The next morning, Momma wakes us up bright and early to go help. “Kylie Jean, T.J., Ugly Brother! Wake up!” she calls. “We have to get going. It’s time to plant some trees.”

T.J. stumbles downstairs looking half-asleep. I think he stayed up all night playing video games again. “I wish I could stay at home and dream about planting trees instead,” he says.

Momma puts her hands on her hips, which is never a good sign. T.J. is fixin’ to get in trouble!

“Timothy James Carter,” Momma says, “you will not sleep through planting the trees. You are a good, strong worker, and Granny needs you today. She needs all of us.”

T.J. looks like he feels bad. “I’m sorry, Momma,” he says.

Daddy walks into the kitchen just then. “Come on, son,” he says to T.J. “You’ll wake up on the way over there. We’re going to be the best tree-planting team ever.”

When we walk outside, Daddy has our bikes waiting in the driveway. As part of our green-living plan, he has been leaving his truck at home and riding his bike to work.

T.J. looks at Momma’s van, and I can tell he wants to drive over to the tree planting. But he doesn’t say a thing. Instead, he shoves the rest of his toast in his mouth and hops on his bike.

I put on my pink helmet and pedal my pink bike right down Peachtree Lane toward downtown. Ugly Brother can’t ride a bike on account of he’s a dog, so he runs along beside me.

Before long, we can see the tops of the trees waving at the sky! They are extra tall, waiting in truck beds for us to come and plant them.

In the town square, people in Green Team T-shirts are rushing around like ants at a picnic. Daddy asked his boss at the newspaper to sponsor a T-shirt sale. All the money will go to the Garden Club so they can plant gardens all around town.

Before we get started planting, the mayor welcomes everyone with some exciting news. “The judges have looked at Mrs. Carter’s photos and contest application, and Jacksonville is a finalist for the Prettiest Town contest!” he tells the crowd. “Now we really need to get busy planting those trees before the judges come to town.”

Granny looks as happy as a bee in a blossom. Everyone comes over to congratulate her.

I give Granny a big squeezy hug. “I’m so proud of you,” I tell her.

Granny squeezes me back. “We haven’t won yet, little lady, but thank you,” she says.

Daddy and T.J. start unloading and planting the trees. Ugly Brother wants to help too. He’s a good digger, but you need a big hole for a tree.

“Just let him dig until he gets tired,” Daddy says. “He’ll quit.”

“But Carters aren’t quitters,” I tell him. “He might just keep on digging till he’s all worn out!”

“I’ll keep an eye on him, Little Bit,” T.J. promises.

With the boys busy, Momma and I get to work passing out cold water to the other people planting.

“Did you know trees keep the soil strong?” I ask them. “It’s true. The roots just hug up all that rich, dark dirt and keep it together.”

“That’s just one good thing about trees,” Momma agrees. “They also help clean our air and make shade.”

Momma and I look around the town square at all the lovely leafy green trees. I sure do hope they help us win!

After we pass out the last bottle of water, we head over to buy our own T-shirts.

“There are so many people in green T-shirts!” I point out excitedly. “Granny better get ready to plant a lot of flowers.”

“If Granny can get the mayor to plant all of these trees, the flowers will be easy,” Momma says. “Just you wait and see!”