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"Oh, no!" said Keiko

"It's okay," Gooney Bird reassured her "It has a happy ending Just a little suspense, and a suddenly"

The fable continued Keiko looked nervous but she was quiet

The lions decided to attack late at night, when it was dark and the gnus were asleep They planned to carry away several young gnus and have the

Gooney Bird looked over at Keiko and whispered, "It's okay Don't worry"

The lions decided to rest for the early part of the night, so that they would have lots of energy for the big attack They curled up in a heap in the tall grass and slept They didn't need an alar when to wake up

The gnus gathered in their herd and prepared to sleep, too But they were thirsty It was a tiht has a silent G and a silent H," Gooney Bird pointed out to the class "But we'll talk about those next month"

"Are you sure there's no silent M?" Malcolm asked

"Almost positive," Gooney Bird said Malcolnu sniffed the air and smelled some water far ahead

"We really need water," hetiht's sleep and et a drink"

Hehis foot, that told the entire herd to getbecause they had been alht, at the very darkest tiy, woke up "Time to attack!" the chief lion (a fe The males are very lazy) announced "Gnu for breakfast!

"Go!" she said And the lions leapt out of the tall grass, in attack nus had been

But the vast plain was e past, and a couple of vultures sitting on the branch of one crunus had disappeared They were far away, having a nice drink of water

"Bummer," said the lions "We'll have to have that old leftover zebra for breakfast"

"The end," said Gooney Bird and Nicholas together They bowed, and the class clapped

"Good fable!" Mrs Pidgeon said, getting up fro watchful and vigilant?"

Gooney Bird and Nicholas shook their heads "Here's the ood news"

13

"May I march with you?" Mr Leroy asked

The children of Mrs Pidgeon's second grade were lining up in the school hallway on Friday afternoon, the last day of school before the holiday vacation They all had their bits and pieces of costu the na and shuffling their feet and practicing chanting the rap that Tyrone had prepared for the parade

"Ask Gooney Bird," Beanie told the principal "She's in charge"

Gooney Bird Greene was at the head of the parade, wearing her beard and a pair of plaid pajamas "Well," she said dubiously when Mr Leroy asked perroup, "we're all ani at his suit, "you have to have soeon, in her black shirt and white vest? She's a panda

"And I' her beard, in case he hadn't already read her nain with the first letter of your name Gnu has a silent G"

"Yes, I understand," the principal said "I was in your classroom when Tyrone did the T rex fable But I think I can fulfill the requirement My first name is John: a J But my middle name is Thomas, so I do have a T, as well And look! Here's ht green one with candy canes on it, so that it dangled in front of his buttoned suit jacket

"Can I be a tiger? Get it? Tie-ger?" he asked

Gooney Bird sighed She put her hands on her hips "If you were in second grade, Mr John Thomas Leroy," she told hi to bend the rules just a little too far But since you're the principal, I' to say yes You may march"

"Thank you, Gooney Bird" Mr Leroy turned to find a place in the line

"Alphabetical!" Gooney Bird called to hio back there"--she thought for a moment, then pointed--"after panda and before tortoise

"I should be there with Nicholas, behind the fla in front"

"Why isn't Nicholas between kangaroo and mandrill?" Mr Leroy asked, after he had looked around

"Oh, Mr Leroy, it's a very long story," Gooney Bird told hio!" Gooney Bird called

"Startin' with a gnu, and we goin' right thru " the children chanted, along with Mrs Pidgeon, and, after a rasp the words, since he had not been there for the rehearsal

The parade, with Gooney Bird leading, began to shuffle and dance down the hall toward the , but Mr Furillo stood in the hall with his large push broo his broom a few rhythmic swishes on the tile floor

Bruno, the Saint Bernard, who had been asleep near the utility closet door, was startled awake He looked terrified Quickly he rose to his feet, dropped his tail between his legs, and loped off toward the administration office, where he could hide

Cute little hear, he got brown hair

Here coh at the bunny if you think he be funny

One by one, alphabetically, they chanted the ani rap that came so easily to Tyrone As the parade entered thechildren cheered and clapped Gooney Bird twirled in a dance step and then gestured to the classes to join in the chant "Repeat after us!" she called