The next day, Marge drove the kids to their first day of school at Lakewood.

"Have a good time kids!" she yelled from the car "Bart, don't set the building on fire!"

"Man, I never get to have any fun!" Bart whined.

"I hope this third grade class is as challenging as they claim" Lisa said "but anything is a welcome change from Miss Hoover."

In the third grade class, Arthur and his friends were gathering for a day of lessons. Francine took the seat across from Arthur & Buster and leaned in to talk to them.

"Guess what, I heard a new student is joining our class today."

"Wonder what they'll be like" Arthur said.

"Hey, maybe this kid will finally get my jokes" Buster said happily.

"Okay children, listen up" Mr. Ratburn addressed the class "as you may have heard, a new student will be joining us today. Her name is Lisa Simpson and she's from a town called Springfield. Come on in and introduce yourself Lisa."

The girl nervously peeked around the corner of the doorway, then stepped in. All the kids let out one big gasp upon seeing her.

"Um, hello" Lisa said nervously "as you know, my name is Lisa. I like playing the saxophone, fighting for environmental rights, and Malibu Stacy. Um, I look forward to meeting all of you, and hope we can be friends. That's all."

"Welcome to the class Lisa" Mr. Ratburn said, "please, have a seat."

It's just as I thought Buster thought aliens have come to Elwood City! I must remain calm, must not do anything to let the alien know I'm on to her.

"May I sit here?" Lisa asked Buster.

"AAAAAH! Don't disintegrate me!" Buster screamed.

"Huh?"

"You'll have to excuse Buster, he has a very active imagination" Francine said "the name's Francine Frensky, and it's nice to meet you."

"Thank you" Lisa said "I was afraid I'd be treated as a freak here, because I'm well, you know…"

"Different?"

"In a matter of speaking."

"Sure you look funny, but that doesn't mean you're not a nice kid" Francine said "and my dad always says 'you can't judge a book by its' cover.'"

"I'm Arthur Read" the aardvark boy said, extending his hand "welcome to Lakewood."

"Glad to be here" Lisa replied "tell me, is this teacher of yours really as tough as they say?"

"Even tougher"

At last, a challenge! Lisa thought happily perhaps I could get used to living here…

Recess finally came and the kids went off to do their own things. Lisa was headed for the swings when she noticed one of her classmates, a girl with curly hair who she believed to be a cat, heading towards her.

"Hey" the girl said, "I didn't get a chance to properly introduce myself earlier. I'm Sue Ellen Armstrong, and I know what it's like to be the new kid."

"Well your friends seem to have accepted me, so I'm not too worried."

"Did I hear you say you played the saxophone?"

"Yes."

"So do I. What kind do you play?"

"Baritone" Lisa replied.

"I'm an alto."

"Wow, I've only known one girl who played the saxophone before, and that was my friend Alison" Lisa replied. "Most people thought it was a giant bong."

"What's a bong?"

"It's a…kind of horn" Lisa replied sheepishly.

"Okay. Hey, you want to come over to my house after school and practice?"

"I'd love too!"

"Great, see you after school" Sue Ellen replied, as she headed off to the slide.

"Wow, I've made more friends here then I did at Springfield" Lisa marveled "and not one of them a Ralph."

Meanwhile, Bart was searching the playground for a friend.

"Lets see, which of these animal dorks will be my new Milhouse?" he asked, looking around. Then he noticed Arthur playing on the monkey bars with Buster. "Perfect, he even looks like Milhouse."

Bart walked over to the monkey bars and was quickly noticed by Buster.

Another alien kid! he thought keep cool Buster. Try to befriend him and learn his master plan.

"Hello, not alien" Buster said, "my name is Buster Baxter. How are you?"

"Buzz off long ears" Bart said, "hey, four eyes."

"Are you talking to me?"

"You see any other glasses wearing kids around here? How'd you like a best friend?"

"I already have a best friend, Buster" Arthur said, gesturing to his pal.

"This freak?" Bart asked, "listen kid, stick with me and I'll make you famous. Cause I'm the king of cool, and you can be my squire."

"I don't think I want to play with you" Arthur said, "come on Buster."

"I'm on to you, alien" Buster said as he walked away.

"Ah, screw them" Bart said "there has to be somebody around here who will want to be my new friend."

"Um…hi" a nervous George said, after approaching Bart "are you an alien, like Buster said?"

"Jackpot."

Later, it was lunchtime and Lisa made her way down the lunch line, tray in hand.

"Excuse me ma'am" she said to Ms. MacGrady, "I'm not sure if the principal informed you, but I'm a vegetarian, and…"

"Don't worry, I've got you covered" the lunch lady said, handing Lisa a salad "we don't have many vegetarians around here, but we are more than happy to accommodate them."

"Thank you" Lisa replied, and began searching for a place to sit when Sue Ellen waved her over. The spiky haired girl sat down and noticed several other of her classmates present.

"Lisa, I'd like you to meet Brain & Fern" Sue Ellen began "I think you'll really like them."

"Is it true that you skipped a grade?" Brain asked.

"Yes, your principal apparently thought that the second grade wouldn't be challenging enough for me" Lisa replied "I'm lucky he did. I find your Mr. Ratburn fascinating, and the work is a little more advanced than what I received at my old school."

"Looks like we might have to start calling her 'the Brain'" Fern joked.

"Please don't" Lisa said "I don't wish to be known for only my brain."

"She was just kidding" Brain replied "see, my nickname is the Brain, and it's refreshing to have someone of similar intellect in the class."

"What's your real name?" Lisa inquired.

"Alan Powers."

"Then I'll just call you Alan" Lisa replied "Fern, I don't believe I got to talk to you at all. Tell me some of your interests."

"Well, I love reading, especially mysteries" Fern said "my favorites are Sherlock Holmes and anything by Agatha Christie. And I love poetry"

"I normally just read the occasionally Nancy Drew" Lisa replied "but I do share your love of great literature and poetry. Keats, Ginsburg, Dr. Seuss, they're all wonderful."

"My parents won't let me have any books by Ginsburg" Fern explained "he uses a lot of bad words."

"Yes, I can see how that could be a problem" Lisa replied "Oh, I'm so delighted to have met of all you! For the first time in my life, I have friends who share my interests, instead of always wanting to play dolls and hopscotch. Not that I don't enjoy those as well."

"May I sit here?"

The question came from Muffy, who didn't bother waiting for a response and instead, promptly sat down next to Lisa.

"Hello, I'm Mary Alice Crosswire, but everyone calls me Muffy" the girl said, "and I wanted to properly welcome you to our school. By the way, those are delightful pearls you're wearing, wherever did you get them?"

"They're not real" Lisa explained "my mom and I buy them bulk from a thrift store."

"Oh" Muffy said, her tone indicating that she was very disappointed, "well, if you'd like some real pearls, I'd be more than happy to give you some."

"Thanks, I'll think about it" Lisa replied uneasily.

Elsewhere in the lunchroom, Bart was grooming George on how to be his new sidekick.

"This place is calling out for a good, old fashioned, food fight" he said "and the key to starting one is to chuck food at just the right person."

"I don't feel right about this" George whined.

"Relax, nobody will get hurt, it's only food" Bart replied. Then he scanned the lunchroom until he found his victim. "Ah ha, big kid at twelve o clock."

"Not Binky!" George shouted "if he finds out you threw something at him, he'll pound you."

"Relax, I've dealt with bullies way dumber than him before" Bart said "now go get me some pudding."

George reluctantly complied and Bart hurled it at Binky, causing it to slam right into his back. Every kid in the lunchroom gasped in terror.

"What's wrong?" Lisa asked.

"Someone threw pudding at Binky" Sue Ellen explained.

"So?"

"You haven't met Binky, have you?"

"Hey, who threw that?" Binky asked, angrily wiping the pudding off the back of his shirt.

"It was that kid" Bart said, pointing to Arthur.

"What? No, I didn't! You have to understand…" Arthur stammered.

"Understand this!" Binky said tossing his salad at Arthur. It hit him square in the nose.

"Hey, you can't throw food at Arthur and get away with it!" Francine shouted, and picked up a handful of peas.

"Oh yeah, and what are you gonna do?" Molly asked.

Francine flung the peas at Binky, but they hit Molly instead. The angry girl then grabbed her milk carton and tossed it at Francine. She ducked, but it hit Buster instead.

"Mmmm, milk" he said happily.

Soon everyone began throwing food at everyone else, while Bart reveled in the chaos.

"Ahh, the Bart Simpson era has arrived" he said, putting his hands behind his head "pretty sweet, eh Georgie boy?"

"No, it's terrible!" George said, "I don't think I want to be your friend anymore."

"Man what is with you wussy kids?" Bart asked, "you act like you never have food fights or nothing."

"Actually, we don't" George replied.

"Well ya do now."

Over at Lisa's table, Sue Ellen and the others had gotten under the table to avoid the flying food.

"Look at my dress!" Muffy screamed "this will take forever to wash out! And what's this in my hair? Vomitrocious!"

"Who could've started this?" Sue Ellen wondered.

"I think I know the real culprit" Lisa said, "grab a tray and follow me."

The kids grabbed their lunch trays and used them as shields, while they crawled across the floor. Over in the corner, Bart was doing the same, while he sipped happily from a juice box.

"I love it when a plan comes together" he said.

"Ah-ha!"

Bart turned and saw Lisa and several other kids standing nearby.

"I should've guessed you'd be behind this" Lisa said, "how could you?"

"Don't have a cow Lis, I just started a foodfight. It's not like I burned down the school or something."

"You're paying for my dry cleaning!" Muffy shouted.

Before Bart could respond, Principal Haney entered the room, accompanied by Miss MacGrady.

"Stop this at once!" he shouted, before getting a pile of sloppy joes in the face. The kids immediately stopped and a deathly silence fell over the room.

"Now then, who started this?" Haney asked.

Before Lisa could say a word, George spoke up "it was him Principal Haney" he said, pointing towards Bart, "I saw him do it."

"Hey man, how could you rat me out?" Bart asked "I thought we were friends."

"Friends don't make friends do things they don't want to" George replied.

"Come with me young man" Haney said, grabbing Bart by the arm "you'll have plenty of time to discuss this in my office. As for the rest of you, help clean up this mess."

"Well, that was eventful" Arthur said, picking spaghetti off his head.

"Speak for yourself" Buster replied "I've picked up enough food for three lunches!"

Arthur: Not bad, although I could've done without the food fight.

Bart: I'm just glad I was in this chapter more.

Arthur: Anyway, in the next chapter, Lisa visits Sue Ellen's house, and is mortified when Sue Ellen asks to visit hers.

Bart: Probably cause she's afraid Homer will scare her away. I don't blame her, my dad sits around in his underwear waaay too often.

Arthur: I'm going to pretend I never heard that, Anyway, read and review.