Ashes had been sitting quietly by Jack’s grandpa’s feet, but he started whining and pulling on his leash.
“Ashes likes to explore new places,” said Jack’s grandpa. “Is it okay with everyone if I let him wander around?”
“I’m allergic to dogs,” said Rosemary T.
“You’re not allergic to our dog,” said Abby.
“Only big ones,” said Rosemary T.
“Why don’t you sit at my desk,” said Mr. Harrison. “I’ll make sure Ashes doesn’t get too close to you.”
Rosemary T. circled wide around Ashes and sat in Mr. Harrison’s chair. As soon as she was settled, Jack’s grandpa let go of Ashes’s leash, and he started roaming around the classroom. He walked around tables and sniffed at people’s backpacks and let them pet him when he walked by. I tried to pay attention to everything Jack’s grandpa was saying, but Ashes kept distracting me. He took a long time getting to our table; but when he finally did, he got very interested in my clogs. He sniffed and sniffed and licked the one that was covered in puppy teeth marks from when Ralph, our neighbor’s dog, had stolen it. Finally he plopped down right next to me and stuck his nose into my clog as far as it would go and let out a big sigh.
The whole classroom laughed, and I looked up. I had been so busy watching Ashes that I didn’t realize that everyone else was watching him too.
“It looks like he found a good spot,” said Jack’s grandpa.
I reached down and gave Ashes some rubs.
“It looks like he’s in love with Cinderella’s smelly shoe,” said Jack.
“Or maybe he’s just in love with Cinderella,” said Jack’s grandpa.
The class made a big Ooooh noise, and I decided to set the record straight.
“He’s not in love with me. I bet he just likes the warm heater, and he thinks my clog is a dog toy. My aunt’s cat has been staying with us this week, and she likes warm places and toys too.”
“So does my hamster,” said Zachary, so I guess his quietness is maybe going away.
“So does our dog, Fletcher,” said Abby.
I looked over at her and smiled.
“My snake likes warm places,” said Trevor, “but he doesn’t like toys.”
Half the class said “Awesome” about Trevor’s snake and the other half said “Ooh, yuck.”
“Order! Order!” called Mr. Harrison.
Which we did, but then it was time for Jack’s grandpa to go. And it was very sad, because Ashes had to leave and he did not want to one bit. Jack’s grandpa had to sort of drag him out by his leash, and he almost made it out of the classroom with my clog in his mouth. Luckily Charlie noticed and got it back.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” said Mr. Harrison. “But we’ll have another exciting visitor tomorrow, right, Cinderella?”
“Right,” I said.
“Will your aunt pick you up today in her Flying Machine?” he asked.
“Yep,” I said. “She’s picking up me and Rosemary T.”
I heard a big gasp from the Rosemarys’ table, so I guess Rosemary T. didn’t know Aunt Flora was driving to dance class today.
“I’d be gasping too, Rosemary T., if I got to go for a ride in that car.” I guess Mr. Harrison couldn’t tell that was a bad gasp and not a good one.
I myself did not care one little bit that Rosemary T. didn’t want to carpool with me. I didn’t want to carpool with her either. I figured since Erin was starting dance class, she and I would carpool together instead. But because Rosemary T. and I lived right down the block from each other, the carpool had to stay the way it was. And that was way bigger than an Alas! or an Awshucksible. That was a YUCK-ICK-BLECH! All in capitals.
Chapter 10
Phew!
Mr. Harrison was so crazy about that car that he walked me and Rosemary T. all the way to the fence to wait for Aunt Flora. He was all full of questions too. To give you a few examples, he asked if it used regular or unleaded gas and how many miles it got to the gallon. The bad news was, I didn’t know any of the answers. The good news was, he talked so much that it wasn’t awkward at all that Rosemary T. and I were giving each other the silent treatment. Phew! When we heard the Flying Machine’s sputtering sound, Mr. Harrison started bouncing on his toes. He practically ran to open the door when Aunt Flora pulled up. I climbed right in and buckled up, but Rosemary T. did not move from the fence.
“Let’s go, Rosemary T.; you don’t want to keep this car waiting,” said Mr. Harrison.
Rosemary T. looked down the fence to Rosemary W., who was still waiting to be picked up. They both rolled their eyes at each other, and Rosemary T. slouched into the car.
“Hi, Rosemary T.,” said my aunt. “I’m Flora.”
“Oh,” said Rosemary T.
I saw my aunt’s eyebrows go up a little bit in the rearview mirror. “How was school?”
Rosemary T. didn’t say anything, so I did. “It was great. Jack’s grandpa was our special visitor. He’s a fireman, and he came wearing all his gear and he brought his dog.”
“Was it a Dalmatian?” asked Aunt Flora.
“No,” I said. “I thought it would be too, but it was a black Lab named Ashes. He was so cute like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Harrumph.” Rosemary T. made her unicorn noise.
“Are you more of a cat person, Rosemary T.?” asked Aunt Flora.
“No.” Rosemary T. was staring hard at the five earrings in my aunt’s ear and the little diamond in her nose.
I thought about mentioning that Aunt Flora could be in the Pierced Ears Club, but then I remembered I wasn’t talking to Rosemary T. Also, we pulled up in front of dance class just then.
“Thank you, Aunt Flora,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” she said. “I’ll be picking you up too.”
“Why?” Rosemary T. looked a little sick to her stomach.
“Something came up for your mom.” Flora gave a little wave, and her bracelets jangled.
We walked over to Miss Akiyama, who always waits in front for everyone to arrive.
“Hello, girls,” she said. “You can go on in and get ready.”
Rosemary T. raced inside.
“I think I’ll just wait for my best friend, Erin, to get here,” I said. “She’s brand-new, and I want to introduce you.”
Erin’s car pulled up, and Erin and Emma and Nicole piled out. Emma and Nicole are in the other third-grade class, by the way. They live close to Erin, so they got to carpool together, lucky pucks.
I introduced Miss Akiyama to Erin and then brought her inside and showed her all around. I’d been teaching Erin all sorts of warm-up positions and tap dance steps, and I think Miss Akiyama was very impressed. She told Erin “Good job” when class was over, and Miss Akiyama is always serious and doesn’t usually talk like that.
“How was dance class?” Aunt Flora asked when we climbed back in the Flying Machine to drive home.
Rosemary T. didn’t say anything again, so I said, “Great as always. I think Erin is a natural.”
I thought Rosemary T. might harrumph again, but instead she said, “This car smells funny.”
I took a big, long sniff, but I didn’t smell anything.
“Does it smell like gas?” asked Aunt Flora. “I just filled it up.”
“Speaking of gas,” I said, “Mr. Harrison wanted to know what kind you use.”
“I use regular,” said Aunt Flora.
“It doesn’t smell like gas,” said Rosemary T.
“Does it smell dentist office-y?” I forgot I wasn’t talking to Rosemary T. for a minute.
“No,” said Rosemary T. “It’s giving me a headache.”
“Good thing we’re home.” Aunt Flora pulled up in front of Rosemary T.’s house.
Charlie was walking by carrying the Hansens’ dog, Ralph. He smiled at us, and Ralph started wriggling. I asked if I could get out too and walk the rest of the way home with them.
“Sure,” said Aunt Flora.
“H
ey, you missed the chase,” said Charlie.
“Sorry.” I scooped up Ralph so Charlie’s arms could have a break.
“Thanks.” Charlie started shaking out his arms. “He’s getting heavier.”
The Ralph that was getting heavier was the same Ralph that stole my clog and left his puppy teeth marks in it, by the way. He’s a brownish, fluffy dog who’s a very good escape artist and a very fast runner. And that is an awshucksible combination.
“I can’t believe you got to ride in Flora’s car,” Charlie said to Rosemary T.
“Got to?” said Rosemary T. “You mean had to. Twice.”
I started walking to the Hansens with Ralph in my arms so I wouldn’t have to listen to Rosemary T. anymore.
“Had to?” I heard Charlie say. “You are so weird.”
He ran and caught up with me.
Rosemary ran to catch up too. “I am not weird,” she said all offended.
“Yes, you are,” said Charlie.
“If anyone’s weird, it’s Cinderella’s family.”
“We’re not weird!” I said.
“Yes, you are!” said Rosemary T. “You hang up on people and slam doors in people’s faces. Where are your manners?”
“Most of the time we have good manners,” I said.
“You also refuse to talk to people and that is so stupid.”
“I thought you weren’t talking to me either,” I said.
“I decided it was too immature,” she said.
We made it to the Hansens and climbed the steps to their front porch.
“And your crazy aunt talks about doing spells and telling fortunes,” said Rosemary T. “She’s the biggest weirdo of all.”
I could not believe my ears. I’d heard kids call other kids names, but I’d never heard a kid do that to a grown-up.
“Take that back, Rosemary T.” I set Ralph down, and he pawed at his front door.
“No,” Rosemary T. said. “She wears tons of bracelets and earrings and drives that smelly old car.”
“I think her car is awesome,” said Charlie.
“I think she’s awesome,” I said.
“That just makes you a big, weird weirdo too,” said Rosemary T.
And right then and there I might have been pushed too far. “Rosema—,” I started to say, but Mrs. Hansen opened her door.
“You caught him!”
Ralph barked and danced around like he was the happiest dog ever.
“If you like being home so much,” Mrs. Hansen said, “why do you ever run away?”
Ralph wiggled his tail and raced inside.
“How about a piece of chocolate meringue pie as a reward?” Mrs. Hansen asked.
“I didn’t really do anything,” I said.
“Oh, you always do your fair share,” said Mrs. Hansen. “You’re welcome to come in too, Rosemary.”
“No, thank you,” said Rosemary T.
And that was a big Phew. It seemed like I was going to have to have a what’s what after all, and I did not want to have it in front of Charlie and Mrs. Hansen.
After we finished our reward, me and Charlie headed home.
“Really, really try to win the spelling bee, Cinderella,” he said. “My table does not want to have a sparkly, pink, unicorn party.”
“I’ll try,” I said. “I’m going to start studying again right when I get home.”
“You should be studying every minute of every day,” said Charlie, “like with me and basketball.”
“I thought you played all the time just because you like it,” I said.
“That’s partly why, but also because I want to be the best.” Charlie pretended he had a basketball and started dribbling right then and there. “So spell basketball.”
“B-a-s-k-e-t-b-a-l-l.”
“Good. Spell dribbling.”
“D-r-i-b-b-l-i-n-g.”
He jumped up in the air and pretended to shoot the basketball. “Spell offense and defense.”
“O-f-f-e-n-c-e. D-e-f-e-n-c-e.”
“It’s s-e. Spell forward.”
“F-o-r-w-a-r-d.”
“Good. Spell guard.”
“G—” I stopped. I knew there was something tricky about this word.
“Think about the lifeguard sign at the beach,” he said.
“Oh yeah. G-u-a-r-d.”
“Right. Spell center.”
But luckily we got to my door, and I slipped inside.
“Phew!” I said.
Aunt Flora and Tess looked up from a puzzle. “Why ‘Phew’?”
“Charlie was quizzing me on spelling, and I was getting tired,” I said.
“You’ve had a long day,” said Aunt Flora, “what with school and dance class and Ralph.”
“Yep.” Then I remembered something. “When you come to class tomorrow, can you bring something to give to the kids?”
“Like what?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said. “Rosemary T.’s dad brought in these paper penny roll things and that was really popular.”
“I’m sure I can come up with something,” said Aunt Flora.
I plunked down on the couch. “I guess I should start studying again.”
“You don’t sound too happy about that,” said my aunt.
“I think I have some other things on my mind,” I said.
“Like what?” asked Aunt Flora.
“Words,” I said.
“Spelling bee words?”
“No, mean words,” I said. “Rosemary T. called me names, and they’re sort of blocking up my brain and making it hard to think about spelling.”
“When I was a kid, we used to say ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me.’”
I thought hard about that for a minute. “I think names can hurt.”
Aunt Flora looked like she was thinking hard for a minute too. “I think you’re right. What were the words?”
“Stupid and weird,” I said.
“Weird?” asked Aunt Flora. “I always thought weird was a good word.”
“You did?”
“Sure,” said my aunt. “I’d rather be called weird than ordinary or boring any day. Weird people tend to be very interesting.”
“Did you think that when you were a kid?” I asked.
“I don’t remember,” said Aunt Flora. “I also don’t remember third grade being this complicated.”
Chapter 11
Golden Strappy Sandals
Me and Erin were playing handball in the covered play court at recess when Hannah and Abby ran up to us all out of breath.
“Is your aunt really a witch?” asked Hannah.
“And does she really have a spooky, witch cat?” asked Abby.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
“Rosemary T. is telling everyone that your aunt is scary and weird,” said Hannah. “So scary and weird that she might go home sick after recess just so she doesn’t have to be here when your aunt visits.”
I could not believe my ears at all.
“She says your aunt has a wart on her nose like a witch and does spells and fortunes,” said Abby.
Right then and there I saw red-red-red! I knew for positive certain that I was pushed too far. “Where is Rosemary T.?”
“She’s over by the basketball courts,” said Hannah.
I marched out to find her, and Hannah ran ahead. Erin and Abby walked with me, but we didn’t talk at all. I was too busy trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to say in my what’s what with Rosemary T.
A bunch of kids were standing together under a basketball hoop, and the Rosemarys were right in the middle.
“Rosemary T.!” I yelled. “I need to talk to you!”
I walked up close to Rosemary T., and the rest of the third grade crowded in around us.
“You need to stop telling lies about my aunt this very minute!” I yelled right to her face.
Rosemary T. stared at me with big, open eyes and a big, open mouth.
> Brrrrrrring! The end-of-recess bell rang, and kids started running from everywhere to get in their lines. Everyone except me and Rosemary T.
“You have pushed too far,” I said. “And I need—”
But Rosemary T. turned around and headed for our class line.
“I am not finished!” I yelled after her.
She ignored me and hurried to catch up with Rosemary W.
“Well, fine!” I yelled. “Then meet me here at lunch.”
I stomped over and got in at the end of the line and stomped right into class.
“Cinderella,” Mr. Harrison said when we got inside.
My heart went down to my stomach. I thought for sure I was about to get in trouble for yelling and stomping and not getting into line right away.
“Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your aunt while we wait for her?” is all he said.
“Sure!” I jumped up out of my seat, I was so relieved. “My aunt’s name is Flora McGee. She’s my mom’s sister, and she works in a dentist office. She’s taking care of me and Tess while our parents are away, and her cat is staying with us too.” Then all of a sudden I had a huge AHA!
This was a vexylent chance to set the record straight.
“Her cat’s name is Miss Purvis,” I said. “She’s mostly all white and is not at all spooky.”
“Except she is pretty loud,” said Charlie.
“I guess so,” I said. “But it’s just because she wants to go outside. Back to my aunt, she is not weird or scary at all. Everything about her is very, extremely regular and everyday.”
“Her car isn’t regular and everyday!” said Mr. Harrison.
“I guess not.” I did a big sigh on account of all these interruptions. “But everything else about her is very normal. She’s just a regular, old dental hygienist.”
And right then the classroom door flew open and in came Aunt Flora. She had a crown on her head and was holding a wand in one hand and a big sack with a picture of a tooth on it in the other. “Hello, everyone!”
My heart went down to my stomach all over again. Aunt Flora was not helping me convince everyone that she was regular and normal at all.
“Cinderella calls me a dental hygienist, but I prefer the title Tooth Fairy.” She did a little spin on her toes, and the golden strappy sandals she had on her feet sparkled a little bit.
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