The next morning, Katie and Joy hurried to the fourth-grade classroom.
They slid into their seats just as the bell rang.
Katie looked to her right.
Luke was whispering.
Olivia was laughing.
Katie rolled her eyes.
"Okay, boys and girls," said Ms. Barrow.
"Take out your pencils and notebooks.
Let's get to work.
Here are your fourth-grade math books!"
Carlos looked down at the cover of his book.
He saw a disk that was cut into eight equal pieces.
"I know what this picture means!" he groaned. "More fractions!"
"No fractions today, Carlos," said Ms. Barrow.
"Today we will review whole numbers—big whole numbers—and study counting in tens.
We may get to a million!"
After math came science.
Ms. Barrow gave each student a book called Amphibians.
Olivia pointed to the frog on the cover.
"This looks like a green-and-black poison dart frog!
They live in Hawaii!" she said.
"Smarty-pants," thought Katie.
She flipped through the book.
"Where are the turtles?" she called out.
"A three-toed box turtle lives right in our backyard."
"That's interesting," said Ms. Barrow.
"But turtles are not amphibians, Katie.
Turtles are reptiles."
Katie's face turned bright red.
"Oops," she said.
After science Ms. Barrow announced the start of a special health project.
"Now is the time to form healthy habits," she said.
"When you take good care of yourself, you feel good—and you may live longer too."
Ms. Barrow gave everyone a book called Be Healthy!
"Next week each of you will give a report to the class," the teacher went on.
"You will tell us about one topic in this book.
And I want you to use your imagination to make your report interesting and fun."
Then she asked each student to pull a slip of paper from a box.
Olivia was first.
She opened her paper.
"Healthy Skin," she read.
Laura drew Healthy Eyes.
Luke got Nutrition.
Carlos unfolded his paper.
"Healthy Ears," he said.
"What? I can't hear you?" said Katie. Nobody laughed.
She looked around. "Get it?"
"We get it," said Carlos.
Larry got Sports Safety.
Then someone pulled out Sleep and Rest.
Next it was Katie's turn.
She reached into the box.
"Exercise," she read.
"Hey, that's the same as playing, isn't it?"
Ms. Barrow smiled. "Some people think of it that way. Yes, Katie."
Finally it was Joy's turn.
"Building Friendships?" she said. "Is this a health topic?"
"Yes," said Ms. Barrow.
"Friends help us feel good about ourselves.
That's a very important part of being healthy."
"Okay," said Joy.
She liked her topic.
It would be fun to do a report on friendship.
"That's all for today, boys and girls," said Ms. Barrow.
"Please clean up before the bell rings."
Soon the fourth graders were rushing out of the building.
"Not a bad day," said Katie to Joy.
"Both of our health topics sound fun."
Then Katie heard Luke speaking in a high, squeaky voice.
"Ms. Barrow, where are the turtles?"
All the fourth graders laughed—except Katie.
"That's not funny, Luke!" she said.
Some kids tried to stop laughing, but they couldn't.
"He's only teasing, Katie," said Joy.
"Don't be mad," said Luke. "Hey! I've got an idea.
Let's all go to Fried Pie Heaven."
But Katie was still angry at her cousin.
"With you? No thanks!" she said.
Then she got on her bike and sped down School Street.
"I think she's upset," said Carlos.
"I know she's upset," said Joy.
"I've never heard of fried pies," said Olivia.
"What are they?"
Everyone smiled.
"Fried pies are sweet!" said Laura.
"Fried pies are fruity!" said Joy.
"And Luke's mom makes the best ones in town!" said Carlos.
"Race you there!" Luke said.
"On your mark, get set, go!"