Âfancy-dancy sunglasses off of the shelf above my bed, and I stick them inside my pink handbag. I look over my shoulder to make sure no one is snooping, and then I reach under my mattress and take out Momâs cherry-red lipstick. I stick the lipstick in my bag too, and then I bounce down the stairs and click-clack into the kitchen.
And when Mom takes my first photo of the day, I place my hands on my hips, stick my right foot out to show off my shoe, and smile like I mean it, because I do.
âMandy, Mr. Jacks would like to see youâ is the first thing I hear when I walk into my classroom, and it makes my day go from wonderful to terrible immediately.
âOooh . . . ,â Dennis says in a singsong voice. âPolka Dotâs in trouble.â
âDennis, thatâs a warning,â Mrs. Spangle scolds him. Dennisâs Mohawk is combed down into a poof against the top of his head, and he is wearing a bow tie and everything. If âFreckle Faceâ werenât already such a great namecall for him, Iâd come up with a new one right away, because he looks pretty silly right now.
I scurry up to Mrs. Spangleâs desk so that we can talk in private.
âWhy does Principal Jacks need to see me?â I whisper.
âIâm not sure,â she says. âThere was just a note in my mailbox this morning asking to send you down to his office when you arrived.â Mrs. ÂSpangle raises her eyebrows at me. âDid something happen that I should know about?â
I swallow loudly. âWell, there was this scarf . . . ,â I begin.
âUh-huh . . .â
âAnd I kind of accidentally hit him with it, but it was an accident, I promise, because I was trying to hit Dennis, and then Principal Jacks took my scarf away, and I wasnât going to tell you because I didnât want you to be mad at me too, but I sent him a note and I said I was sorry andââ
âOkay, okay,â Mrs. Spangle interrupts me. âBest to just go see what he wants. And, Mandy? I donât want you to be afraid to tell me things. Iâm here to help you.â
âOkay,â I say quietly, and I turn on my click-clack heel and head out the classroom door, walking as slowly as possible in the direction of the office.
The second I arrive at the window by Mrs. Gradeyâs desk, she calls out to me. âOh, Mandy Berr! Mr. Jacks is expecting you,â she says. âYou can head right in.â
I shuffle my feet on the floor in the direction of Principal Jacksâs office. âMy, donât you look all dolled up and lovely for Picture Day today,â Mrs. Gradey calls after me. But I am too fluttery about where I am headed to do anything but give her the very smallest of smiles.
âMandy Berr!â Principal Jacksâs voice booms out even before I reach his doorway. âJust the second grader I wanted to see. Come on in.â
I walk in carefully, and my knees feel like I can hardly bend them. Iâve never been called to the principalâs office beforeânever because the principal asked to see me. That only happens to really bad kids. Iâm more of a get-my-initials-on-the-board-a-couple-times-a-week type of kid. But never this.
âWell, you look spiffy today,â Principal Jacks says when he sees me. âIs that a special outfit for Picture Day?â
I nod my head silently, and I am pretty sure I have never been so quiet in my life.
âI wanted to thank you for the note you sent me,â Principal Jacks continues. âThat was very nice of you to apologize. It takes a big person to admit when sheâs made a mistake.â
I nod my head again, because I do not usually like to admit such things.
âAnd I wanted to give this back to you.â ÂPrincipal Jacks reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out my glittery scarf. âI assume you know not to throw it in anyoneâs face anymore,
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