Read Online Just Grace and the Double Surprise by Charise Mericle Harper - Free Book Online

when I came out. "Oh, good," said Dad. "Your mom sent me to look for you. It's time for breakfast." Unfortunately Mr. Scruffers immediately started jumping all over me like she hadn't seen me in a million years and I dropped the rubber gloves.
    "What are those for?" asked Dad. It's a good thing I'm a fast thinker. "It's an experiment ... for school," I said. "Okay, well, come eat your breakfast first," he said. And then suddenly on the way to the table I thought of a new fact for the list.
    5. Boys do not ask a lot of questions.
    WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MOM SAW ME COME OUT OF THE BATHROOM

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    I was super glad it had been Dad instead.

    WHAT WAS UNUSUAL
    Usually I go to Mimi's house to get her for our walk to school, but today she came over before I was even ready. I put Sammy's map inside my map so she wouldn't see it. I didn't want to show it to her if I didn't have to.
    Today was a big day for Mr. Scruffers. It was the first day I was going to be gone. Mom and Dad promised to give her lots of attention so she wouldn't be sad. It was hard to say goodbye. I could tell she wanted to come with me. Mimi had a new goodbye too, but she was not as sad about hers as I was about mine.

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    On the way to school Mimi had lots to say about her shopping adventure. I was glad about that—it made me not think about Mr. Scruffers as much. Mimi said that Robert was loving the new bed she picked for him. "It looks like a rocket ship," she said. "It's a perfect boy bed!" I think it was a good sign that she was doing empathy thinking for Robert.
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    WHAT WAS A SURPRISE AT SCHOOL
    Mr. Frank was back. Miss Lois said that he was going to stay until Friday because he wanted to see our finished maps and he had a special project to tell us about. I was getting the feeling that Mr. Frank was in love with thinking up project ideas. With everyone excited and talking about Mr. Frank, I was able to give Sammy his map back without almost anyone noticing—anyone except for Robert Walters.
    "Hey! What's that?" asked Robert. "Is it a giant love note?" I glared at him. I wished my eyes had zapping powers to make him disappear, or do something he'd be sorry about.

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    Even though I tried really hard, nothing happened. He was still there bugging me. "Love note, love note, love note." Robert moved his mouth like he was singing the words.
    "Robert, please turn around. One more strike and you'll be out." Miss Lois's words worked like magic. She was for sure loving her new plan.

    WHAT HAPPENED TO ME NEXT
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    WHY THIS WAS TOO BAD
    I didn't want to be in a bad mood, but I couldn't help it. Sometimes it's like that. Even though you don't want to be there in the bad mood, you can't change it—you're there, and you're stuck! Maybe that is why when Mr. Frank said that we were all going to be doing a project involving comics I felt worse instead of better. My bad mood had changed even one of my most favorite things.
    IF I WERE IN A GOOD MOOD
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    BECAUSE OF MY BAD MOOD
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    Comics are my thing.
    WHAT IS AUTUALLY GOOD
    It's a good thing that I don't have laser eyes or I would have completely fried Robert's brain with all the "GRRRRRR" looks I was giving him.
    WHAT WAS FINALLY HERE
    Recess!
    Sometimes moving around can help unhappy feelings go away. Mimi and I walked outside. "Aren't you excited about the comic thing?" she asked. I think she was trying to cheer me up. "No!" I said it in a real grumpy voice. I was in a bad mood and it was all Robert's fault. I crossed my arms and made a big sigh. "If everyone does comics, they won't be special. I should just stop making them."
    "What?" asked Mimi. I could tell she was confused. "No one does comics like you. You love them, and you're so good at them. You can't stop. I thought for sure you'd be happy that more people were going to try making some. More people doing and reading comics is a good thing."
    I was thinking about what she was saying when she started talking again.
    WHAT MIMI