Nina was sad.
She didn't like the last day of school.
It meant she wouldn't see her friends for two months.
"I wonder what we'll do today," Ethan said to Nina.
They were walking to Kids Central.
"Yeah," Bobby said, joining them.
"It'll be my last day of Kids Central. Ever."
"What do you mean?" Nina asked, surprised.
"In the fall I'm joining the Sunny Dale boys' soccer team.
I'll have practice after school," Bobby said.
"No more Four Square or hopscotch for me."
He laughed, but Nina thought he looked sad.
Miss Shelly laid a huge piece of paper on the gym floor.
"Today we're going to make a special mural," she said.
"What's special about it?" Jason asked.
"You won't just make it.
You'll be in it," Miss Shelly said.
"In it?" Izzie asked.
"You're going to lie down on the paper.
A partner will trace your body with a marker.
Then we'll cut clothes from old cloth to glue on top.
We even have yarn to make your hair!"
Miss Shelly smiled.
"Will you be my partner?" Nina quickly asked Izzie.
"Of course," Izzie said.
"We're going to work together,"
Bobby said, pointing to Jason and Ethan.
Nina took off her shoes.
She lay down on the paper.
"Trace me!" she said.
Izzie started to trace around Nina's legs and arms.
"Ha-ha! That tickles!"
When Izzie was finished, Nina looked at her outline.
"Wow. I'm that big?"
"My turn," Izzie said.
This time Nina traced Izzie.
Then the girls looked through the piles of cloth.
They had to choose their outfits.
"Ooh, this is pretty."
Nina held up some flower print cloth.
"I'll make this my shirt."
Izzie held up some polka-dot cloth.
They laid the cloth on their outlines.
They measured how much they needed.
Both girls chose blue cloth to make jeans.
The boys were choosing yarn for their hair.
"Here, Izzie, this looks like your hair!"
Ethan held up a ball of yellow yarn.
"Nina, here's one for you. Catch!"
Bobby tossed her a ball of black yarn.
The girls drew their faces and glued yarn hair onto their outlines.
In the mural all the kids were smiling and holding hands.
"I won't be in Kids Central next year," Jason said suddenly.
"My dad is going to work from home."
"You too?" Nina couldn't believe it.
Today was turning into a very sad day.
"I'll miss Kids Central.
But it'll be fun to help my dad cook dinner!" Jason went on.
"We'll miss you too," Miss Shelly said.
"What about you girls?"
Izzie shrugged. "I don't know yet.
But I hope I'll be here!"
"I like Kids Central," Nina said a little loudly.
"I want to come back next year!"
Miss Shelly laughed.
"I'm glad to hear that!
Now let's hang this mural in the hall."
"Next year Kids Central will be totally different," Nina thought.
"But I'll always remember this year as the best year ever!"
[caption_out@