Lone Bean Read Online Free

were all done, Ms. Sullivan went over the class rules. The last one was “Treat everyone with respect.” I thought that one was probably especially for me.
    The rest of the day was pretty terrible. I sat alone at lunch and ate my peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, which had gotten all smushed when I sat on my backpack by accident. And during recess, I didn’t have anyone to play with, so I threw rocks at the fence, which was no fun at all.
    After recess, we marched back to the classroom and the bad day just kept getting worse. I usually l-o-v-e LOVE reading, but this time I couldn’t follow along. Carla and I always used to trace the lines of the book with our fingers. But now I had to share a book with goody-two-shoes Gabrielle, and every time I traced the lines, she kept swatting my finger away like a fly. Then, in math, which is usually easy-peasy, my numbers kept getting all jumbled up because Carla was whispering and passing notes to Sam.
    Brrrrr-i-ing! The bell finally rang. I jumped right up out of my seat and was the first one to the door. It took forever to get everyone lined up, but finally we made it out of the room, down the hall, and out to the playground.
    I waved good-bye to Ms. Sullivan with a smile, but then I spotted Carla and Sam skipping toward the gate. Carla always used to walk home with me and my sisters.
    I stood slumped over in the middle of the playground, remembering all the fun me and Carla used to have after school. I snapped back to the real world when Rose found me and asked, “So, how was the first day?”
    â€œBad.”
    Before I could explain why, Rose spotted Gardenia coming out of the building and yanked me in her direction.
    We headed out on Coliseum Street, and when we hit Twenty-fifth Street, I raced ahead. I wanted to get to the computer first, so I could email Tanya. Without thinking, I jumped off the curb into the street.
    â€œBean, get over here. You know you can’t cross the street alone,” Rose said as she caught up to me.
    Gardenia’s lucky and can cross the street all by herself. She looked both ways, crossed, and passed me and Rose right by. Now there was no way I was going to get to the computer first.
    When I spotted the house, I ran as fast as I could, but I was still behind Gardenia when we burst through the back door.
    â€œWhoa, there, ladies,” Dad said, startled. “Slow down. I want to hear about your first day.”
    â€œIt was good,” Gardenia said. Then she headed straight to the snack drawer and grabbed the last fruit roll-up.
    â€œI’ll tell you all about it later, Dad!” Rose yelled over her shoulder as she headed straight upstairs. “I gotta use the bathroom!”
    â€œHow about you, Bean?” asked Dad.
    â€œOh, fine . . . super . . . fantastic,” I said, giving Dad a fake smile.
    I couldn’t believe my luck. The computer was still free. I threw my backpack on the floor and plopped myself down.
    You’ve got mail, the computer said.
    I scanned the mail and it was all junk, so I opened up a new message box and typed in Tanya’s email address. Rose walked by to go play outside, while I sat and thought about what to say. Then my fingers started typing.
    Â 
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Subject: Hows it goin?
    Hey Tanya--
    3rd grade is bad. My girl Carla has a new best frend and now I got no one 2 play with.
    I miss u soooo much! Wish u went 2 the same skool as me.
    How r u?
    Bean :-)
    Â 
    â€œDad, Bean’s hogging the computer again!” Gardenia glared as she pushed through the door from the kitchen. “She’s taking forever.”
    â€œAm not!”
    â€œBean, give Gardenia a turn on the computer,” Dad said, taking her side, of course. “I want to have a little chat with you anyway.”
    I followed Dad into the kitchen and plopped down at the table.
    â€œWell, honey, now that you are a big third grader,” he said as