old My little brother is Marshall I call him Marshie because he's soft like a marshmallow He is two years old I have a mommy and a daddy I don't know how old they are Elisa put down her pencil Mommy how old are you she asked Why do you want to know that Mrs Michaels inquired She was standing nearby ironing I need the information for my report Are you writing a report about me Mrs Michaels asked sounding surprised I am writing about our whole family You can skip the part about my age Mrs Michaels told her Tell about your brothers and yourself Elisa looked at Marshall who was sitting on the kitchen floor with his pacifier in his mouth and happily rolling a ball toward the wall When the ball returned to him he rolled it again Elisa liked to play with him
Everyone who saw Marshall commented on what a good toddler he was and how well he could entertain himself Elisa didn't want to write about that And she didn't want to write about Russell who was growing so big that soon he would be as tall as their mother Sometimes Russell teased Elisa Sometimes he was mean Mostly though she thought he was a good brother She could say that but she didn't want to Elisa pushed her eyeglasses up on her nose She could say that she wore glasses but everyone who saw her would already know that She could say that she was seven years old but everyone in second grade was seven or going to have a birthday very soon She could say that she'd lost her two top teeth but everyone could see that too Then she got another idea I have two cousins One is Howie He is almost the same age as Russell The other cousin
is Artie He is nine years old Their real names are Howard and Arthur No one ever calls them that I have three grandparents I don't see them very much because they live far away I am glad my mommy and daddy don't live far away Mrs Michaels looked over Elisa's shoulder Very good she said How much did the teacher say you had to write One page said Elisa The words she had written almost covered the paper in front of her I am going to copy it over to make it neater she told her mother If I write a little bigger it will be just right You didn't tell anything about your grand parents How they come to visit the gifts they send even when it isn't your birthday the special things you do with them I wrote enough said Elisa Writing is hard work Welcome to the real world said Russell
coming into the kitchen And if you think second grade is hard wait until you get as old as I am Will you help me with my homework when I'm in sixth grade Elisa asked Fat chance said Russell When you're in sixth grade I'll be in high school I'm not going to have time to help you I wouldn't worry about sixth grade now said Mrs Michaels as she folded up the ironing board and put it away And you're doing just fine in second grade Anyhow what's for supper asked Russell I'm starving Look said his mother pulling a pan out of the refrigerator Lasagna My favorite Russell shouted when he saw it Hurry and put it in the oven Who wants to help me cut up the vegetables for a salad she asked Not me said Russell I've got tons of
