On Saturday morning we went out for breakfast, and when we got home we saw a sort of strange sight. Loud Charlie and quiet Zachary were standing in Charlie’s driveway, wearing all blue. Erin and I ran over to see what this was all about.
“I didn’t know you were Cub Scouts,” I said when I got closer and saw the uniforms.
“Zachary’s been one for a while,” said Charlie, “but I’m just starting.”
“I showed Charlie how to make a pinewood derby car,” said Zachary. “Now Charlie’s going to teach me some basketball moves.”
“That sounds like a good trade,” I said. “Congratulations on the spelling bee again.”
“Thanks.” Zachary looked down at his feet.
“Did you pick a party theme?” asked Erin.
Zachary looked up, and his cheeks were a little red. “Not yet. My mom told me I had to decide by the time she picks me up, and that’s in only two hours.”
“What are you trying to choose from?” asked Erin.
“I can’t decide yet, still.” Zachary looked very worried.
“Do you want some help?” I asked.
Zachary’s worried look went away a little bit. “Yes!”
“How about basketball,” said Charlie.
“Or animals,” said Erin.
“Or Cub Scouts,” said Charlie.
“Or tap dancing,” said Erin.
Zachary’s worried look got even worried-er than before.
“I don’t think this is helping,” I said.
“There are a lot of good ideas,” said Erin.
“Too many good ideas,” said Zachary.
Then all of a sudden I had an AHA!, and it was so good that I said it out loud by accident.
“What?” asked Erin and Charlie and Zachary all at the same time.
“Come over to my house, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
So everybody followed me home, and they liked my idea and we got to work.
On Monday, right after lunch, Mr. Harrison said it was time for the festivities to begin.
The first thing we did was decorate. Me and Erin and Zachary and Charlie had emailed the whole class and asked them to bring in a picture of one of their favorite things. I brought a picture of my last dance recital, where I’m wearing my shiny, red tap shoes with a fancy bow. Erin brought a picture of Anna and Julia and me from her mom’s wedding. Zachary brought a picture of his hamster, Fred, and Charlie brought a basketball picture, of course. Mr. Harrison brought a picture of an Opel GT that he printed off the computer.
People started taping their pictures up, and everywhere you looked there were animals and sports teams and UFOs and about everything else you could imagine.
Pretty soon the room-parents started coming in with treats. To give you a few examples, my mom brought Rice Krispies Treats, and Erin’s mom brought popcorn, and Zachary’s mom brought string cheese, and Charlie’s mom brought brownies. There were also pretzels and cupcakes and orange slices and cookies and lots of different things to drink.
“I think we have enough to feed an army,” said Mr. Harrison.
And I think he was right. I have never seen so much food at a class party before. Or so many decorations either. While the room-parents set up the food, the class drew pictures of more of their favorite things and hung those up too.
“This is a great idea, Zachary,” Christopher called from across the room.
“It was really Cinderella’s idea,” Zachary called back.
“No way,” I said. “I just got the ball rolling. It was yours and mine and Erin’s and Charlie’s too!”
“I like it ’cause it’s not too girly,” said Jack.
“And it’s not too boyly either,” said Olivia.
“Also,” said Logan, “there’s plenty of levity.”
Kristy walked over to the wall and taped up a picture of a horse.
“That is a vexylent picture!” said Hannah.
I was so surprised to hear Hannah use my word that my mouth popped wide-open.
“Hannah!” The Rosemarys spun around in their chairs and stared hard at her.
Hannah covered her mouth with her hand for a second, and her eyes opened wide. Then she put her hand back down. “It is vexylent,” she said. “Kristy, will you teach me how to draw a horse and help me add a horn to make it a unicorn?”
“Sure!” said Kristy. “Come over to our table.”
“Me too!” said Abby.
“Class, please take a seat,” said Mr. Harrison.
We all just took a seat wherever we were.
“I’m very proud of you,” he said. “You all worked hard and did a fine job improving your spelling skills. Bravo!” He started clapping, and the room-parents joined in and then the rest of us did too.
“Zachary, Rosemary T., and Cinderella, please come up front.”
We all three went up to his desk, and he shook our hands and gave us each a ribbon.
One of the room-parents wanted to take our picture, so we all stood still and smiled. After the flash I looked down and saw I was only wearing socks, but Rosemary T. didn’t tattle or anything.
Just then the door opened, and Mrs. Kirk stuck her head in. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“That’s okay,” said me and Zachary and Rosemary T. and Mr. Harrison at the same time. Then we all four started laughing.
“We were just about to start celebrating last week’s spelling successes,” said Mr. Harrison.
And right then and there I had another great, big AHA! I whispered it to Zachary, and he pulled on Mr. Harrison’s sleeve and said, “Would it be okay if we invited Mrs. Kirk’s class to come too?”
“Oh, I don’t know . . . ,” said Mrs. Kirk.
“That’s a grand idea,” said Mr. Harrison. “We have plenty to share.”
We all had friends in the other third-grade class, so a lot of kids agreed.
“If you did come,” I said, “it would go right with our party’s Main Theme.”
“What is your party’s Main Theme?” she asked.
“It’s a More of Everything party,” said Zachary. “More party ideas and more decorations and more food and more people—if your class comes, that is.”
“Please do come,” said Mr. Harrison.
“Because, you know,” I said, “the more the merrier.”
