird Greene, sang the succotash lines

"Now, Pilgrile Bells'" Mrs Pidgeon played and sang, "Thank you for the vegetables, On this Thanksgivingloudly

"Now the next verse is about the turkey Native Americans? Ready to listen carefully?"

Gooney Bird Greene raised her hand "Does Squanto sing with the Native Americans?" she asked

"No, actually, while the Pilgri the food across the stage Perhaps Squanto will do some sort of dance I haven't worked out the details yet"

Beanie, standing with the Pilgrims, raised her hand "I take ballet lessons!" she said "Maybe I could be--"

But Mrs Pidgeon shook her head "Not ballet, Beanie," she said "They didn't have ballet in Plyht, class, let's pay careful attention to the next part Still the tune of 'Jingle Bells,' reobble, here it comes, turkey roasted brown" She played thethe words Then the eleven Native Aeon, may I please be excused?" Gooney Bird asked politely "I need to be excused"

Mrs Pidgeon paused with her hands on the piano keys "Is this a seriously urgent need?" she asked

"Yes"

"All right, then Be quick"

Gooney Bird slipped out of the classroo on "Thank you, noble Squanto, you may set the platter dooooonn"

The children were still singing and passing is of food around when Gooney Bird returned a few minutes later

"Announcement!" Gooney Bird said in a loud voice "Ieon stopped playing the piano The room became quiet All of the children knew that when Gooney Bird had an announce to

"I am Squanto," Gooney Bird announced

"But--" Mrs Pidgeon began