A Flying Birthday Cake? Read Free Page B

dinner.
    “Yes, Nancy,” said Joe. “Where were you born?”
    For a moment, Marvin’s mother didn’t answer. Her name was Nancy, but Marvin’s other friends always called her Mrs. Redpost. “Richmond, Virginia,” she said.
    “Where were you born, Dennis?” asked Joe.
    “New Jersey,” said Marvin’s father.
    They had pizza and salad for dinner. Since he was a guest, Joe was served first.
    Joe used his knife and fork, and cut his pizza into little pieces.
    Marvin didn’t want Joe to feel weird, so he cut his pizza into tiny pieces, too.
    Marvin had warned his parents that the other kids at school made fun of Joe for being different. So when Marvin’s mother saw Joe and Marvin cutting their pizza, she did the same.
    Marvin’s father started to pick up his piece of pizza with his hand. Mrs. Redpost cleared her throat, then said, “Use your fork and knife, dear.” Then she cut Linzy’s piece of pizza for her. Marvin was glad that Jacob was having dinner at Nate’s house. Jacob might not think Joe was cool if hesaw him eating pizza. There was no way Jacob would eat pizza with a knife and fork. Jacob sometimes ate two pieces at a time, one in each hand.
    “What do your parents do, Joe?” asked Marvin’s father.
    “Um, just normal things, Dennis,” said Joe.
    “No, I mean, what kind of work? Did you move here because of their jobs?”
    “Sort of,” said Joe. “They have a lot of meetings in Washington, D.C. But they were told the schools were better here in Maryland. That’s why I’m here.”
    “What kind of meetings?” asked Marvin’s mother.
    “I’m not supposed to talk about it,” said Joe. “It’s top-secret.”
    “Oh,
I see
,” said Marvin’s mother.
    Marvin saw his parents stare at Joe. He knew they were wondering if Joe was telling the truth.
    After they finished the pizza—which took a
lot
longer than usual—Marvin’s mother asked what they wanted for dessert. “We’ve got cookies, ice cream, Jell-O …”
    Marvin knew what Joe wanted. “We’ll have Jell-O,” he said.
    Marvin’s mother went to the refrigerator. “That’s strange,” she said. “It’s all gone.”
    “Joe ate it all,” said Linzy.
    “Can you make more?” asked Marvin.
    “That’s okay,” said Joe. “You don’t have to.”
    “Joe really likes Jell-O,” said Linzy. “He’d never had it before.”
    “They don’t have Jell-O in Chicago,” said Marvin.
    “Oh,
I see
,” said Mrs. Redpost. She stared at Joe for a moment. “Well, I can make some more, but it won’t be ready until tomorrow.”
    “Can I help?” asked Joe. “I want to study how you make it.”
    “Sure, Joe. I’ll show you how.”
    She began by boiling water. “Would you like some cookies for now?” she asked.
    “Yes, please,” said Marvin.
    Linzy said she wanted four cookies.
    “How about you, Joe?” asked Marvin’s mother.
    “No thank you, Nancy. I’ll just have a cup of coffee.”

10
Floortime
    Joe was stirring the yellow Jell-O mixture in a pan on the stove.
    “Do you want to call your parents?” Marvin’s mother asked him.
    “I already did,” said Joe.
    Marvin didn’t know when Joe could have done that.
    “If you think Jell-O is good, you should try pudding,” said Linzy.
    “I feel bad that I haven’t even talked to your mother,” said Mrs. Redpost.
    “She wanted to talk to you, too, Nancy.But she’s in a very important meeting with the president.”
    “Oh,
I see
,” said Marvin’s mother.
    Marvin knew his mother didn’t quite believe everything Joe said. He wasn’t sure he did, either.
    “Is there someone at your house who can bring your things over?” his mother asked. “You don’t have pajamas, a toothbrush, or a change of clothes for tomorrow.”
    “I just wear the same clothes every day,” Joe said. “I sleep in them, too.”
    “Oh,
I see
.”
    “It’s true,” Marvin said, sticking up for his friend. “He’s worn the same clothes every day for a week.”
    “And I always take my