6 What’s in a Name

CHAPTER SIX WHAT'S IN A NAME Franny Kissypie Stein. The principal looked at the certificate more closely just to make sure she had read it correctly. She even cleaned her glasses. "Is that right, Franny? Is your middle name 'Kissypie'?"

Franny walked up and quietly took the certificate. "Yes," Franny said. "It is. My middle name is Kissypie."

The kids looked at the principal. They looked at Miss Shelly. They looked at Franny. They looked at each other. And then they erupted into an explosion of laughter. Franny Kissypie Stein. They could hardly believe it.

"It's the most ridiculous name I ever heard!" one of the kids shouted. "What kind of a middle name is that?"

"We've been afraid of a kid named Kissypie?" Even Miss Shelly and the principal giggled a little. And Franny felt a terrible destructive rage start to boil inside her. "Silence!" Franny yelled, and her eyes flashed with her terrible, mad scientist anger.

"You think I want Kissypie for a middle name? It was some stupid nickname my dad had for my mom when they were just dating. They thought it would be cute to give it to me. I never asked to be named Kissypie." Franny's face reddened and she spoke through clenched teeth. "Just in case none of you know how it works, your parents name you. You don't name yourself. Don't you think I'd change it if I had a way?"