important she often had to spend her extra extra help time taking practice tests I’m sorry to give you another exam Miss Kinde said sadly handing Miranda a thick booklet It’s not your fault Miranda said unhappily Not only were the practice exams long they were also confusing and boring The exams caused fear and misery in both students and teachers alike They took up time from the things the students students and teachers really wanted to do Sighing Miranda looked at the clock grabbed a pencil from Maude’s desk and waited for Miss Kinde to tell her to begin But before Miss Kinde could say begin Maude Brandywine Mayhew Kaye roller-skated into the classroom yelling HELP 4
2 MAUDE BRANDYWINE MAYHEW KAYE TRULY NEEDS HELP Miss Kinde and Miranda stood up Did Maude need help stopping But Maude came to an easy stop plunked down on Miranda’s desk and took off her skates
What are you doing here Miranda asked She was shocked to see her best friend who often slept through her alarm clock a crowing rooster named General Cockatoo and always arrived almost-late to school I saw the sunrise over Mount Coffee Maude said excitedly That’s wonderful Miss Kinde said And it’s wonderful to see you Maude but you do remember rules forty-six and fifty-eight Rule forty-six in the Official Rules of Mountain River Valley Elementary said that students were not allowed in school until 7 42 a m unless they were getting help Rule fifty-eight fifty-eight said that wheeled shoes were forbidden in school I know all the rules Maude said And I truly need help Miss Kinde smiled at Maude who was wearing wearing paint-splattered pants a wrinkled T-shirt that said save the humphead wrasse and a pair of glasses that she loved but didn’t need I don’t think you need help Miss Kinde said 6
patiently You did tremendously well on Friday’s practice exam Did I beat Hillary Maude asked She moved her glasses onto the top of her head Hillary was Hillary Greenlight-Miller Maude’s archenemy and the only person in 3B or maybe the world who did not dread practice exams Miss Kinde did not answer Maude’s question Never mind Maude said It’s not important What’s important are these She took a stack of letters out of her messenger bag Everyone keeps saying no Maude cried I write letter after letter demanding change and nothing ever happens What kind of change Miss Kinde asked gently Change for good Maude held out a letter Except no one will change I wrote to Chemical Apple to say that they should stop putting chemicals chemicals on their apples Do you know what they wrote back Miss Kinde and Miranda shook their heads Maude read 7
