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

was not in her seat. The words PUBLIC SPEAKING were written on the board. By 9:30, five people had already talked about Disney World, Sea World, and Epcot Center. Lots of brochures were passed around. Posters and souvenirs were displayed on the chalkboard.
    Sidney showed us some neat pictures of a barbecue on his back porch. He and his stepdad were wearing chef hats and cooking hamburgers.
    When it was my turn, I put on Gram-pa’s ten-gallon hat, got out Grandma’s book about Texas, and started talking.
    â€œI’ve never been to Texas but I’m going someday. Someday, I’m going to be the rootinest, the tootinest, and the shootinest cowboy ever to raise the dust on a high Texas plain.”
    When I was showing a picture of a rodeo, Song Lee and her mother appeared at the door, so I stopped talking.

    â€œHello, Mrs. Park,” the teacher said.
    Song Lee was not smiling when she dashed to her seat.
    After Miss Mackle talked with Mrs. Park in the hall, the teacher returned. “Go on, Doug,” she said.
    So I did.
    â€œYou can visit the LBJ Ranch in Texas. LBJ are initials for Lyndon B. Johnson. He was president after Kennedy was shot. This is a picture of the Alamo.”
    Miss Mackle smiled when I sat down. “I liked the way Doug had bookmarks in his book to show us special places in Texas. He was very organized. And his hat was fun. Who would like to go next?”
    We all looked at Song Lee. She shook her head. “I ... go ... last.”
    â€œHarry?” Miss Mackle called.
    Harry walked up to the front of the room with a souvenir book. I had seen it hundreds of times. It was about the House on the Rock in Wisconsin.
    â€œYou walk out on this long narrow beam and see the hills and trees below. Mom said it was creepy because the beam teetered. I thought it was fun.”
    Miss Mackle shivered. “You’re ... very brave, Harry.”
    Harry grinned.
    Twenty minutes later, it was time for the last person to speak. Miss Mackle tried to be casual about it “Eh ... let’s see, Song Lee, I guess you’re next.”
    Slowly, Song Lee got out of her seat. She walked up to the little wooden stand that sat on a desk and had a sign that said PODIUM.
    Mary and Ida smiled at their friend.
    Harry and I shook our heads. There was no way she was going to do this.
    Song Lee took one look at the class and then ran out to the hallway.
    I knew it!
    Everyone looked at the teacher.

    I thought she’d get mad. But she didn’t. She just sat at the side of the room.
    Waiting.
    Then something appeared in the doorway.
    It was a big piece of cardboard that had a brown trunk, branches, lots of leaves, and a dozen pink Kleenex flowers.
    Harry and I pointed at the round holes that were cut out for eyes, nose, mouth, and hands.
    â€œSONG LEE!” we all shouted as the tree moved across the classroom to the podium.
    I stared at the two pink lips in the mouth-hole of the tree. They were beginning to move.
    â€œI was born in Seoul, Korea ... where Summer Olympics take place in 1988.”
    â€œWould the tree speak louder, please?” Miss Mackle said with a big smile.
    When Song Lee nodded, the pink Kleenex flowers jiggled.
    â€œKorea is size of Virginia. It is like Switzerland because it has many mountain and beautiful blue sky. There are many palace, royal tomb, secret garden, and stone pagoda. We also have 3,000 island in Korea.”
    â€œOoooh,” the class replied.
    Song Lee continued, “It is ten o‘clock in Room 2B. In Korea, grandmother Bong sleep. It is midnight in Seoul.”
    Mary made some tally marks on a piece of paper. “Korea is 14 hours ahead of us!”
    Song Lee shook the branches and made her green leaves and pink blossoms quiver. “In spring, we have many picnic under cherry tree at Korean park. My family play Ping-Pong and archery.”
    Harry stood up and shot a pretend arrow at Sidney. “BOING!”
    Song Lee giggled.