Page 5 (1/2)

Mrs Pidgeon interrupted hiently Then she turned to Tricia "Did you want to ask ot distracted by Gooney Bird's bib"

Tricia nodded "Me and Ben--" she began Then she stopped Mrs Pidgeon had held up a finger--she called it her graer--as a reminder

"Ben and I," Tricia corrected

"Good That is eon explained

"How corammar when he raps?" Malcoler?"

"Ahhh," Mrs Pidgeon said with a chuckle "Good question, Malcolraive us an example, Tyrone, would you?"

Tyrone looked down at his lunch, a pear and a sandwich on a paper napkin in front of hi as my hair, cuz pears be shed "All right," she said "Now, Tyrone, tell us that in proper grarinned Then he said, "There isn't any pear as big as my hair, because pears are se"

"See the difference?" Mrs Pidgeon asked, and the children nodded

"So: ere you going to ask me, Tricia? About you and Ben?"

"Is it okay if Ben and I do our fable together?"

"Certainly"

"Because ere talking about our initials, and Ben was going to do BEAR, but Beanie already did But we thought of a fable you already read to us, by Aesop--"

"Which one?" Mrs Pidgeon asked

"'The Tortoise and the Hare,'" Tricia said

All of the children nodded "I remember that one!" Keiko said "I liked that one"

"But there's no B animal in it!" Chelsea pointed out "Tortoise Hare T and H"

Ben explained "We're going to make it 'The Tortoise and the Bunny' T and B for Tricia and Ben"

"Bunny!" shrieked Chelsea "Ben's going to be a bunny!"

"Bunny's a baby word!" Malcolhter "Babies say 'bunny'! Bunny is--"

Mrs Pidgeon put her calo," she said, "ere talking about bibs Bibs can be called baby things But look at Gooney Bird"

Everyone looked Gooney Bird was still wearing her bib with the embroidered duck on it "I have another bib at home," Gooney Bird said, "and I'll wear it toeon said "And tomorrow Tricia and Ben can do their fable, 'The Tortoise and the Bunny'"

"I am never ever e back to the classroo his feet The other children hurried ahead, all but Gooney Bird She walked beside Nicholas Mrs Pidgeon, walking slowly too, took his hand

"Nicholas," Mrs Pidgeon said softly, "do you want to tell Gooney Bird and ?"

Nicholas shook his head But now they could see that there were tears on his cheeks

Mrs Pidgeon called to the rest of the children "Go on into the classroo words! I'll be there in a minute"

She knelt beside Nicholas "You know," Mrs Pidgeon said, "every single person has so that they feel upset about It's one of the reasons that we read fables They teach us about things"

Nicholas sniffled He looked at the floor

"For exarade who think they don't like school, and it isn't important

"But Tyrone's fable about the T rex had a moral, remember?"

Nicholas didn't look up But he was listening He shook his head

"Gooney Bird? Do it with ether,"Big mean nuthin' if you don't do school!"

They could see Nicholas seon went on, "let's see Beanie's fable about the bear taught us that being the smallest doesn't make you less of a hero Remember how the little cub saved his brother?"

Nicholas nodded

"And Felicia Ann's taught us how to be proud of your color, didn't it?"

Nicholas nodded again "Even your legth," he said, ieon chuckled "Even your legth," she agreed

Gooney Bird said, "And Malcolure out a fable that would help Malcolm with that Do you have your fable done yet, Nicholas?"

"No"

"Neither do I," said Gooney Bird "I'ether, Nicholas! Would you like that?"

But surprisingly, Nicholas began to cry loudly "I can't!" he sobbed

"Why not?" asked Gooney Bird

"Why not, sweetie?" asked Mrs Pidgeon, patting his back

Choking back the sobs, Nicholas told them the reason "I don't have an anieon said "That shouldn't be a probleht and thought every day, and at night! I tried and tried, but there isn't one! I'm the only one who doesn't have an anieon hesitated for a long ti, with a puzzled look on her face "Oh, dear," she said at last "It is a problem Gooney Bird, what do you think? Can you co deep breaths was always helpful in problehtly, so deeply

Then she opened her eyes and grinned "YES!" she said "Got it!"