03 Planet Lucky

Planet Lucky At inside recess on Monday morning, Frank asked Judy, "Do you think something lucky will happen to you at school today?" "Sure. Why not?" said Judy. "Like what?" asked Rocky. "Like... maybe I'll find my missing Clue of the Broken Locket library book or Frank will give me back my Grouchy pencil." "Oops," said Frank, fishing around inside his desk. "Or I'll get picked to take Peanut home this weekend. Or Mr. Todd will cancel our spelling test." "Yeah, right," said Rocky. "The only thing

that would cancel a spelling test is if lightning struck the school, it caught on fire, and we all had to run out of the building." Just then, Mr. Todd blinked the lights. "Settle down, class. Let's get back to work." Mr. Todd leaned against his desk. "Instead of a spelling test today—" "I knew it!" Judy blurted. "Whoa. This is your lucky day!" whispered Frank. "Excuse me?" said Mr. Todd. "Am I going to have to get out the Interrupting Jar again?" "Sorry," said Judy, zipping her lips.

"As I was saying, instead of a spelling test today, we're going to have a practice spelling bee. As you all know, our class spelling bee is coming up in a week. Whoever wins will get to go with the winners from the other third-grade classes at Virginia Dare School to take part in

the Great Third-Grade Spelling Bee at the end of the month." "Everybody knows Jessica Finch is the WBS," said Judy. "WBS?" said Mr. Todd, wrinkling his forehead. "World's Best Speller," said Judy. "You never know," said Mr. Todd. "If you try hard enough, you could be the lucky speller who gets to represent Class 3T in Washington, D.C." Washington, D.C.! As in home of the president and the Museum of Doctor Stuff and the giant giant's head sticking up out of the ground? As in the same exact place where Stink got to go to the White House and she didn't? She, Judy Moody, could not believe her lucky-ducky ears. She could not bite her un

interrupting tongue for one more second. Judy raised her hand. "Excuse me, Mr. Todd. Did you say Washington, D.C.?" "Yes," said Mr. Todd. "The Great Third- Grade Spelling Bee will be held at our sister school, Orchard Elementary, in Washington, D.C." "Did you know that's where the White House is?" Judy asked. "I am aware of that, yes," said Mr. Todd, smiling. "Well, did you know they also have the Museum of Doctor Stuff with a for-real Abraham Lincoln bone?" "I did not know that," said Mr. Todd. "Very interesting." "It is," said Judy. "They have an actual hunk of his skull. No lie."

"Ooh! Gross!" said the other kids in the class. "Who knows? Maybe you'll get a chance to see it." Mr. Todd stood up and rubbed his hands together. "Okay, Class 3T. Are you ready for our practice bee? All the words are from the study sheets you've been working on these last few weeks. When I call your name, please come up front and face the class. Spell your word and use it in a sentence, please." Judy Moody could not keep her mind on spelling. All she could think about was how much she wanted to go to Washington, D.C. D.C. was for Definitely Cool! If only she didn't have to spell to get there. Then Judy remembered. She, Judy Moody, had her lucky penny. Frank spelled measles with a Z. Rocky