had to wear badges, too, so people watching on TV would know our names.
The teachers were running around warning us to be on our best behavior for Ms. Beard. Sheâs a big celebrity, and she was coming all the way from Hollywood. The girls were giggling and talking nervously to each other.
âMy mom took me to the beauty parlor yesterday,â said Andrea.
âIt looks like she took you to the ugly parlor,â I told Andrea.
âOh, snap!â said Ryan, who will eat anything, even stuff that isnât food.
Andrea stuck out her tongue at me.
âMy mom took me for a pedicure,â said Emily.
âWhatâs a pedicure?â asked Michael, who never ties his shoes.
âThatâs when they soak your feet and paint your toenails,â Emily told us.
âDo you think theyâre gonna make a TV show about your toenails?â asked Neil, who we call the nude kid even though he wears clothes.
âBoys are mean!â said Emily.
âDo you think this dress makes me look fat?â Andrea asked the other girls.
âYes,â I told her.
âI wasnât asking you , Arlo !â
Andrea calls me by my real name because she knows I donât like it. I wanted to make fun of her some more, but at that moment the most amazing thing in the history of the world happened. A black limousine pulled up at the other side of the playground. It was really long, like somebody took two regular-sized cars and stuck them together. The windows were tinted, so we couldnât see inside.
âMs. Beard is here!â yelled Alexia, who is a girl but pretty cool anyway.
âMs. Beard is here!â yelled Ryan.
âMs. Beard is here!â yelled Michael.
In case you were wondering, everybody was yelling that Ms. Beard was here.
But actually, Ms. Beard wasnât here. Not yet anyway.
A bunch of guys got out of the limo. They were carrying cameras and lights and stuff.
A few seconds later, a helicopter came down from the sky and landed on the playground near the limo. A lady got out.
âItâs Ms. Beard!â shouted Mr. Klutz.
Ms. Beard climbed down from the helicopter and got into the limo. Then the limo drove about ten yards to where we were all waiting. I guess Ms. Beard doesnât like to walk.
âRemember,â shouted Mr. Klutz, âwe want to show Ms. Beard what terrific students we have at Ella Mentry School. Everybody be on your best behavior.â
âIâm always on my best behavior,â said Andrea.
What is her problem?
Ms. Beard got out of the limo and looked around.
âWelcome to our school,â Mr. Klutz told her. âIâm sure youâll find our childrenââ
He didnât get the chance to finish his sentence, because Ms. Beard wasnât paying attention.
âFabulous, Chickie Baby!â she said. âI love children! Theyâre like grown-ups, only shorter.â
âWe should probably talk aboutââ said Mr. Klutz.
âSure, letâs do lunch, Chickie Baby,â said Ms. Beard.
âUh, I just did breakfast,â said Mr. Klutz. âAnd my name isnât Chickie Baby. Itâs Mr. Klutz.â
âNot now , Chickie Baby,â said Ms. Beard. âLetâs do lunch at lunchtime, sweetie. Have your girl call my girl. Weâll take a meeting.â
She talks funny.
The big guys started setting up lights, cameras, and microphones everywhere. Ms. Beard walked around looking us over like a general inspecting the troops.
âOh, this is going to be fabulous !â she said. âIt will be the first reality show that takes place in a school. The ratings are going to go through the roof!â
âAre we going to be famous like that Snookie lady?â asked Andrea.
âThat depends on what happens, baby,â 2 said Ms. Beard. âThis is reality TV. We donât use scripts. Nobody has any lines. Itâs all about reality. Weâll just have to see what
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