04 The Bad-Luck Charm

The Bad-Luck Charm It was one week, two study buddies (Rocky plus Frank), and three practice bees later. Judy Moody shook her Magic 8 Ball. "Will I win the class spelling bee?" Reply hazy. "Will I finally get to go to Washington, D.C.?" Ask again later. Double drat! "Judy?" said Dad. "Your class bee is tomorrow, isn't it? Are you up to speed on all your spelling words?" "Berry, furry, merry, hurry, cherry, bunny, funny," said Judy.

"We mean past page one of your spelling packet," said Mom. Hello! Judy reached into her pocket and pulled out her lucky penny. She held it up for Mom and Dad to see. Mom came over and put an arm around her shoulder. "Honey, I know how much you like that lucky penny. And it's fine to carry it around— for fun." "But if you're serious about winning a spelling bee," said Dad, "you're going to have to work at it." Mom nodded. "You're not going to win the spelling bee based on one lucky penny." "In fact—" began Dad, but Judy did not want to hear it. She clomped upstairs to study before Mom and Dad could say any more bad stuff about good luck.

She took out her spelling list. She turned to the hard page. As in D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T. Destiny. She closed her eyes. Des+tiny. D-E-ST-I-N-Y. It was her own tiny destiny to go to Washington, D.C. So far so good. Next word. Present. She closed her eyes again. P-R-E-S-I-D-E-N-T. The

president lived in Washington, D.C. Just think. If she, Judy Moody, was lucky enough to go to D.C., she just-might-maybe see the president himself. Judy opened her eyes and stared at the word present-not-president. She'd practiced the wrong word. It was no use. She got out a fake-fur neon-pink rabbit'sfoot keychain, three acorns, two cat's-eye marbles, and one lucky stone. Seven more lucky charms! Her mother was probably right. One lucky

penny was not enough to win a spelling bee. She would fill the pockets of her cargo pants with tons of good-luck charms. Good luck times seven! Judy went to sleep sure that good luck was her destiny for the present. Unti... the next day. Spelling Bee day! On the bus, Judy reached into her right shorts pocket. Empty! Of all days to oversleep. How could she forget to wear her pants full of lucky charms? Seven extra-sure foolproof lucky charms were in the pockets of her cargo pants— at home on her bottom bunk. Bringing good luck to nobody, except maybe Mouse the cat. She reached into her left pocket. Phew!

Good thing she still had her lucky penny. All was not lost. "Third-graders!" said Mr. Todd when Judy got to school. "Are you ready?" "Yes!" "What are you ready for?" "Spelling Bee!" "Put away your study folders and form a line at the back of the room," said Mr. Todd. "May the best speller win!" Judy put her spelling folder away. She never did make it past the first few words on the hard page. All of a sudden, she did not feel so good. She was in a cherry-berry hurry-flurry to get out of the room. "Mr. Todd, may I please go to the restroom?" Judy asked.