We told Jude all about how sometimes Matt had trouble paying attention, which meant he sometimes forgot stuff, which meant our 100 Days project was in danger! Jude nodded slowly.
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret,” said Jude. “I know I’m famous around town for never forgetting anything. I know people think that I’m Mr. Perfect—”
“Don’t forget Mr. Big Head,” I added. Matt started to chuckle, but Jude gave him a dirty look, and he clammed up.
“But the truth is,” Jude continued, “I forget stuff all the time. There’s only one thing I never forget. You know what that is?”
“To pat yourself on the back?” I asked. Matt covered his mouth to squash his laugh.
“The one thing I never forget”—Jude paused to make sure we were really listening—“is to check my lists.”
“Cool,” said Matt.
“Oh, it is more than cool,” corrected Jude. “It’s the key to staying organized! And staying organized is the key to success!! So it’s the key to success!”
“Ummm, okay,” said Matt. I could tell he was regretting coming over. And he thought I was annoying! Ha!
Jude insisted that Matt needed five different lists, but Ezra talked him down to two, which Ezra typed up on his laptop. When Jude gets excited, Ezra is the one person who can talk reason to him.
We made a morning checklist for Matt to keep at home:
MORNING CHECKLIST
1. Homework in folder?
2. Folder in backpack?
3. Lunch box?
4. Special projects?
We also made an afternoon checklist, for Matt to check before he left school:
AFTERNOON CHECKLIST
1. Books for homework?
2. Homework folder?
3. Lunch box?
4. Sneakers?
Matt said he didn’t need to put sneakers on the list, but then I reminded him about how on pajama day, he left his sneakers in the classroom and walked out the door with bare feet.
Dad came in to see what we were doing. When he heard about the lists, he said, “I’m terrible at remembering stuff. You know what I do? I put a Post-it on my desk or the fridge. A big, bright one that I can’t ignore. Then I write ‘Bring chain saw’ or whatever on it.”
Matt gulped loudly. “You really have a chain saw?”
“Oh, I’ve got loads of ’em,” said Dad. I gave Matt my best Told you so! look.
Just then we heard a loud jingly sound coming from the bathroom.
Jude, Dad, and I looked at one another.
“Oh no!” we all moaned at the same exact time.
Monster Potty played:
When you really have to go,
Here’s what you need to know—
“Have mercy, Father!” I wailed. I always call my dad Dad, but when I’m trying to be dramatic, I call him Father.
“The potty of doom must go!” declared Jude.
So don’t forget to wipe
When you don’t wear a diape-
Rrrrrrrrrr!
“Awwww,” said Cora. “I think the song’s kind of cute.”
“Just you wait,” I told her. “The potty song strikes in your brain when you least expect it.”
“Yeah, tonight you’ll be lying peacefully in bed, counting sheep,” said Jude, “when suddenly these words will ring in your ears—”
“It’s potty time! It’s potty time! It’s potty time! It’s potty time!” We both sang along with the potty, at the top of our lungs.