CHAPTER 10

If songs could unite marching protestors, they could unite classmates. Unfortunately, Sofia couldn’t remember any of the songs Abuelo sang to her. She couldn’t remember any songs that would inspire people to stop arguing and be kind. At that moment, she couldn’t remember any songs at all.

Except one.

And so, Sofia Valdez sang the one song she could remember. It was familiar. It was easy. It was also the most annoying song in the world.

“Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-IOOOOOO,” Sofia started quietly. It felt weird to be the only one singing while everybody else was arguing. But she sang anyway.

She sang one verse. Then another. And another. With each verse, she sang a little louder. She added the hand motions she and Abuelo had learned at the library when she was little.

She zipped through the OINK-OINKs and the QUACK-QUACKs. She started on the MOO-MOOs. Sofia was on a roll.

She finished at full volume.

As the last note evaporated into the air, Sofia opened her eyes and realized for the first time how quiet a classroom could be when sixteen students and a teacher stood there staring at you with their mouths wide open.