Number One Kid Read Free

paw.
    “Yeow!” Mitchell yelled.
    Mitchell looked into the music room.
“Meeee meeeee meee,”
a girl sang. She sounded like a singing chicken.
    She wore a loopy pearl thing around her neck. It hung down to her waist.
    “That’s Gina from my class,” Habib said. “She wants to win a prize for opera.”
    The music teacher held his head. Maybe he had a toothache.
    Mitchell knew he wouldn’t win a prize for singing. He sang like his dog, Maggie.
    The music teacher saw them. “Come on in.”
    They walked into the room. Slowly.
    Everyone began to sing. Mitchell sang without making a sound.
    Tomorrow Mr. Oakley was taking them to the nature center. That would be better than singing.
    He was going to give nature his best try.

CHAPTER 5
WEDNESDAY
    M itchell ate his snack in one gulp. It was string cheese. His favorite.
    He had to hurry. He was late for Homework Help.
    No one was there except Habib. And Ellie.
    Habib had taken off his sneakers. He must be counting on his toes.
    Mitchell wrote in a quick burst:
    Sometimes losers should get a pris .
It would make them feel good .
    Ellie leaned over. “What’s a pris?”
    Mitchell slapped his forehead. “Prize.”
    He pulled out the hot dog. Too bad it was falling apart.
    He erased the s. He wrote
z
.
    “Excellent,” Ellie said. “Just stick an
e
on the end. You’re all set.”
    He wrote a little more.
    Then it was time for the nature center. He raced upstairs with Habib. They passed Peter Petway. He was heading for the gym.
    That reminded Mitchell. He’d heard Angel talking to Yolanda. “I hate to walk home with Mitchell,” she’d said. Now Yolanda must think he was a loser, too.
    Habib poked him. “Come on.”
    They shot outside. Just in time!
    Ramón led the line. Mr. Oakley came next.
    Mr. Oakley said he was in love with nature.
    Angel and Yolanda were up in front with Destiny.
    Today Destiny’s hair was green. “In honor of nature,” she said.
    Habib was juggling. He scrambled for the balls.
    Mr. Oakley walked to the end of the line.
    He walked with Mitchell. “Hello there,” he said.
    Mitchell liked the look of Mr. Oakley. He had puffs of hair coming out of his ears. Like little earmuffs.

    “Up ahead is the Steven Z. Zigzag Nature Center,” said Mr. Oakley.
    “Maybe that’s Zelda Zigzag’s husband,” Mitchell said.
    “You’re right! I see you’re a thinker,” Mr. Oakley said.
    Too bad Angel hadn’t heard that.
    They walked up a skinny path. “Look.” Mr. Oakley pointed toward the bushes. “Don’t go close.”
    Mitchell hoped it wasn’t a pack of wild animals. Maybe coyotes. They could be hiding in the weeds.

    They’d bite your leg right off.
    Was a nature prize worth having to walk around with just one leg?
    Angel was right next to the bushes. In danger.
    He darted up to her. He pushed her out of the way. She landed in a pile of bushes.
    Angel gave him her worst look. A pushed-up nose and squinty eyes.
    “Sorry,” Mitchell said.
    Mr. Oakley helped her up. “I was going to tell you. Those plants are poison ivy. So don’t touch. See? Three leaves, shiny green.” He shook his head. “You can get an itchy rash. Better wash when you get home.”
    “I have poison ivy in my yard,” Habib said. He sounded proud.
    Mr. Oakley looked at Habib’s arm. “So I see.”
    Habib was probably going to win the nature prize, Mitchell thought.
    Mr. Oakley bent over. Mitchell hoped he wouldn’t fall into the poison ivy, too. He started forward.
    Before Mitchell could save him, Mr. Oakley stood up. “Here is one of my favorite creatures.” He pointed at the ground.
    All Mitchell saw was a skinny worm.
    “A worm!” Mr. Oakley sounded as if he had just opened a treasure chest.
    Mitchell tried to look as if he’d opened a treasure chest, too.
    “They tunnel through the earth,” Mr. Oakley said. “They make the soil fluffy. Plants have room to grow.”
    Like poison ivy
, Mitchell thought.
    “Now for the best part,” said Mr. Oakley.
    They