Later that night, I am sitting in the living room working on my homework. Our assignment is to make something from recycled trash. I am using old magazines to make a necklace. I cut the pages into strips, dip them in water and a little glue, and roll each strip into a bead.

Just then, the news comes on, and I see something that makes me shout with excitement! “Momma, Daddy, T.J., come quick,” I holler. “Granny is on the news!”

Ugly Brother barks and barks, and I have to make him hush because I can’t hear. Momma, Daddy, and T.J. come running just in time to hear Granny explain that our town, Jacksonville, has entered the state of Texas’s “Prettiest Town” contest.

“It won’t be enough to just pick up some trash,” Granny says. “This award is not just about having a pretty town. After all, pretty is as pretty does. We need to do more to show that our community cares about green living, especially since Earth Day is only a week away.”

“Wouldn’t it be great if Jacksonville won?” Momma says.

I nod. “Then everyone would know how pretty our town is!” I say.

On the news, Granny is still talking. “We will be hosting a tree-planting event tomorrow morning. And The Garden Club will be planting gardens during the next week to help Jacksonville claim the grand prize!” she says.

“Winning this contest might finally make Momma’s dream of becoming Garden Club president come true,” Daddy says.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Granny runs for president of the Garden Club every year,” Momma says. “But every year someone else is chosen.”

That decides it. “Then Ugly Brother and I need to help Granny win,” I say. “I bet we can think of lots of green-living challenges if we put our minds to it!”

“What did you have in mind?” Momma asks.

“How about having people walk or ride their bikes instead of driving their cars?” I suggest.

“Maybe we could talk to the mayor about creating a watering schedule for the town,” Daddy adds. “That would help conserve water.”

“Now that’s a real good idea!” Momma exclaims. “We’ll make Jacksonville as shiny as a pretty new penny.”

Momma calls Granny to tell her about all of our great green ideas. I decide to take a shower instead of a bath because it uses less water. And I turn off the water while I brush my teeth and turn it back on when I am ready to rinse out the toothpaste.

Ugly Brother is waiting for me in my room when I go in. I climb into bed. I need to be well rested to help plant trees in the morning!

Daddy comes to kiss us goodnight. “I love you to the moon and back,” he says, giving me a big squeezy hug.

I squeeze him back and say, “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!”

Daddy turns off the light. I close my eyes and get ready to count some sheep until I fall asleep. Suddenly Ugly Brother jumps right out of bed and starts barking.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Are you scared?”

“Ruff!” he barks. That means no. Then he barks some more and sits down.

“Come to bed, you silly doggie.” I tell him.

“Ruff!” he barks again.

I look down and see that he is sitting right beside my pink princess night-light. He looks at it, then looks back at me.

“Are you trying to tell me to unplug that light and save energy?” I ask.

“Ruff, ruff!” Ugly Brother barks.

“You’re right, Ugly Brother,” I agree. “I am a big girl, and second graders do not need night-lights.”

After I unplug that night-light, my room is as dark as the inside of a pocket. I see stars twinkling outside, so I make a very special wish.

I bet you think I wished that I was a beauty queen, huh? But if that’s what you thought, you’d lose that bet. I wished for Granny to be the next Garden Club president. Then I pull up my covers and decide to count stars instead of sheep.