by Mike Thaler
Poll Position
Yum, that was good. Now what
can I do?
With my allowance, I couldn’t
afford to give out water. Anyway,
I’m not going to buy votes. I’m
going to stand on my principal.
He may get angry, though.
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I can’t let Doris get ahead in
the polls. The polls tell how peo-
ple are planning to vote. I could
climb the flag poll.
I could buy a horse and win
the gallop poll. I could go to
Antarctica and visit the South
Poll. I could even go to Poll-land
with a fishing poll.
How can I poll vault ahead?
I have to do something to give
Doris her just desserts.
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Chapter 14
Taking a Stand
I need to do something
outstanding—something awe-
some, something that betters the
school. But what?
I could mow the grass and
have a lawn sale. I could rename
the gym . . . Ted. I could take
home plate home and put it in
the dishwasher.
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Wow! All the kids have
dropped their ice cream wrap-
pers on the floor. I’ll pick them
up. I’ll be an environmental hero.
I’ll be the candidate of the Mrs.
Green Party! I’ll save the planet.
This feels good.
Now I do stand for something.
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Chapter 15
Election Jitters
The pre-election night is a
rough one. What if no one votes
for me? Not even the boys. What
if I lose by a landslide?
The power of ice cream is
awesome. If I vote for myself, at
least I’ll have one vote. But every-
one will know whose it is. Eric
got two ice cream bars. Even he
may not vote for me.
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When I fall asleep, I have a
nightmare . . .
I’m climbing up a slippery
giant ice cream sundae. It’s a
mountain of vanilla with hot
fudge. Doris is sitting on top—
laughing, with a cherry on her
head. I keep slipping and sliding,
and she keeps laughing louder
and louder until finally there’s a
thunderous roar. And I’m
covered in a vanilla landslide.
I wake up and my head’s under
my pillow. It’s Election Day!
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Chapter 16
High Noon
Mrs. Green passes out pieces
of paper. I’m ready to pass out
with nervousness. It’s a secret
ballot.
Doris looks very confident.
She’s got a box of doughnuts for
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her victory party—chocolate-
coconut. I really hope that every-
one doesn’t drop his or her nap-
kins on the floor.
Well, I’m voting for me —
doughnuts or not.
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Mrs. Green collects the ballots.
Our names are written on the
chalkboard. Doris and I are on
top. Mrs. Green marks one vote
for Doris. I hope that’s Doris’s
vote. Then she marks another
vote for Doris. That’s probably
Freddy’s. He can’t resist choco-
late-coconut.
Then she marks one vote for
me. That’s probably mine. I won-
der if Doris will let me come
to her victory party. Then she
marks another vote for me!
Eric winks.
Wow! We’re tied. It won’t be
a landslide after all. Mrs. Green
marks another vote for me. And
another. And another. I can’t
believe it!
When all the votes are
counted . . . I’ve won. I’m president!
I can throw out the first ball in
the little league game.
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I look over at Doris. She has
a tear in her eye. I go over and
give her my last clean tissue. We
shake hands.
She opens up her box of
doughnuts and offers me one.
She really has class. I want her in
my cabinet, or even better—I’ll
make her my first lady!
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