Ready, Set, Go!

When Joey and I get to school, we meet outside Mrs. Finney’s office.

Even though we didn’t do anything wrong, walking into the principal’s office is kind of scary. “Ready?” asks Joey when Mrs. Finney’s secretary, Mr. Price, says she’s available to see us.

I nod. I’m wearing my best shirt and skirt so that I make a good impression. And Joey and I talked on the phone last night and rehearsed exactly what we’re going to say.

“What can I do for you?” asks Mrs. Finney when we sit down in her office.

I clear my throat and begin. “Joey and I have an idea.” I sit up straight in the chair as I talk to Mrs. Finney about the food drive. “We’d like to get kids to bring in canned goods so families in Fern Falls will have what they need for Thanksgiving.”

Joey picks up where I leave off. “We were thinking that we could form a committee with two representatives from each grade who would be in charge of getting the kids in their grade to bring in cans.”

He explains that we’d like to award a prize to the grade that brings in the most cans. “Maybe you could give a homework-free week to the grade that wins,” he says.

When Joey finishes talking, we both look at Mrs. Finney. She’s quiet like she’s thinking about what we said. It’s hard to tell how she feels about our idea.

I cross my toes inside my shoes. I really hope she likes it.

The good news is that she does! “I think it’s a wonderful idea for the school to do a food drive,” says Mrs. Finney. “I’ll contact the Fern Falls Food Bank and coordinate it with them.” Then she pauses. “But I’m not sure about the homework-free week.”

“Please!” Joey and I say at the same time.

“It will motivate kids to get involved,” I explain.

“Since this is the first time we’ve done this at Fern Falls Elementary, we think it’s important to offer something that gets students excited,” adds Joey.

Mrs. Finney smiles at us. “You’re both very convincing,” she says. “We’ll do it.”

Joey and I look at each other and grin. “I hope our grade wins,” he says.

Mrs. Finney laughs. “I think the food drive is a lovely idea, and I’m proud of both of you for thinking of it.” Then she gets a serious look on her face. “But Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This is going to take a lot of work. Are you up for it?” she asks.

I nod that I am, and Joey does too.

“OK,” says Mrs. Finney. “I’m going to assign Mrs. Daily to be your adviser. She’ll help you with all the plans.”

Even though we’re sitting in the principal’s office, Joey and I high-five each other. Mrs. Daily was our third-grade teacher, and we both love her.

“It will be awesome to have Mrs. Daily as our adviser,” I tell Mrs. Finney.

“I’m glad you’re both pleased,” she says. “I’ll talk to Mrs. Daily this morning. I’m also going to hold an all-school assembly on Wednesday to announce the food drive. I don’t think you should talk about this with your friends until they hear about it at the assembly. Since it’s a contest, everyone should start collecting cans at the same time.”

She pauses and looks at us. “We’ll choose reps on Thursday, and you can meet with them Friday to explain what they’ll need to do. Students can bring in cans all next week. We’ll have an assembly before Thanksgiving to announce the winning class.”

“That sounds great,” I say.

“Thank you,” says Joey.

Mrs. Finney smiles again. “My pleasure. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

As Joey and I leave Mrs. Finney’s office, we’re both super excited about the food drive, and we stay that way all week. On Tuesday, we eat lunch with Mrs. Daily in her classroom so we can start planning what we need to do.

She’s just as enthusiastic about the food drive as we are. “I like that Fern Falls Elementary is getting involved in the community in such a helpful way,” she tells us.

That afternoon, Joey comes to my house after school. We use the computer in the kitchen to make sign-up sheets for kids who want to be grade reps. Then we draw a poster to announce the food drive.

“I can’t wait until tomorrow,” says Joey as we color the poster.

I feel the same way.

When I wake up on Wednesday morning, I set a record for getting dressed and eating my breakfast faster than ever. I can hardly wait for the assembly to start.

As I walk into the auditorium with my friends, everyone is talking about it.

“I wonder what this is about,” says Chloe Jennifer.

“I hope it’s something good,” says Devon.

“Maybe we get extra days off for Thanksgiving,” says April.

“I doubt that,” says Zoe.

I sit down beside Joey, and Pamela takes the empty seat next to me. Mary Ann sits down in the chair next to Pamela. “What do you think’s going on?” I hear her ask.

I can’t wait for everyone to find out.

When Mrs. Finney starts the assembly, Joey and I exchange a look.

“Students, I have a special announcement to make,” says Mrs. Finney. She tells everyone about the food drive and how it will work.

“Two fifth graders, Mallory McDonald and Joey Winston, came to me with the idea. I thought it was a good one, and that’s why we’re doing it.”

When she says that, everyone who is sitting near Joey and me turns around to look at us. I can feel my face turning red. I’m a little embarrassed but in a good way.

I’m kind of surprised when Mary Ann leans across Pamela and gives me an I-can’t-believe-you’re-doing-this-without-me look. But all I can do is shrug. I tried to get her to do it with me, and she didn’t want to.

“There will be two class reps from each grade,” says Mrs. Finney. “Sign-up sheets are outside the gym. If more than two people from each grade sign up, we will do a random drawing to see who gets the job.”

Mrs. Finney continues to explain how the food drive will work. “This is a great opportunity to give back to the community,” she says. “It’s also an opportunity at school. The grade that brings in the most cans wins a homework-free week.”

When she says that, every kid in the auditorium goes crazy.

“Students, your attention, please,” Mrs. Finney says from her podium. “I know you’re all excited about the idea of a homework-free week, but let’s remember we’re doing the food drive to help other people, and that’s what’s most important.”

When she finishes talking, she dismisses everyone to go back to class.

As we leave the auditorium, kids crowd around Joey and me. I feel like a movie star.

“What a great idea!” says Chloe Jennifer.

“I’m definitely signing up to be a class rep,” says Arielle.

“Me too,” says Danielle. “I want to make sure the fifth grade wins.”

Everyone is excited about the food drive. Some sixth graders come up to Joey and me and tell us they like the idea and want to get involved. Even first graders are excited. One first-grade boy says he doesn’t even care about the homework-free week because first graders don’t have much homework.

“I’m so happy everyone is so excited,” says Joey.

I’m excited too. I feel like we’re at the beginning of a race. We’re ready. We’re set. Now, off we go!