“I can’t wait to go to the chocolate factory,” said Jake on the way home from school. Jake talked about how much fun they’d have on the bus ride. He talked about how much fun it would be sharing free samples.
It felt like old times, but it wasn’t like old times. Now there was Patty.
What was Kate going to do?
Kate couldn’t stop thinking about Jake and Patty. Everyone in the class had a partner, even spitball Leo and drippy-nose Brad. They were partners with each other. There had to be a way for Kate, Jake and Patty to be partners. But how?
On the way to school the next morning, Kate still didn’t know what to do.
She slipped into her seat just before the bell rang. Jake slid into his seat a minute later.
“Let’s finish those rain forest pictures,” Mr. Bolin told the class. “I want to display them in the hall.”
Kate drew two parrots on a tree in the rain forest. One more parrot on the branch and I’m finished, she thought. But there was no room on the branch for another parrot.
Where can I put him? she wondered.
Maybe... Yes! Suddenly Kate knew what to do about the third parrot—and what to do about her friends.
“Mr. Bolin,” she said, raising her hand, “could I talk to you—privately?”
“Come on up to my desk.”
Kate hurried up to Mr. Bolin’s desk. She told Mr. Bolin about wanting to be partners with Patty and Jake. “If I’m partners with one person, the other person won’t have anyone to sit next to,” she explained. “So I have an idea.”
Kate told Mr. Bolin her plan.
“I like your plan,” he said. “Let’s talk more at recess.”
Kate zoomed back to her seat.
“What’s up?” asked Jake.
“Tell you at recess.”
“Okey-dokey,” said Jake, finishing his rain forest picture.
As soon as the recess bell rang, Mr. Bolin asked Kate, Jake and Patty to come to his desk.
“Kate has a problem. She wants to be partners on the chocolate factory trip with both of you,” Mr. Bolin told them, “but you know the two-person-per-seat rule.”
Kate glanced at Jake and Patty. They didn’t look happy.
“But Kate came up with a great plan,” said Mr. Bolin. “Do you want to tell them about it, Kate?”
“It’s a way we can all be partners,” said Kate, “and Mr. Bolin can have a partner too. On the bus to the factory, Mr. Bolin and Jake can be partners, and I’ll be partners with Patty. On the way back, we’ll switch. Mr. Bolin and Patty can be partners, and I’ll be partners with Jake. But we’ll all sit in the same row so we’ll all be together. And Mr. Bolin promised to tell us jokes on the bus.”
“What about at the chocolate factory?” asked Jake.
“There’s no two-person rule there, so the three of us can all be partners together!” said Kate.
“Is that okay with you?” asked Mr. Bolin.
“Well...,” said Jake. “Do you really know a lot of jokes?”
“Lots,” said Mr. Bolin.
“Great. I know some too. I’ll tell you on the bus.”
“How about you, Patty?” asked Mr. Bolin.
“Do you want the window seat?” she asked.
“No, I like aisle seats better,” said Mr. Bolin. “That way I can stretch out my legs.”
Mr. Bolin had long legs.
“Good!” said Patty. “I love the window seat. I’ll be your partner.”
“Hurrah!” sang Kate. “This is going to be the best and most delicious trip ever!”
She felt so happy that they’d all be partners and friends, she wanted to jump up and dance.
So she did.
