ANNE WARREN SMITH -- Author of Children's Books
Author of children's books
Tails of Spring Break: The First Chapter
Chapter One: My Great Idea (excerpt)
On the last day of school before spring vacation, it sounded like almost every kid in my fourth grade class was getting away from Oregon. They were going places where the sun was shining. Places like Disneyland and San Diego. Even Hawaii!
Just before recess, Ms. Morgan, my most favorite teacher ever, made a huge mistake. “Surely a few of you will stay in town for vacation, and that’s nice, too,” she said. “Who’s staying here? Let’s see your hands.”
I raised my hand and looked around. I might have known. My hand was the only one.
“Anyone else?” Ms. Morgan asked, looking sorry she’d brought it up. “Anyone besides Katie?”
No one moved.
I thunked my forehead down on my desk. Just then, the recess bell rang.
My best friend, Sierra, patted my shoulder. “Too bad you raised your hand,” she said.
“My Country “Tis of Thee,” someone sang. In perfect pitch. Of course, it was Claire Plummer. She’d been PERFECT AT EVERYTHING since second grade. She’d been singing patriotic songs a hundred times a day. She and her dad were going to Washington, D.C., for spring vacation. She’d told everyone she expected to meet the president.
I leaped up and grabbed Sierra’s arm. “Let me out of here.” We rushed across the room, away from Claire and her song. “I’m sick to death of hearing about Washington, D.C.” I leaned on the window sill and stared out at a wet schoolyard. Cars moved past, their lights on, their wipers going. A lone biker pedaled hunched over, dressed from head to toe in yellow rain gear.
Claire was right behind us. “Our nation’s capital is on the east coast,” she said. “Want to see it on the globe?”
“Sierra’s going to Hawaii,” I said. “Nicer than what you’re doing.”
“The worst is what you’re doing,” Claire said. “Staying in rainy old Oregon.”
“Excuse us,” I said. Sierra and I pushed past Claire and went out to the water fountain in the hall.
“No wonder nobody likes Claire Plummer,” Sierra said. “Maybe someday, she’ll move to a house that isn’t across the street from you.”
Maybe someday, my dad won’t make me walk to school with her.” I held the fountain lever down and let Sierra drink. “He thinks it’s safer to walk in pairs.” He also thought Claire and I had stuff in common because we didn’t have mothers at home. Claire’s mom had died when we were in second grade. Mine had already left home by then because she wanted to be a famous Country and Western singer.
“I wish you could come with us to Hawaii.” Sierra wiped water from her chin with the cuff of her red blouse. “It would be loads more fun.”
“I’ll be stuck here,” I said. “Rusting.”
“Mom almost decided not to go,” Sierra said. “We’re so worried about China Cat.”
“I thought there was a cat motel,” I said.
“There is.” Sierra jammed her hands into her jumper pockets. “Motel La Paws. They don’t really want her. They said she yowled last year. The whole time.”
“Poor China,” I said. “She didn’t know anybody at Motel La Paws. She was lonely.”
“Mom told them she doesn’t yowl anymore,” Sierra said. “So they said okay. But we know she’s going to hate it.”
I thought about China’s soft fur, mostly yellow, with white streaks. I loved the way she twitched her ears and tipped her head when you talked to her. “Wow!” I said. “I’m getting a great idea.”
On the last day of school before spring vacation, it sounded like almost every kid in my fourth grade class was getting away from Oregon. They were going places where the sun was shining. Places like Disneyland and San Diego. Even Hawaii!
Just before recess, Ms. Morgan, my most favorite teacher ever, made a huge mistake. “Surely a few of you will stay in town for vacation, and that’s nice, too,” she said. “Who’s staying here? Let’s see your hands.”
I raised my hand and looked around. I might have known. My hand was the only one.
“Anyone else?” Ms. Morgan asked, looking sorry she’d brought it up. “Anyone besides Katie?”
No one moved.
I thunked my forehead down on my desk. Just then, the recess bell rang.
My best friend, Sierra, patted my shoulder. “Too bad you raised your hand,” she said.
“My Country “Tis of Thee,” someone sang. In perfect pitch. Of course, it was Claire Plummer. She’d been PERFECT AT EVERYTHING since second grade. She’d been singing patriotic songs a hundred times a day. She and her dad were going to Washington, D.C., for spring vacation. She’d told everyone she expected to meet the president.
I leaped up and grabbed Sierra’s arm. “Let me out of here.” We rushed across the room, away from Claire and her song. “I’m sick to death of hearing about Washington, D.C.” I leaned on the window sill and stared out at a wet schoolyard. Cars moved past, their lights on, their wipers going. A lone biker pedaled hunched over, dressed from head to toe in yellow rain gear.
Claire was right behind us. “Our nation’s capital is on the east coast,” she said. “Want to see it on the globe?”
“Sierra’s going to Hawaii,” I said. “Nicer than what you’re doing.”
“The worst is what you’re doing,” Claire said. “Staying in rainy old Oregon.”
“Excuse us,” I said. Sierra and I pushed past Claire and went out to the water fountain in the hall.
“No wonder nobody likes Claire Plummer,” Sierra said. “Maybe someday, she’ll move to a house that isn’t across the street from you.”
Maybe someday, my dad won’t make me walk to school with her.” I held the fountain lever down and let Sierra drink. “He thinks it’s safer to walk in pairs.” He also thought Claire and I had stuff in common because we didn’t have mothers at home. Claire’s mom had died when we were in second grade. Mine had already left home by then because she wanted to be a famous Country and Western singer.
“I wish you could come with us to Hawaii.” Sierra wiped water from her chin with the cuff of her red blouse. “It would be loads more fun.”
“I’ll be stuck here,” I said. “Rusting.”
“Mom almost decided not to go,” Sierra said. “We’re so worried about China Cat.”
“I thought there was a cat motel,” I said.
“There is.” Sierra jammed her hands into her jumper pockets. “Motel La Paws. They don’t really want her. They said she yowled last year. The whole time.”
“Poor China,” I said. “She didn’t know anybody at Motel La Paws. She was lonely.”
“Mom told them she doesn’t yowl anymore,” Sierra said. “So they said okay. But we know she’s going to hate it.”
I thought about China’s soft fur, mostly yellow, with white streaks. I loved the way she twitched her ears and tipped her head when you talked to her. “Wow!” I said. “I’m getting a great idea.”
Everyone is going somewhere fun for spring break except Katie Jordan. She'll make the best of her staycation by running a pet-sitting service. But her plans go awry when the awful Claire Plummer joins the business. Before they know it, they have to look after a moody cat, an excitable dog, and dozens of fish.
Reviews of "Tails of Spring Break."
"Fun to read. The short chapters keep the narrative moving and the action never lags." -- School Library Journal
“Fun and funny as it is, it also says important things about friendship and loss. A delightful story.” – Ellen Howard, author of Gate in the Wall, Edith Herself, and Circle of Giving.
“Recommended. In this accessible companion to Turkey Monster Thanksgiving, the two girls cope with hilarious pet-sitting misadventures as they learn to appreciate each other.” – The Horn Book Guide.
