Chapter 1 WEIRD WEDNESDAY

Wednesdays in Jeanie Bell’s second-grade classroom were predictable.

And that’s just how Jeanie Bell liked them.

Ms. Patel always started the day with journal writing. In her journal, Jeanie had written about the new trick her dog, Bear, had learned at breakfast that morning.

She’d done her science work ahead of time. Labeling plant parts was easy-peasy.

But Jeanie couldn’t work ahead in gym. Luckily, on Wednesdays the class did yoga. Tree pose was perfect for resting… but also for practicing for the spelling bee. Plus, yoga meant she didn’t have to worry about fending off the Lee triplets in dodgeball!

At lunch Jeanie ate while she read a few chapters of the book she’d chosen for independent reading. She didn’t want to lose her lead in Ms. Patel’s Reading Challenge.

All in all, it was a totally normal Wednesday.

But when Jeanie returned to room 2B after lunch, something unpredictable and not normal was happening.

A girl Jeanie didn’t recognize stood at the front of the class.

Ms. Patel clapped her hands twice to get everyone’s attention. “Class, this is Willow Davis,” she said. “Today is her first day at Rivertown Elementary.”

Jeanie wouldn’t want to be the new kid in class. She hated being the center of attention.

But this girl didn’t seem to mind the attention! She wore a big smile and a bracelet with little bells that jingled as she waved to the class.