“Okay, Ruby, cross your fingers. Let’s hope Ms. Cherrybaum will allow you to enter the contest,” Miss Fuqua said. “Do you think you can compete with the big kids? Are you ready to represent the third grade in front of the entire school?”
I stopped right before we were about to knock on Ms. Cherrybaum’s office door. “Miss Fuqua, two of my big brothers will be in this contest, and they’re older than me, but you know what? I don’t care. I’m just going to try my best.”
“Sounds like you’re ready, Ruby Booker.” Miss Fuqua smiled at me. She knocked on the glass door to the principal’s office.
Ms. Cherrybaum greeted us at the door and called out, “Come in, come in, Miss Fuqua. How can I help you?” Sometimes Ms. Cherrybaum wears a pretty flower in her hair. But today she was wearing pearls and a bracelet. She stood before us tall and pretty, with her hands on her hips. She looked down at me and said, “And how are you, Miss Ruby?”
“Fine, Ms. Cherrybaum. I’m doing just fine.”
Miss Fuqua and I sat down in the chairs in front of the principal’s desk. Ms. Cherrybaum sat on her desk. She crossed her legs, very ladylike, just like Ma teaches me to do. I crossed my legs, too. Miss Fuqua spoke up first.
“Well, Ms. Cherrybaum, we had an excellent visit by the Bellow Rock City head zookeeper yesterday, Coach Tuma’s wife. Mrs. Tuma announced the big animal trivia contest and the prize, passes to the zoo. As you can imagine, my classroom was very excited about it.”
“I see,” Ms. Cherrybaum said. She crossed her legs in the other direction.
“But my students were disappointed that they won’t be able to participate in the contest just because they’re in the third grade.” Miss Fuqua glanced at me. “One of my students wants to represent the third grade, and I feel she’d do an awesome job.” Miss Fuqua believed in me so much.
“You have a third-grader who would like to compete?” Ms. Cherrybaum had her eyes on me. “Who is it?” Now I crossed my legs in the other direction.
“You’re looking at her,” I said, working hard not to blurt my answer. Miss Fuqua could see how serious I was about the contest. I didn’t blink when I spoke. I looked straight up at Ms. Cherrybaum. Ms. Cherrybaum let me speak my mind. I liked that. “I can win those zoo passes,” I said simply.
Ms. Cherrybaum talked real slow and gentle, like she was about to deliver bad news. “Miss Fuqua, remember last year? We allowed kids from all grade levels to compete in the trivia contest. There were second- and third-graders who cried and threw tantrums when they lost. We don’t want that again, since this year the contest will be on television,” Ms. Cherrybaum explained.
My eyes turned into sparkling stars when she reminded us of the contest being on television. Ruby Marigold Booker — on TV! There was no way I was going to leave her office without being allowed to compete.
“Ms. Cherrybaum,” I pleaded, “I am the trivia queen. My daddy brought a trivia book home as soon as I learned how to read. Ever since then, I’ve been reading trivia books, collecting trivia games, and playing cards. It’s been about three years now,” I said to the principal. “Don’t believe I’m that good? Go ahead, throw out a category.” Miss Fuqua looked at me like she wanted to say, “Are you sure?”
I was sure.
Ms. Cherrybaum curled her lips and raised her left eyebrow, thinking of something to ask me. Suddenly, she snapped her fingers and said, “Movies and plants. If you can tell me something about plants and the history of movies, you’re in, Ruby.”
“Let’s see. Did you know that the first movie theater to ever open up was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1905? I just read about this. It was called the Nickelodeon.” I folded my arms like my brother Ro does when he thinks he’s done something cool.
“I didn’t know that.” Ms. Cherrybaum grinned. “Very impressive.” Miss Fuqua smiled, too. “And what about plants? Got a good plant trivia fact?”
I did. I knew she would love this one. “Well, Ms. Cherrybaum, the largest flower in the world is in Indonesia. It can grow to be three feet across … I think … and weigh up to fifteen pounds! Isn’t that something? You’d have a hard time putting that flower in your hair, huh, Ms. Cherrybaum!”
Miss Fuqua and Ms. Cherrybaum started cracking up. Ms. Cherrybaum got up, strolled to the back of her desk, and sat down in her seat. She took a deep breath. She looked me right in the eye and said, “Ruby, as long as you can promise me that you won’t have a temper tantrum when those big kids answer tougher questions than you do, you’re in. Represent your classroom and your grade level with pride.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ms. Cherrybaum!!!” I jumped into Miss Fuqua’s arms and gave her a hug that probably surprised her. She hugged me back. I was so happy to have this chance, I busted out singing in Ms. Cherrybaum’s office. I couldn’t help it.
“I’m in! I’m in!
I know that I can win.
I’m in! I’m in!”
But I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially with Ty and Marcellus representing their grade levels.
Miss Fuqua walked me to the music room so that I could join up with the rest of the kids from Pluto-3. When I walked in, they were singing a song about a tadpole with the hiccups. I’d never heard that song before. But when they all saw me, it got really quiet. They were waiting to hear if I was allowed to be in the contest. I walked to the choir stand, where my classmates were lined up. My head was hung low like I was super-duper sad. Then, all of a sudden, I jumped up with my hands reaching toward the ceiling and yelled, “I’M IN! I’M IN!”
The music room turned into a party. Even our music teacher, Mr. Dilla, jumped up and down and celebrated with us. I don’t think he knew what we were happy about, but Mr. Dilla is just that type of teacher. He gets happy when we get happy.
I couldn’t wait to tell my brothers. The trivia queen was now in the contest. And I didn’t get in it to lose.
I always meet my brothers by the front gates of the school grounds. I couldn’t wait to tell them the good news. But when I got there, I only saw Ro, standing alone.
“Hey, Ruby. What took you so long?” Ro asked before he scooped a handful of worms from a muddy puddle and pretended to come after two girls who passed by him. The girls took off screaming and ran onto their bus. Ro threw the worms back down. He knew I wasn’t afraid of worms.
“I have some good news. Where are Ty and Marcellus?” I asked Ro.
“Ty and Marcellus? They had something very important to do. It’s just you and me, shorty,” Ro replied.
“Important?” I said. “The good news I have is super-extra-big important. I’m going to —” I was about to tell Ro my news when he cut me off.
“You’re going to be in the big, goofy, animal trivia thing. I know,” Ro said with a smirk on his face. I couldn’t believe he knew.
“How did you —” I tried to say before he cut me off again. Ro can be so rude.
“Nothing gets past me, Ruby. There’s a kid in your class who has a sister in my class. Good news travels fast, baby sis.” Ro grinned as he patted himself on the back.
“So, do Ty and Marcellus know about me being in the animal trivia contest?” I asked Ro.
“Do they know? Girl, the reason they’re not here is because they’re getting ready for the contest. They’re off studying animal facts.”
“What!?! We’ve gotta get going, then.” I grabbed Ro by the arm and took off, running down Hope Road.
“Wait a minute. Slow down! Slow down!” Ro put the brakes on me. “You don’t have to worry about Ty or Marcellus. I can help.”
Ro? Helping me? I sure wanted to know how. “What do you plan to do?”
“If I help you, it’ll be the Ro Rowdy way,” he said, calling himself by his nickname. Before I knew it, we turned the corner onto Fifty-fifth Street.
Ro bought a hot dog from one of the snack cart guys on the corner. He knows Ma hates it when we eat junk before we get home, but sometimes he does it anyway.
“
And what’s the Ro Rowdy way? Cheating?” I asked, knowing the answer was going to be yes.
We sat down on a bench outside of Big Man’s Laundromat and Biscuits. “It’s not really cheating, it’s … getting even,” Ro said. “I was twelve votes short of representing the sixth grade in this animal trivia thing. Twelve!”
“Did you really think you were going to be picked over Ty?” I asked. If I were in the sixth grade, I would have voted for Ty, too.
“At least I had a chance. Besides, I’ve got brains, too, Ruby.” Ro defended his smartness. Even though he gets the lowest grades of all four of us, his grades are still good. That is, when he’s not in some kind of trouble.
I watched Ro take the last bite of his hot dog. Even though he wasn’t supposed to be eating it, it sure did look good. “So what’s your problem with Marcellus? Why would you help me beat him?” I asked.
“Are you kidding me? Can you imagine the look on Mr. Big-Time’s face when he’s just been beaten by his baby sis? That would be classic,” Ro said, calling Marcellus by his nickname.
As we continued down Fifty-fifth Street and then turned onto our street, Chill Brook Avenue, Ro shared his plans to help me beat Ty and Marcellus. “Ty will read all of his science books, or he’s going to use the Internet to learn about every single animal on the planet.” Ro began to draw out plans like he was a coach.
“So what are you saying we should do?” I asked.
“Well, since Ty and I are roommates, I could jack up the computer in our room so that he’ll have a hard time finding anything on animals. Marcellus will be using his own computer, you’ll have your laptop, and you know Ma and Daddy don’t like us on theirs.”
“What about all his books?”
“Ruby, don’t you know that I’m a magician, too? I can make those books vanish, my dear.” Ro rubbed his chin like he had a beard. He laughed like a villain.
“Magician? Jacking up the computer? I don’t even want to know what you’ve got planned for Marcellus. Besides, I am not a cheater, Ro!” I said, making sure he heard me loud and clear.
* * *
As we got closer and closer to our brownstone, it seemed like everyone we passed said hello.
“Hey, Roosevelt.”
“Nice book bag, Ruby. Is that a real guitar?”
“Staying out of trouble, Ro?”
At least six people asked Ro if he was staying out of trouble. Of course, he wasn’t. He was trying to get me mixed up in his crazy plans.
“I’m not helping you, Ro,” I said.
“Suit yourself, shorty.” Ro shrugged his shoulders and started to walk up our steps. He looked back at me and chuckled. “You’re good at trivia and everything, but do you really think you have a chance to win against Noodles and Big-Time? The brains, and the kid who wins everything? I don’t think so. Good luck.”
Ro walked inside. I stood there on our stoop, watching the cars go by.
Later that night, when I told Ma and Daddy that I’d be competing in the trivia contest, they both hugged me at the same time. Ma said, “Ruby, you’re representing the third grade and the Booker women. I know you’ll make everyone proud.”
“Ruby, I know you’ll do the Bookers proud. No matter what, you’re already a trivia queen,” Daddy said. Even though Daddy was right, I started to wonder what I had gotten myself into.
On Saturday morning, I woke up before the sun. I washed my face and put on something cute (of course). I picked up Lady Love, my pet iguana, and slid with her down the stair rail to meet everybody for breakfast. When I got to the kitchen, the boys were already gone. Ma and Daddy were at the table, eating oatmeal and toast and staring into each other’s eyes, all lovey-dovey.
“Excuse me, guys.” I giggled. “Where are the boys?” I asked. Ma wiped Daddy’s mouth with a napkin.
“Ty is across the street using his friend Macklin’s computer. His and Roosevelt’s computer got some kind of flu,” Daddy explained.
Ma stroked the top of Lady Love’s head. “Roosevelt is down at Freedom Park skateboarding with his buddies,” she said.
Daddy kissed me and Ma on the cheek. “Marcellus is on his way down to The Booker Box. There’s a DVD and a CD-ROM about animals he wants. I’m going there now,” Daddy said. Then he walked out the door to meet Marcellus.
Ma filled a bowl of oatmeal for me. “So where are you headed today, Ruby? Did you have anything planned with the boys?” she asked me.
“No, Ma. You know I’m in the animal trivia contest this Tuesday. Trivia is so easy for me, but Ma, how am I going to compete against Ty and Marcellus?” I sat down next to Ma and put my head in her lap.
“Now, I know this is not my Ruby Marigold Booker talking. Let me see your face. I need to make sure it’s really you.” Ma lifted my head and looked in my eyes. “Yeah, it’s you. Haven’t you started to prepare for the contest?” she asked.
“That’s why I got up so early today,” I explained. “But I guess it wasn’t early enough. The boys are already getting ready. I was headed to the library, but I might be too late.”
“It’s never too late, Ruby. You’re still early, but why are you going to the library? You know so much already, and you have a ton of trivia books, cards, and games right here. Besides, you’ve been preparing for this ever since Daddy bought you your first trivia book, before you were in the first grade.”
“I know. But maybe there’s something I still don’t know. Since Ty and Marcellus are older than me, they just know more stuff.” I was talking really fast. I do that when I get nervous.
“Baby, everything you need is upstairs in your room and upstairs in that fabulous, colorful, wild and crazy brain of yours,” Ma said. Ma’s words really helped me not be so scared. “If you need me to help you study anything, I’ll sit with you after we come back from the studio.”
“Ma, I can’t go to the dance studio with you. I need to start going over my trivia stuff now,” I said.
“Ruby, it’ll be fine. Go upstairs and put Lady Love back in her aquarium. Grab a book, those trivia cards on animals, and let’s go,” Ma said.
“Ma, I won’t be able to study and dance.”
“I’m not asking you to dance, baby. I have two classes to teach, but I will help you go over anything you might need to cover for the contest.” Ma kissed me on the top of my head.
“Ma, are you going to help Ty and Marcellus, too?” I asked. I wondered who she was cheering for the most. “I mean, do you think they’re going to beat me?”
“I think that I have a group of brilliant children. I won’t be surprised by whoever wins, because you’re all winners to me. Now, go upstairs and get your things, Ms. Trivia Queen.”
I’m the queen of trivia and Ma is the queen of saying things to make everybody feel good.
* * *
In between showing her dance students how to do new steps, Ma spun over to me, grabbed a trivia card, and asked me a question or two.
“The moose is the state animal for which state?”
“Uhh … Maine!”
“Correct!”
This went on all morning. Ma asked me a question, then twirled back to her dance students. Ma can sure do a lot of stuff at once. Sometimes it seems like magic, but I guess it’s just something mothers know how to do.
We walked home after Ma’s dance classes. All of the boys had come back home, too. Ro was in his room playing some new baseball video game. I tiptoed down the hall to peek into Marcellus’s room. He was lying on his bed watching the DVD on animals. Marcellus’s study habits are weird, but they work for him.
I leaned into Ty’s room quietly. He didn’t see me, either. He was reading a whole stack of science books.
I felt like I was on a roller coaster. When I was with Ma, it seemed like maybe I could win this thing. But when I saw Ty and Marcellus getting ready for the contest, it showed me that they meant business. I started to worry again. In three days we’d find out if I really was a winner.
I went to my room an
d spread my trivia cards all over my bed. Lady Love chomped on banana chips while I studied the cards. Between trivia facts, I kept saying to myself, Let no Booker boy stand in your way of making history….
Lady Love fell asleep. Before I knew it, I was starting to doze off, too. I fell asleep saying to myself, Let no Booker … boy stand in … your way of making … history….
The funny thing was, the more I said it, the less I was able to convince myself.
I woke up to somebody banging on my bedroom door.
My trivia cards were all over the place. They covered up the purple-and-orange piano keys rug on my floor. “Who is it!?” I hollered.
“It’s me, baby. It’s your daddy.”
I got up and ran over to the door to let Daddy in. When I opened the door, he greeted me with his big old smile. He had a hand behind his back. He was hiding something.
I folded my arms, rolled my eyes at him, and said, “Daddy, are you trying to surprise me? What’s behind your back?”
He laughed. “I just can’t pull anything over on you, huh, cutie-pie?”
“Nope,” I said with my arms still folded.
“Well, I thought I’d bring you something to feed your brain and to help you prepare for your TV trivia contest.” From behind his back, he pulled out a big bowl of my favorite ice cream, peanut butter and jelly. There’s only one place in Bellow Rock City that sells PB&J ice cream, and it’s across town. Daddy gets it for me anyway. He’s so cool.
“Thank you so much, Daddy!” I hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. “I really could use this. Peanut butter and jelly ice cream is good for the brain.”
Daddy took a seat at my desk. “So, how is everything coming? I mean, are you ready for the big time?”
“I don’t know, Daddy. It felt like I was ready when I was doing trivia cards with Ma this morning at her dance studio, but now I’m not too sure.”
Trivia Queen, Third Grade Supreme Page 2