The Case of the Missing Fingers

Cooties! Nana Wilson pulls into the parking lot and makes a fast stop. I quickly grab my new backpack and hop out of the truck. I turn to wave goodbye, but Nana Wilson was already burning rubber out of the parking lot. “Really?” I scream with my hands flying over my head. This is my school. I attend Park Hill Elementary. I’ve been going here since I was in Pre-First. I was the smartest kid in my class and the cutest. I swing open the heavy doors to the school and run out to the playground. I throw my things down by the lunch tables and quickly search for Katrina. She’s my bestest friend. I spot Katrina sitting by the swings. She seems to be reading a rather long book. “¡Buenos días!” I say in my happiest voice ever. “¡Hola, mi amiga!” she says, still reading her book. “Why are you reading and not playing?” I ask her. Katrina slowly looks at me and puts her book in her lap. “I’m trying to finish this book,” she says. “My mom’s going to treat me to an ice cream sundae if I can figure out how many books are in this series. I’ve already read nine. I have four books in my backpack and ten more at home.” I curl my nose up as my eyebrows make their way down.