We make it to class just in time. It’s hard to be calm and my heart’s still racing, even after I sit down.

When the lunch bell rings, Mae walks straight over to April and hands her a note. April reads it and then smiles.

Mae holds up a pencil.

April nods. “You can keep it.”

“Are you sure?”

April nods again. “It’s not that super special. I have three more just the same.”

Ava walks over to see what’s going on, but April shoves the note in her pocket, and then she and Ava walk out, arm in arm again.

“What did you give her? Is it a secret? Why was she happy?” I have lots of questions for Mae.

On the way to the lunchroom she tells me everything. “When April came to my house, she thought Rocket’s band was super cool. So I told her what he did. He changed his band name to Cat Scratch Shrieker, because of her. I made it into a poem.”

At first I’m jealous about the band name, but that feeling goes away when Mae tell me more.

“Rocket changes his band name a lot. It’ll probably be something different next week.”

At recess, I sit on the grass while Mae plays tag with Leni and Jules. I’m writing my poem. I thought it would be a poem for Mae, but when I start, it turns into something else.

 

Being Rabbitastic

Is fantastic

You do not want a cat

We all know that

For a dog you might cry

But why not try

A bunny like a dog

Hops like a frog

No zebra or bat

Will be all that

He can fetch, jump, and bite

A friend day and night

 

I’m excited about it until I get to class, and then I get worried. What if Steven thinks it’s weird? But I have no choice. I have to give it to him. It’s too late to make up a new one. I hand it to Jennifer and she passes it over.

Steven reads it and then smiles. “Guess what? We’re getting a rabbit on Saturday.”

Jennifer claps her hands. “REALLY!” She can hardly believe it. And then she and Steven talk nonstop about rabbits.