think they’re dressed like twins,” said Joanne.
“Girls always want to be twins,” said George. “I think it’s dumb.”
“Where’s your sash, Austine?” asked Amelia.
“I don’t see why everyone has to make such a fuss, just because we happen to have dresses made out of the same material,” said Ellen.
Otis came over to inspect the dresses.
“Look at the monkeys!” he yelled. Leaning forward and dangling his arms, he bent his knees and walked like a monkey.
“Cut it out, Otis,” ordered Austine. “You think you’re funny, but you’re not!” Otis scratched himself under one arm and pretended to look for fleas.
“Don’t pay any attention to him,” said Ellen, and turned her back.
Otis hopped around in front of her and scratched himself under the other arm.
“Oh!” said Ellen furiously, and whirled around again.
Then Mrs. Gitler, their new teacher, came into the room and asked the boys and girls to take seats. When Ellen started to hurry to a back seat, Austine took hold of her sash and, as Ellen walked, it came untied.
“Austine, I wish you’d stop untying my sash,” snapped Ellen.
“I didn’t untie it,” said Austine.“I held on to it and you untied it when you walked.” Ellen was so cross she didn’t answer. By that time all the back seats were taken, so she chose a seat by the window. Austine took a seat by the blackboard. Ellen was sorry Austine didn’t want to sit beside her any more. She really didn’t want to quarrel with her best friend.
It was not until lunch time that the real trouble began.When the class crowded into line at the door to wait for the bell to ring, Ellen knew that Otis and Austine were standing behind her.“Hey, quit shoving,” she heard Otis say.
Someone bumped against Ellen. “Excuse me,” said Austine, and then added to someone else, “Well, you don’t have to push.
There’s plenty of room.”
It’s silly, getting mad over a sash, thought Ellen. I’m going to pretend nothing has happened. She was about to turn around and ask Austine to eat lunch with her in the cafeteria, when she felt someone grab her sash and yank.
This time Ellen was really angry with Austine. Without stopping to think, she whirled around with her hand out. She turned so quickly that Austine, who was laughing, didn’t have time to dodge.
Before Ellen realized what was happening, the palm of her hand struck Austine’s face with an angry smack. Austine gasped and put her hand to her cheek. Her face turned red and her eyes filled with tears.
Ellen stared, horrified. The classroom began to buzz with whispers. Mrs. Gitler clapped her hands. “Boys and girls, I don’t like this talking. If I hear any more, we shall all go back to our seats until we can be quiet.”
Ellen had slapped her best friend. How could she have done such a terrible thing?
She was so shocked she could not speak.
6
The Substitute Rat
When the bell rang, the class filed into the hall. Embarrassed and ashamed, Ellen walked to the cafeteria and bought her lunch. She knew everyone was talking about her. With flaming cheeks she carried her tray to a corner table and ate alone. It did not take her long to finish her lunch. She was not hungry.
She returned to her new fourth-grade room, took her reader out of her desk, and started to read straight through it. After the first page she sat twisting her hair and thinking. The more Ellen thought, the more unhappy she became.
What bothered her most was the question of who should apologize first. Should she tell Austine she was sorry or should Austine tell her she was sorry? Of course, slapping someone was worse than untying a sash, but just the same, if Austine had left Ellen’s sash alone, she would not have had her face slapped. Yes, it was Austine who really started it. Ellen decided Austine should apologize first. Ellen would smile encouragingly at her and give her every chance to say she was sorry. Then Ellen would say she had not
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