Beyond the Laughing Sky Read Online Free Page B

sunsets and frill-necked lizards? And platypuses! Have you ever seen a platypus? Hoo-ee. What about spiderwebs and eclipses and star-nosed moles? Are those mistakes?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Nashville.
    â€œNot one thing this world makes is a mistake,” continued the doctor. “Including you.”
    â€œIncluding me,” repeated Nashville, his voice sounding less than convinced.
    â€œWhy yes,” said the doctor, tussling the feathers atop Nashville’s head. “Especially you.”

T he next day when morning broke, Nashville could no longer deny it: School was starting. And while he had tried to store up as much summer as he could, it was just no use. At some point during the night, summer had left town, had packed a suitcase full of fireflies and swimming holes, and whistled on down the road. And so, as Junebug raced around the house, Nashville dragged his knapsack down the stairs one at a time. Plunk. Plunk. Plop. He conducted the sound track to his middle school life.
    â€œHello,” said Nashville’s teacher, Miss Starling. She wrote her name in large, loopy letters on the chalkboard. Behind it, Nashville could see the faint ghostly outline of past lessons erased from the board.
    â€œAnd welcome,” continued Miss Starling kindly. “I know most of you don’t know one another, coming together from several elementary schools. We have lots to talk about for the new school year, but first things first. I’d like to play a game.” The students tittered with excitement.
    â€œEveryone put your chairs in a circle,” directed Miss Starling.
    There was much scraping and giggling while the students moved their seats. When they were finished, Miss Starling took a chair to the center of the circle and sat.
    â€œMy name,” she said, “is Miss Starling. And I like sweet tea. Anyone else who likes sweet tea, please stand up.”
    Six students, including Nashville, stood.
    â€œNow,” continued Miss Starling. “If you’re standing, quickly switch seats!”
    The standing students scrambled to switch seats, but Miss Starling had sat in one of the open chairs, and a red-haired girl was left standing.
    â€œWhat do I do?” she asked, embarrassed.
    â€œYou sit in the middle,” said Miss Starling. “And tell us a fact about yourself.”
    The girl did as she was told.
    â€œMy name is Abigail. And I have a little brother.”
    Only two other students stood this time, and Abigail stole one of their seats. This went on for some time, and Nashville, being quite quick, avoided the hot seat. That is, until a large boy in the middle chair said, “I have a tree fort.”
    Nashville was the only person to stand, so he and the boy simply switched chairs. Nashville reluctantly made his way to the center, his shoes squeaking on the freshly waxed floor. All eyes were on him, and Nashville wasn’t sure what to do with his face. He smiled, a bit too forcefully, and was fairly certain he must look crazy.
    â€œSo,” said Miss Starling. “What is a fact about you?”
    Nashville thought for a moment how to answer.
    â€œMy parents,” he finally said, “were Nashville warblers.”
    The class snickered and muffled laughter. Nobody stood.

    â€œPerhaps another fun fact for us, Nashville?”
    Nashville thought some more.
    â€œI was hatched from an egg,” he stated.
    The class had stopped tittering with laughter, and now just stared.
    â€œI sleep in a nest,” he continued.
    â€œI bathe in a birdbath.”
    â€œI . . . I . . .” he paused, and then quickly proclaimed a final fact.
    â€œI wish I could fly.”
    The students looked around at one another. Slowly, cautiously, one girl rose, then a second boy, followed by a third. Soon, the entire class was standing. Even Miss Starling rose to her feet. Nashville stood as well, and they all laughed as they bumped