This year, Jacksonville’s Earth Day parade is going to be bigger and better than ever! Daddy’s newspaper is going to have a float in the parade, and the Garden Club will have one, too.

Now that our town is a finalist in the Prettiest Town contest, everyone is working extra hard to prove that Jacksonville is pretty inside and out.

During the week, Daddy’s newspaper is running stories about green living. They’re also passing out tips on how to be kind to the environment.

I already know some of the tips, like taking a shower instead of a bath and turning off the water when you brush your teeth.

Mayor Jenkins liked Daddy’s idea and set up a watering schedule, which was printed in the paper. The whole town is divided into zones. Our house is in zone five, which means we can water the grass on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

On Monday evening, I see that Miss Clarabelle is watering her grass. I go right over to see if she knows about the new watering schedule.

When I knock on her door, she comes right away. “Kylie Jean!” she says. “How are you?”

“I’m just fine, thank you for asking,” I reply. “But did you know you’re in watering zone five now?”

Miss Clarabelle looks confused. “What is watering zone five?” she asks me.

I explain all about Daddy’s plan to save water. Then I show her the story in the paper that has the list of zones and days for watering.

“I guess I missed that page when I was reading the paper,” she tells me. “I’m so glad you came by to tell me.”

Before I go, I remind her, “Don’t forget that your watering days are now Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Okay?”

Miss Clarabelle nods. “I’m going to write it on my calendar,” she says. “Thank you for being a good little neighbor and coming right over to explain it to me.”

As I cross our yard on my way back home, I see my bike has a tire as flat as a fat snake’s belly. Oh, no! I run inside to get help.

“T.J., Ugly Brother, come quick!” I holler. “I need help!”

T.J. comes running outside right away. Ugly Brother is right on his heels. “What’s wrong?” T.J. asks.

“My bike has a flat tire,” I tell him. “I need it to ride to school.

T.J. and Ugly Brother both follow me out to the yard. T.J. looks at the tire. It is flatter than a pancake.

“Let’s try to fill it with air first,” T.J. suggests. “We need an air pump.”

I run into the garage and dig to find Daddy’s air pump. It has to be there somewhere! Ugly Brother sees it in the corner and starts barking. He’s a real good finder.

T.J. sets up the pump and starts to attach it to the tire when Ugly Brother comes over and tries to sit on it. T.J. laughs. “Hey, Brother, it’s not time to pump yet,” he says. “Besides, I think you are too short for the job.”

T.J. starts to fill the tire. “If the air leaks back out, you’ll probably need a new tire,” he says. Pump, pump, pump. My tire gets fatter and fuller as the air goes in.

I’m holding my breath, and I have my fingers crossed for luck. “You can help me by crossing your paws for luck. Okay?” I tell Ugly Brother.

“Ruff, ruff!” Ugly Brother barks. He crosses his paws and keeps them crossed.

T.J. finishes pumping, and we watch and wait. The air stays in. Yay!

“Thanks, T.J.!” I say. “Thanks, Ugly Brother!”

It’s good to have brothers to help you. Sometimes I wish I had a sister, but I have my best cousin Lucy, so it’s okay.

Besides, Momma says when you have sisters, you have to share everything. Looking at my pink bike, I know T.J. would never, ever want to share it with me!