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The bell shrieked, and Javier raced into Ms. Doyle's third grade classroom, still clutching the note. He
skidded inside just before she closed the door behind him.
"Cutting it a little close," she said, smiling.
"Well," he began, thinking fast, "this dog was chasing me - a huge dog, a rottweiler, I think. I had to dodge around the park to lose him and then a train came and I had to wait at the crossing and then..."
"Enough," Ms. Doyle said, laughing. "I think you're going to like our new class project, Javier. It should make the most of your imagination."
Javier slid into his seat and tucked the note inside his workbook. Who had written it? The backward "p" and the purple ink were clues, if only he could figure them out.
The master detective studied the torn scrap of paper only an instant before announcing...
Ms. Doyle interrupted his daydream. "Class, today we're starting a new project."
Javier watched Owen uncap his blue felt-tip pen. Owen hadn't written the note.
"This year Fields Elementary will host its first ever Young Authors' Contest," Ms. Doyle went on. "And our class will be part of it. Every student will write a book, either alone or with a partner."
Javier saw Robbie straighten his glasses, then toss a note onto Owen's desk. When Owen unfolded it, Javier saw Robbie's ragged black scrawl. That didn't look like the mystery note, either. Javier wanted to think about the clues, rather than the contest. Why did Ms. Doyle think he'd like this project? He probably got the worst reading and writing grades of any kid in the class.
Copyright ©2007 by Elaine Marie Alphin