A WORD FROM MALLORY My name is Mallory McDonald like the restaurant but no relation I’m ten years old and I had the most action-packed summer of my life I planted a garden FUN with my neighbor I took an art class SUPER FUN I went on a trip with my family to the Grand Canyon SUPER DUPER FUN And I helped my best friends Mary Ann and Joey move to a new house across town Not so much fun because I was sad they wouldn’t be living next door to me anymore be living next door to me anymore Now it’s back-to-school time in Fern Falls Come Monday morning Mary Ann Joey Chloe Jennifer and I will be starting 5th grade at Fern Falls Elementary My brother Max and his girlfriend Winnie who also happens to be Joey’s sister and Mary Ann’s 6
stepsister are heading to 7th grade at Fern Falls Middle School This is the first year Max and I won’t be at the same school It’s too bad we got along better than ever this summer even though we still argued sometimes I’m actually kind of bummed we won’t be together at school but I still think fifth grade is going to be AWESOME There are a lot of things my friends and I are excited about For the first time we’ll have homerooms hopefully the same one and we’ll get to switch classes Plus I got a cell phone Chloe Jennifer already had one and so did some of my other friends but Mary Ann and Joey got them this summer too which means now we’ll all be able to text each other two more days my phone is charged my backpack is filled and I’ve got new back to-school shoes in my closet If you ask me that’s everything I need to make fifth grade the best year ever Even though school doesn’t start for
READY OR NOT It’s Saturday morning and since school starts Monday I have to decide what color to paint my nails It’s a big decision because I know Mary Ann will want to paint hers the same color I open the drawer in my bathroom where I keep my nail-polish collection and try to decide on a color Light blue Purple Dark green I’m not sure 8
I take my cell phone out of my pocket and send a text to my best friend Mary Ann doesn’t text right back which probably means she’s having as much trouble deciding as I am Or maybe she’s waiting for me to get to her house so we can decide together 9
