Song Lee in Room 2B by Suzy Kline Read Free Book Online

Shy Song Lee

    M iss Mackle looked out the window of Room 2B. “It’s snowing in March?”
    Harry jumped out of his seat. “Hot dog! Come and see, Doug.”
    â€œAll right!” I said, slapping Harry five. It was fun watching the snow stick to the playground and treetops.
    When I turned around, everybody was up at the windows.
    Except Song Lee.
    The teacher smiled at her. “You have permission to leave your seat.”
    â€œThank you, Miss Mackle.”
    Miss Mackle sighed. “I wish everyone in our second grade class had your good manners, Song Lee.”
    â€œSTOP PUSHING!” Dexter shouted.
    Harry held up a fist. “You’re in my face. Move over, scuzzball.”
    Dexter put up two fists. “Make me, lizard breath.”
    â€œHarry and Dexter are fighting,” Sidney called.

    Miss Mackle waved her hands in the air. “That’s it! Everyone sit down.”
    Harry and I shot Sidney a look. His tattling always got us in trouble.
    After we returned to our seats, Miss Mackle looked at the class.
    No one was smiling.
    Most of us were moaning.
    â€œI think we all have a case of cabin fever,” Miss Mackle said.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Mary asked.
    â€œIt happens when people are cooped up in one place for a long time. Everyone gets grumpy.”
    â€œGGGGGrrrrr,” Harry growled, as he stood up and dangled his arms like a monster.
    Song Lee giggled.
    â€œI wish I could fly this coop and go to Texas,” I grumbled.
    Miss Mackle snapped her fingers. “Doug, you just gave me an idea! It’s time for Room 2B to take a vacation.”
    â€œYEAH!” we all shouted.
    Mary counted the days on our bird calendar. “How can we? Spring break is two weeks away.”
    Miss Mackle held up the globe, and spun it once. “The mind can take you anywhere! For homework tonight, each one of you will prepare a talk, and take us to your favorite vacation spot. Tell us what it is like. Bring in family pictures, maps, or brochures if you have them.”
    â€œI never go anywhere,” I groaned.
    â€œMe, either,” Sidney replied.
    Song Lee raised her hand. She looked like she was going to cry.

    â€œYes?” Miss Mackle said.
    â€œI feel sick.”
    I looked at Song Lee. She wasn’t really sick. She just didn’t want to stand in front of the class and give a talk.
    Whenever the class had a play, Song Lee had a silent part, like a dead fish or Little Miss Muffet.
    Miss Mackle put her hand on Song Lee’s forehead. “You aren’t warm. Is your stomach bothering you?”
    Song Lee nodded. “I feel sick and sad all morning.”
    â€œReally? A moment ago you were giggling at Harry.”
    Song Lee looked down at her desk.
    Miss Mackle patted her head. “Don’t worry, Song Lee. You can give a short little talk tomorrow.”
    When the teacher left, Song Lee took out her pink cherry-blossom handkerchief.
    â€œAre you crying?” I asked.
    Song Lee sniffed a few times.
    When she caught her breath she whispered, “If I don’t give talk tomorrow, I get zero on homework chart.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Harry said, putting his elbow on my desk. “You’ll never have as many zeros as me.”
    I looked over at the homework chart. Song Lee’s row of red stars was twice as long as Harry’s. “Gee, you’ve never gotten a zero!”
    Song Lee wiped her eyes. “I don’t feel well. I stay home ... write story about vacation. Mother bring story in and Miss Mackle give me red star on yellow homework chart.”
    â€œIf you stay home, you’ll miss my talk,” I said.
    â€œAnd mine,” Harry added, flashing his white teeth and making his thick eyebrows go up and down.
    Song Lee giggled.
    Harry could always make her laugh. Even now, when she had tears in her eyes.
    â€œYou have to come tomorrow,” we said.
    The next morning when the bell rang, Song Lee