The Class Election from the Black Lagoon (Black Lagoon Adventures series Book 3)

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.

  49

  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.

  50

  51

  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.

  52

  53

  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.

  54

  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.

  55

  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!

  56

  57

  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

  58

  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.

  59

  60

  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.

  62

  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!

  64