Katharine the Almost Great: The Purr-fect-o Present
Tamara slurped her milk Has anyone noticed that Mrs Bingsley has been her eyes darted around the room cranky Cranky with a capital C I said Maybe we should call her Miss Crankypants Call who Miss Crankypants asked a voice behind me My skin tingled when I saw my mom holding a tray of gingerbread cookies My cheeks felt like they were as red as Rudolph’s nose Crockett snatched a cookie off the tray I have a joke for you Aunt Carol Mom laughed I thought you would What did the Gingerbread Man put on his bed Mom put her fi nger on her chin Hmmm I don’t know 9
Crockett fl ashed a super-duper smile A cookie sheet Mom laughed and handed Crockett a second cookie A good joke deserves another good cookie Then she narrowed her eyes Katharine did I hear you call someone Miss Crankypants Rebecca giggled It was not a giggle moment I had to come up with one of my fab-u-lo-so facts from my 365 useless facts calendar I twirl-a-whirled my hair around my fi nger Did you know that gingerbread houses became popular in Germany during the nineteenth century after Hansel and Gretel was written I asked Actually I did know that said Mom Her watch beeped My veggie burgers She rushed toward the kitchen 10
I have an idea said Vanessa Let’s ask Mrs Bingsley if we can have a Secret Santa I jumped up and down That’s a great idea Mrs Bingsley will love it But Mrs Bingsley didn’t love the idea Not one itty-bitty bit What if we agreed to only spend 5 00 I asked after recess Someone could buy me Purplicious Penelope Parks Nail Polish for 4 99 I puckered my lips Or some Pinklicious Lip Gloss for only 3 99 At fi rst Mrs Bingsley’s eyes brightened I suppose 5 00 isn’t too much money Everyone cheered and squealed Crockett and Matthew did a chest bump The celebration didn’t last very long Last year said Vanessa my Secret Santa got me a Princess Kitty Diary Princess Kitty is one cool cat 11
Mrs Bingsley bit her lip Princess Kitty Her eyes watered Sorry kids I changed my mind There won’t be a Secret Santa this year Vanessa folded her arms and rocked back and forth How about we bake gifts for each other instead said Rebecca That won’t work said Mrs Bingsley There are too many food allergies in our class Johnny sighed Yep I’m allergic to peanuts No chocolate for me said Tamara And Rebecca can’t have wheat Rebecca nodded and rubbed her stomach And if I come within ten feet of an egg or even look at a chicken said Matthew I blow up like a balloon 12
