Class Picture

Chapter 3 Class Picture Claudia helped me down from the tree. " We better hurry, " she said. " Or we'll be late for school! " " And late for the class picture! " I began to run. The bell rang as I dashed across the playground.

I ran from Claudia and into the school building. I sprinted down the hall and slid around the corner. " Uh-oh! Principal Murphy! " I slammed on my brakes to try and stop. But I kept sliding. “ Slow down, Clyde! " The principal grabbed my shoulders. She knew me well. I spent a lot of time in her office. " No running in the building! " Principal Murphy said. " Got it?" I nodded.

Principal Murphy was carrying a big net. And I knew why. She hoped to catch the monkey she had seen running loose in school. The monkey me. Luckily, she didn't know my secret. Principal Murphy briefly stared at me. Then she continued her search. When she was out of sight, I continued my running. I dashed into my noisy classroom and quickly sat at my desk.

" Quiet, class! " Miss Plum said. The talking stopped. " I hope you will stay looking this nice until the end of the day, " my teacher said, " when we will have our class picture taken. " " I can't wait! " I shouted. " Clyde! " Miss Plum stared at me. " Sorry, Miss Plum, " I said. But thinking about the class picture made me bounce. Because I couldn't wait to see who would ruin it this year.

In kindergarten, the Dorney twins stuck their tongues out as the picture was being taken. In first grade, Roz dropped a worm down Sandy's back. And Sandy screamed just as the man with the camera snapped the picture.

Who's going to ruin this year's picture? I asked myself. It was hard sitting still as I waited to find out. Finally, at the end of the day Miss Plum led us to the lunch room. She lined us up in front of the man with the camera. She stood me in the back row on the end next to my sister.