Gooney Bird and the Room Mother by Lois Lowry Read Free Book Online Page A

Keiko said. "And Mrs. Pidgeon. She makes me smile."
    "Ben?"
    Ben hopped up and down. "My fixed broken arm." He held it up. "And Mrs. Pidgeon. I like her songs. And she lets us change socks."
    "One more," Gooney Bird said, "and then we can have our refreshments. Malcolm?"
    Malcolm sighed. Slowly he walked forward. He looked toward the big stroller. "Okay, I guess I'm thankful for my triplets," he said after a moment. "Their names are Taylor, Schuyler, and Tierney, and two are boys and one's a girl but I don't know which is which.
    "And I'm thankful for Mrs. Pidgeon because she is very calm, even when I'm not.
    "And I'm thankful for the room mother because she brought cupcakes, and I'm hungry."
    From the back of the room, a voice called out. "I didn't

    bring
them. I
provided
them. There is a difference!"
    Then, very slowly, an elderly woman stood, lifting herself up by the arms of her wheelchair. Next to her, a nurse reached out to steady the chair.
    "Here is what I'm thankful for," the old woman continued. "I'm thankful that Gooney Bird Greene called me on the telephone and asked me to be room mother. I haven't been room mother for thirty-five years. I was room mother when my daughter Patsy was in second grade. It was fun then, and it will be fun now.
    "And mostly I am thankful that Patsy became a teacher. It makes me proud."
    She lifted one hand and waved to Mrs. Pidgeon, seated at the piano. Mrs. Pidgeon dabbed her eyes with a hanky and then waved back. "Hi, Mom," she said with a smile.
    "And don't forget, Gooney Bird Greene, " the room mother said, "you promised me a special song."
    Gooney Bird looked at Mrs. Pidgeon.
    "Class?" Mrs. Pidgeon said, and played the first chord.
    "
Roooommmm Motherrrr,
" the children sang.

    THE END