Catch Up Last Week of School I haven't been very good at writing much in my field journal sketchbook because the end of the school year was so crazy Why do teachers pile up all the big deadlines and due dates for the end of the year when all kids can think about is summer Do they get some kind of bonus for every kid they fail I'm not worried about failing but I still feel the pain of piles of stuff at the end of the year Work is work regardless of how smart you are Every teacher piles it on even in PE We had to run a whole mile outside in eighty four degree heat because San Francisco got a freak heat wave the same day Mr Mitzel decided to give us
our PE final At least all we had to do was complete the mile and not be the last to cross the finish line The only things that kept me and Hannah Moondew moving were talking about Science Squad and making sure we stayed ahead of Abby Grayner so we wouldn't be last over the line Her asthma was acting up so it was easy My fashion brain examined the way she had tied her PE shirt off to the side not a bad way to deal with an overly large top and my science brain worried if she would be okay It was so hot and that can't be easy with asthma Then my feet told both of my brains to shut the heck up and keep moving I'm guessing Mari freaked when she realized
that our final badge project for the Squad was collaborative said Moondew yay I remembered Hannah's latest natural name as we ran shuffled along the track outside our school That girl really needs to mellow out All her stress is bad for the universe Oh and in case future me is reading this and can't remember who Mari is this is NOT Mari from sixth grade English class This is Science Squad archnemesis Mari Gonzalez She may go to a different school than us but she's still a part of our weekly life I know I promised two years ago to stop writing about how annoying she is because it seems stupid to fill my journal with notes about her But it's been four years since we
all joined the Squad and she hasn't changed since day one She's still trying to outshine everyone especially me on the Squad and still brings a general level of know it all ness to our meetings The other kids the only ones left are Quiet Kenny and The Twins don't seem to care but she still drives me and Moondew NUTS I'm So glad we are at the last level and graduating I'll miss the science but not my weekly doses of Mari Yeah I'm sure she's truly thrilled to share the spotlight with everyone I said I bet she nominates herself to be in charge before we even bring out the donuts in the next meeting ooh
