Kate slid into her seat before the first bell.
Jake wasn’t in his seat yet.
The bell rang.
Their teacher, Mr. Bolin, hurried into class. “
Before I take attendance,” he said, “I have a wonderful surprise. We’re going to the chocolate factory in two weeks.”
“Yahoo!” shouted all the kids.
“We’ll learn how cocoa is grown and how chocolate is made,” explained Mr. Bolin. “And the factory promised to give each of us free chocolate samples.”
“Hurrah!” shouted the kids.
Kate couldn’t wait. She loved free samples, especially free chocolate samples, and she knew Jake did too.
Kate pictured the trip with Jake.
It would be so much fun sitting on the bus together.
It would be so much fun being partners.
It would be so much fun eating free samples.
But where was Jake? He was always late but not this late. Was he sick?
Just then, Jake dashed into class.
He handed Mr. Bolin a note. Mr. Bolin read the note and smiled.
“I’m glad your goldfish didn’t die this time,” said Mr. Bolin.
Everyone laughed. Jake was famous for his crazy excuses.
“It’s nice that you were able to show your cousin around school this morning,” said Mr. Bolin. “When is he starting school?”
“Next Monday.”
“Good! Just in time for our trip. His grade four class will be going to the chocolate factory with our class. We may even take the same bus.”
“Neat!” said Jake.
Kate gulped. What if Jake wanted to sit near Lionel on the bus? What if he wanted to be partners with Lionel on the trip?
If she didn’t sit next to Jake, who could she sit with? She hardly ever played with anyone else. And the only kids who didn’t have regular partners in her class were Leo, Brad and the new girl, Patty.
She couldn’t sit near them.
Leo shot spitballs into her hair. Brad had a drippy nose. And Patty was so shy that she hardly ever said a word.
All through math and reading, Kate worried about the trip.
The recess bell rang.
“Race you to the swings,” said Jake.
“One. Two. Three. Run!” called Kate.
Kate ran as fast as she could. So did Jake.
They reached the swings at the same time.
“Tie,” said Jake. He hopped on a swing.
Kate hopped on the next swing.
“Isn’t it great that Lionel will go on the trip with us?” Jake asked.
Kate didn’t say anything. She began to pump. Her ponytail bobbed up and down as she flew.
“So what do you think?” asked Jake.
“About what?” asked Kate.
“About Lionel, of course.”
“Well...,” muttered Kate.
“Isn’t he the funniest kid you ever met?” asked Jake.
“No,” said Kate.
“Who’s funnier than Lionel?”
“I don’t know,” said Kate.
“Lionel knows a thousand jokes. I hope he’s on our bus to the chocolate factory.”
But Kate hoped he wasn’t.