Katharine the Almost Great: The Artsy-Fartsy Auction
chapter 1 Seeing Red Roy G Biv would be proud said Mrs Dee to Crockett Your painting is bright and cheery Crockett dipped his brush in his paint He swooshed it over his green pear His fruit bowl was bright and cheery Mine was not cheery It was dreary Dreary with a capital D Crockett leaned over What’s with all the red he asked I shrugged and stared at my painting I had red apples red grapes red peaches and red raspberries 5
Who’s Roy G Biv I asked Vanessa Don’t you remember anything We learned that in kindergarten sighed I tap tap tapped my paintbrush on the table Kindergarten was a long time ago Was it a composer I asked Vanessa laughed Crockett laughed I scrunched my face Was it a scientist Then Matthew laughed A lot It was not a chuckle moment I tossed my paintbrush on the table Is anyone going to tell me Mrs Dee drew a picture on the board It’s a way to remember the colors of the rainbow She pointed to each color Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo and Violet Roy G Biv 6
My cheeks matched my red red fruit Did you know that kiwifruit came from China They were called Chinese gooseberries Farmers in New Zealand changed the name to kiwi after their country’s bird My calendar of 365 useless facts never let me down Vanessa waved to her kiwi Hello Chinese gooseberry Then she pointed her nose in the air Even people in China and New Zealand know about Roy G Biv This is what I wanted to say Mind your own business Miss Priss-A-Poo Your kiwi looks like a watermelon But Mrs Dee was at the next table So this is what I really said Oh Mrs Dee studied Vanessa’s painting She held it in the air to show the class 7
Look at Vanessa’s pears What lovely shades of green She pointed to the kiwi I love your watermelon Now it was my turn to laugh Vanessa gave me her grumpy eyes Mrs Dee cleared her throat I have a special announcement We’re having an art auction Crockett’s eyes lit up We had an auction in Junior Rangers last year I bid the most on a compass so I won it Mrs Dee wiped a blob of paint off of her nose Poor Mrs Dee She always looked like a rainbow threw up all over her clothes We will be having a silent auction she said You’ll be given numbers secret numbers Only you your parents and Mrs Ammer will know what your number is If you see a piece of artwork you want write your number on the card Not your name Then write down what you’re willing to pay for it 8
