I knew what I had to do

as soon as I read Pearl’s note.

I waited

and waited

and waited

for lunch,

tapping my fingers on my desk

until Mrs. Ramji asked me to stop.

“Your new sweatshirt is giving you energy!”

she said. “But the noise is distracting.”

I sat on my hands after that,

until it was finally time for lunch.

Then I stood in the cafeteria line

with my plastic tray.

And as soon as I got to the front,

I said to the lunch lady,

“Can I please have a pickle?”

“We’re not serving pickles today,” she said.

“It’s cold cuts day tomorrow.

You’ll have to wait until then.”

“I can’t!” I said.

I got ready to climb over the steaming meatballs

and push past that lady

and search the kitchen myself.

“It’s an emergency!” I told the lunch lady.

She squinted at me.

I put my hand on my heart,

to show how much I meant it.

“So,” she said,

“this is a life-or-death pickle?”

“It is!” I said. “I swear.”

“We only have pickle slices,” she said.

“That’s fine!” I said.

She shook her head

and wiped her hands on her apron.

“How many?” she asked.

It was a good question!

Just one slice might not impress Pearl.

But I couldn’t eat too many!

I’d vomit all over the cafeteria!

The poor lunch lady might have to help clean it up!

“Two, please,” I told her.

She left then, to get the pickles.

Kids behind me in line

started getting restless.

I ignored them.

My problems were bigger than theirs.

Finally the lunch lady came back, holding

a small white bowl

with two pickle slices.

I thanked her a million times

and hurried away,

without any actual lunch.

I searched the cafeteria,

holding my little bowl,

until I saw Ainsley and Pearl.

There were no empty seats at their table,

but I didn’t need one.

I walked over to Pearl

and set the bowl on the table, next to her plate.

She looked up at me,

very surprised.

I lifted one slimy, dripping wet pickle slice

with my fingers.

I could barely look at it!

And it stank so badly!

But still.

I held my nose

and took a sour, nasty bite

and swallowed.

I didn’t even have a drink!

I didn’t think I could take too many more

of those bites.

But I had to finish two whole slices!

I closed my eyes.

I could feel Pearl watching me.

“What is she doing?” someone at the table said.

“Shh!” Pearl told them.

The whole table went silent.

I made a big decision.

I was still holding the rest of the slice.

I grabbed the other slice, too,

and shoved them both in my mouth at once;

and,

with my eyes squeezed shut,

I chewed and chewed

as fast as I could

and

swallowed.

“Wow,” I heard Pearl say.

Then,

without my even asking,

she handed me her water.