"I came on a flying carpet," Gooney Bird said. "But that's a different story, too." She adjusted her pink tutu and sat down.
"Tell it! Tell it!" the children called.
Mrs. Pidgeon laughed. "I'm sure Gooney Bird was just joking about the prince and the palace and the diamond earrings," she said, "and the flying carpet, too."
Gooney Bird had already opened her arithmetic book. She looked up in surprise. "No," she said. "I wasn't joking. I tell only absolutely true stories."
"Well," said Mrs. Pidgeon, "will you tell us another tomorrow?"
"Of course," Gooney Bird said.
3.
On Friday, Gooney Bird was wearing Capri pants, a satin tank top, and a long string of pearls. Her red hair was twisted into one long braid, which was decorated with plastic flowers. There were flip-flops on her feet.
"You look beautiful," Keiko said to Gooney Bird in an admiring whisper.
"Yes, I know," Gooney Bird replied. "Thank you, Keiko." She walked to the front of the classroom when Mrs. Pidgeon told her it was time.
Malcolm was back in the classroom. He was at his desk, writing "I will never put anything in my nose" one hundred times on a piece of lined paper. The nurse had told him to do that. She said it would keep his hands busy.
"How come Gooney Bird gets to go stand in front of the class?" Malcolm asked.
"Shhhhh," everybody, except Felicia Ann, said to Malcolm. "Listen."
"Today," Gooney Bird said, "I have a very exciting story to tell you. In my story there is a long journey, a mystery, and a rescue."
Mrs. Pidgeon, seated at her desk, had begun correcting some spelling papers. She looked up. "Listen, second-graders," she said. "Hear the different things that Gooney Bird is putting into her story? That is what good storytellers do."
Gooney Bird listened patiently to the teacher. Then she stood up straight and did some breathing exercises. Finally she took a deep breath and looked at the class. "I am ready to begin," she said at last. "The title of the story for today will be 'How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet.'"
"Just like Aladdin," Barry Tuckerman said in a loud whisper.
"Barry, pay attention, please," Gooney Bird said. "I like to have absolutely all eyes on me." Then, when the class became silent—all except Felicia Ann, who had been silent all along—and almost all eyes, even Mrs. Pidgeon's, were on her, she began.
How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet
Once upon a time, just last month, Mr. and Mrs. Greene decided to take their little girl, Gooney Bird, and move away from the place where they had always lived.
They had always lived in China. But now Mr. Greene had a new job, and his new job was in Watertower.
"That's here!" Chelsea said aloud. "I live in Watertower!"
Gooney Bird stopped talking. She arranged her pearl necklace so that it was draped over one shoulder.
"Me too!" Tricia said.
"We all live in Watertower!" Ben pointed out. "That's why we go to the Watertower Elementary School."
"Class—" Mrs. Pidgeon warned.
"Mrs. Pidgeon," Gooney Bird said politely, "let me take care of this.
"Children," she said in a firm voice, "I cannot tell a story if I am constantly interrupted. There will be time for questions and comments. Please raise your hand if you want to say something. It's very distracting for me if you call out."
"Sorry," Tricia said.
"Sorry," Chelsea said.