On Tuesday, all of the children, including Felicia Ann, arrived at school early—even Malcolm, who had never been early before.
Tricia had a flower in her hair.
Ben was wearing a vest.
Keiko had a tiny bit of pink lipstick on her lips.
And Barry Tuckerman was wearing a polka dot bow tie.
"Good morning, class," Mrs. Pidgeon said. "Don't you all look nice today!"
"You do, too, Mrs. Pidgeon!" the children said, and Mrs. Pidgeon blushed.
"Well," she said, "I thought I'd wear my new shoes today." Usually Mrs. Pidgeon wore soft, comfortable shoes. But today she was wearing very shiny high-heeled shoes with gold buckles.
The principal, Mr. Leroy, made announcements on the intercom. He announced a bake sale and a birthday and a meeting of the crossing guards.
A fifth grade boy read a poem about Christopher Columbus over the intercom. Everyone in the school said the Pledge of Allegiance together. Then it was time for school to begin.
But Gooney Bird wasn't there.
"Well," Mrs. Pidgeon said, "let's take out our social studies books, class. Let's turn to the chapter called 'Cities.'"
"But Gooney Bird isn't here!" Nicholas called.
"No," Mrs. Pidgeon said, "she isn't. She seems to be absent today. Maybe she has the chicken pox."
The class was silent. The room seemed sad. The lights seemed dim. Even the gerbils, who usually scurried noisily around in their cage, were very subdued. George Washington, in his portrait on the wall, looked as if he might cry any minute.
Slowly the children took their social studies books from their desks and turned to the chapter called "Cities."
Keiko began to cry very quietly. "I don't want to do social studies," she whimpered. "I feel too sad."
Malcolm crawled under his desk and curled up in a ball.
Suddenly the door to the room burst open.
"It's Gooney Bird!" everybody called. The lights seemed to brighten. The gerbils began to run in a circle, and George Washington seemed to smile.
Gooney Bird was out of breath. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said. "I am never, ever late for anything. I always set three alarm clocks, and I lay out my clothes the night before, and I even put toothpaste on my toothbrush before I go to bed so that I can brush my teeth quickly in the morning! But today—
"Wait," she said. "I have to catch my breath." She stood in front of the class and took a few deep breaths. "There," she said. "I'm fine now."
She smoothed her red hair, which was flying about, and tucked it behind her ears. Today Gooney Bird was wearing gray sweatpants, a sleeveless white blouse with lace on the collar, and amazing black gloves that came up above her elbows.
"This morning," she explained, "I quite unexpectedly had to direct an orchestra."
"An orchestra?" asked Mrs. Pidgeon.
"Yes. A symphony orchestra."
Mrs. Pidgeon smiled. "I hear all sorts of interesting excuses for tardiness, but I have never heard that one before."
"I believe I'm unique," Gooney Bird said.
"Yes, you are, indeed. Did you wear your gloves when you were directing the orchestra?"
"Yes," said Gooney Bird, "as a matter of fact, I did. I found them very helpful."