Read Online Finders Keepers by Andrea Spalding - Free Book Online Page B

free concert in the school gym. All the students loved the music and danced and rocked for hours. The teachers hated it and tried to get the speakers turned down. Eventually the roof couldn’t take the blast from the speakers and started to crack and all the roof beams bent out of shape. School was closed for good. Danny was a hero. “You don’t need school anyway,” said the Barenaked Ladies, “but we need a ’Mr. Fix-It’. Come on the road with us and fix our equipment.” So he did and became rich and famous.
    By that time Socials period was over.
    Each evening Danny took out his calendar and crossed off the days to the weekend. Each morning he doggedly arrived at school. He was totally surprised if somethingpleasant happened during a school day.
    Friday was a surprise.
    â€œToday is the day you get one hour’s project research time in the library,” announced Mr. Berg with a big smile.
    Danny sat up straight in his desk. Great. He liked working in the library. He’d chosen his favourite topic—’Indians’—and knew where there were a couple of books he could look at.
    â€œBy the end of the afternoon I want you to each hand in a one-page outline of your project,” continued Mr. Berg. “It should start with a clear and concise explanation of your project, about one paragraph in length. Underneath the paragraph, in point form, list the topics or chapters you will be covering.”
    The whole class groaned, Danny’s groan was loudest and he slumped back in his seat.
    Mr. Berg looked in his direction with a frown. “What’s the matter Danny, don’t you have a project?”
    â€œI do Mr. Berg. Honest I do,” Danny stammered. “I’ve been working on it all week. I’ve a collection of post cards and I know lots of stuff and I’ve talked to people. It’s just…” he tailed off, wondering how he was going to organize and write it all down so that Mr. Berg could read it.
    â€œWell if you’ve done all that, you’ve got a head start,” Mr. Berg said briskly. “Line up by the door, Grade 5, and walk quietly to the library.”
    Danny sat miserably at his library table. He had tons of information in his head. He’d organized his picture postcard card collection in a box at home ready to illustrate his report. The cards showed scenes of early life on the prairie, Indian encampments, tipi rings and the Indian clothing displays in the Fort Macleod museum. He had his lance point. He planned on painting a picture of the young hunter he had imagined knapping the flint point. He had met a real Indian kid and his grandfather and was going to visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump with them. Danny’s project was all set to go. Except that he had to write it!
    Danny looked around the library in despair. It was quiet,much quieter than usual as his whole class had their heads down at the tables, scribbling away furiously in order to hand their outlines in on time. Mr. Berg was looking pleased and talking to the librarian in a low voice.
    â€œThis is just what this class needs,” Mr. Berg murmured in a satisfied tone. “A project that they can get their teeth into. They are a bright bunch on the whole apart from…” He stopped and his eyes swept the room and locked with Danny’s.
    Danny flushed scarlet, bent his head down and crooked an arm protectively over his paper. He knew what Mr. Berg had been going to say—’apart from Danny’. He looked sadly at the paper in front of him. It was black and smudged with eraser marks, crossings out and badly scrawled words written several times in an effort to spell them correctly. He sighed. Why was it so difficult to organize his thoughts and knowledge into a one-page outline when it was stuff he knew?
    Footsteps approached and the hair on the back of his neck prickled. Sure enough Mr. Berg’s hand expertly whisked the paper