As she rounded a corner Spork darted past He was cradling something in his arms Hi Spork Trixie said Guess what today Spork didn’t slow down He reached their classroom and skittered inside Trixie frowned Spork always said hi She shrugged He was probably excited to get to class too Spork was a space alien His flying saucer had crash-landed on the school playground Now he was officially a third grader Inside the classroom Trixie found the rest of the class including their teacher Mrs Buckle gathered around Spork’s desk Trixie squeezed between 12
her two best friends Grace and Newton to see what was so interesting Spork had placed a little ceramic man on his desk It had boots and a beard and a pointy red hat Spork’s antennae quivered in awe as he gazed at the little man Jack snorted Is that a garden gnome
A garden gnome Spork’s eyes filled with wonder He must be I found him in the school garden Spork said Mrs Buckle in her most understanding teacher voice the gnome was in the garden because I put it there I saw it at a garage sale and thought it would make a nice ornament It’s called a garden gnome for a reason It’s supposed to stay in the garden Oh he won’t stay said Spork Gnomes travel to unexpected places They bring wisdom home from the far reaches of the universe They’re honored elders on my planet He sighed And today I’ve finally met one 14
Trixie studied the little man He wasn’t doing much just standing there like any regular-old ordinary garden gnome Are you sure this is the same kind of gnome she asked The wisest elders neither speak nor move said Spork They watch and wait and listen They communicate in ancient mysterious ways No one knows exactly how The bell rang 15
