“From this place that saves ani-
mals.. .” Her voice felt very small.
“I want to save animals when I
grow up, too! And be a dentist.”
Tummie eyed Vivie’s shirt with
longing. Vivie smiled. Just then their
teacher, Mrs. Yonkers, walked by.
“I love those cowboy boots,
Vivie!” Mrs. Yonkers said. Vivie
forgave her for calling them cowboy
boots because she was smiling one
of those twinkling smiles she gave
when you had a good spelling test.
“AUTUMN HAROLD!” the
loud voice announced. Tummie
waved to Vivie. Her purple shoes
squeaked as she skipped over to
the blue screen.
Then Vivie heard giggling from
over where the fourth graders were
standing. They were giggling at
her! Vivie’s head sank. She tried
to disappear by staring down into
a scuff mark on her boot.
Suddenly, black and white sneakers
popped into her view. She dared to
look up. Their owner was a boy in
a rainbow knit beanie with a purple
shark streaking across his T-shirt.
He didn’t look like he was having
any picture taken. He stared at
Vivie and she stared back.
“I know I look weird, but I’m
gonna make a really good picture!”
She declared, trying to ignore the
lump of doubt in her throat.Look! There's
Aaron Slug—the
Stinkee's great
young slugger!Hey, Aaron! How ' bout
an autograph? Okey doke.