A Frog in My Throat (3 page)

For two hours, Kate forgot about Jake and Lionel. The movie was funny. The popcorn was fresh and crunchy.

When Kate and her mom returned home, Grandma May was there.

“How about a game of cards?” asked Grandma May.

Kate and Grandma May played ten games of cards. Kate won six. Grandma May won four.

Saturday passed.

Sunday was busy too.

Kate's mom baked a cake and Kate helped her.

Kate's Aunt Claire came over with her new baby and new dog. Kate played with the new dog. The new baby was too little and cranky to play.

Kate almost forgot about Jake and Lionel all Sunday, but at eight o'clock she remembered.

It was back to school tomorrow. School meant Jake and Lionel. School meant no one to play with at recess.

“You don't know that for sure,” said Kate's mom. “Remember, Lionel is in grade four. He'll probably want to play with grade four kids.”

“I hope so,” said Kate.

The next morning at school, Jake missed the bell. As he slid into his seat five minutes after it rang, the kids laughed. They were waiting to hear his latest excuse.

“So,” said Mr. Bolin, trying to hide a smile. “What's it this time?”

“It's my cousin Lionel's first day at school. I had to help him find his classroom.”

“Didn't you show Lionel around school last Monday?”

“Yes, but Lionel forgot where to go.”

The kids twittered.

“Lionel is in fourth grade, right?” said Mr. Bolin.

“Right,” said Jake.

“I think he can find his classroom by himself,” said Mr. Bolin. “And I hope you'll start to find your way to your classroom on time, Jake. Otherwise, you may not be able to join us at the chocolate factory next week.”

Jake's face fell.

“But... But...,” he sputtered.

“No buts, Jake. And no more excuses.”

Jake sank down in his seat. “He really did get lost,” he said under his breath.

It was “read aloud” morning. Mr. Bolin read the class a funny story. Everyone laughed, including Jake and Kate. By the time Mr. Bolin had finished and they'd talked about the story, it was recess.

Kate stood up. Jake stood up. He smiled at Kate.

Kate smiled back.

They walked out of the classroom together. Jake didn't seem to be in a hurry to rush out and meet Lionel. He seemed happy to talk to Kate.

Maybe Mom was right. Maybe Lionel was playing with the kids in grade four.

Kate told Jake she liked the beginning of
Mystery on Planet Zebra
.

“Great,” said Jake. “I have all ten Mystery Planet books now. You can borrow them.”

“Where did you get them?” asked Kate.

“They used to be Lionel's,” said Jake. “He gave them to me when I helped him organize his room. Hey, there he is,” said Jake. “See you.”

And with that, Jake took off.

Kate stood in the middle of the yard. All around her, kids were talking and running. They were sliding, playing catch, jumping rope and chasing each other.

Kate didn't know where to go. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know who to be with or talk to. The whole playground was full of friends playing together.

But she didn't have any friends to play with. Not anymore.

It was the longest, loneliest recess ever.

Kate was happy to hear the bell. She was happy to be back in class. She was happy to do math, even though math was her worst subject.

“Lionel is so funny,” said Jake as he sat down beside her. “He knows more jokes than a comedian.”

Kate didn't say anything. She just opened her math book and began to do question one.

“Why are you so grumpy?” asked Jake.

“I'm not grumpy,” said Kate. “I have to concentrate on math.”

“Oh, math,” said Jake. Jake didn't like math either.

“My mother has been telling me I'd better concentrate more on it too.”

Kate nodded and kept her eyes on her paper. She tried to concentrate on math. But all she could think about was that she had no one to play with at recess. And what about going home? She and Jake usually walked home together. Would Jake walk home with her or would he take off with Lionel?

As soon as the home bell rang, Jake popped out of his seat. “See you tomorrow, Kate. I have to meet Lionel in front of the school. I promised I'd help him put his baseball cards in an album. He must have a thousand!”

Jake flew out the door. Kate swallowed the lump in her throat. She put her books away and walked out of the classroom. Her mother was waiting for her.

“Hi, Kate,” said her mother. “How was school?”

“Terrible,” said Kate. “Jake follows Lionel around like a puppy. He doesn't want to be with me at all. It's just Lionel, Lionel, Lionel!”

“What are you going to do?” asked her mom.

“I don't know. All I know is Jake's not the only person in the world,” said Kate. “There are other people I can be friends with.”

“That's the spirit, Kate,” said her mom. “It's good to have lots of friends.”

“Tomorrow I'm going to play with Sarah and Marlee,” said Kate. “They always ask me if I want cookies. And I went to both their birthday parties this year.”

Kate smiled. “I feel much better now. Jake can play with Lionel all he wants.”

The next day, right before the bell rang, Kate marched over to Sarah's and Marlee's desks.

“Want to play together at recess?” she asked.

“Sure,” Sarah said. “Do you have any dolls?”

“Dolls?” said Kate. “No, not with me.”

“That's okay,” said Marlee. “You can use ours today.”

“Thanks,” said Kate.

Kate walked back to her desk. Dolls? She never played with dolls. Well, today she was going to start. How hard could it be?

“Here, Kate, this is your doll,” said Marlee. “Her name is Roberta.”

Kate looked at Roberta. She had long black hair, a short red dress and skinny legs.

“She looks more like a Cindy to me,” said Kate.

“Her name is Roberta,” said Marlee.

“Oh,” said Kate.

“Now,” said Sarah, “Roberta is best friends with my doll, Linda, and they are going shopping.”

“And this doll is Lara,” said Marlee, holding a blond doll in a short yellow dress with skinny legs. All Marlee's and Sarah's dolls had short dresses and skinny legs.

“What's Lara doing?” asked Kate.

“Lara is going shopping too, and she will bump into Roberta and Linda at the store. She doesn't know that Roberta and Linda are buying her a birthday present.”

“Oh,” said Kate. “Are they doing anything else except shopping?”

“After shopping they are going to have lunch,” said Marlee.

“And then maybe they could go roller-skating?” suggested Kate.

“No,” said Sarah, “they don't like to roller-skate.”

These dolls don't like to do anything except shop and eat, thought Kate.

Roberta, Linda and Lara bought five pairs of shoes, two purses and six pairs of pants and had cream cheese-and-tuna sandwiches for lunch.

Kate tried to look interested, but it was hard. Kate hated shopping for shoes, purses or pants. She liked eating lunch, but she didn't like playing lunch.

“Want to go down the slide?” she asked Marlee and Sarah after the dolls had finished lunch.

“Not now,” said Sarah. “We haven't ordered dessert.”

“How about after dessert?” said Kate.

“Maybe,” said Marlee, “but the dolls may be too stuffed to go down the slide.”

“I don't mean the dolls,” said Kate. “I mean us.”

“I really don't like the slide,” said Sarah. “I once bumped my knee at the bottom.”

“Me neither,” said Marlee. “I once got a splinter in my finger from the wood.”

Kate sighed.

The bell rang. Recess was over.

“Tomorrow, let's play fashion show,” said Sarah.

“Yes!” said Marlee.

Yuck, thought Kate.