May

"A talent show?" Winnie said in complete surprise. "Between all the schools?"

"Yeperoodles!" Tyler shoved the poster into Winnie's face again. "They're looking for all kinds of talent to fill up the program. Everyone from the DUSD goes to Fantasia Center for the Arts to watch it next Friday!"

"That sounds complex," Winnie mentioned. "It does sound like a lot of fun, though. You think my poetry would count as talent?"

Percy shyly nodded, but Tyler exclaimed, "If your poetry doesn't count as talent, I don't know what does! You should totally sign up!"

"I know just the poem," Winnie replied with a gleam in his eye.


For what seemed like the millionth time, Winnie reread the words he'd printed out that morning. The talent show organizers had wanted his poem to be memorized, but he was having trouble getting the words exactly right. This particular poem was one he'd started years ago, but abandoned due to a lack of an appropriate end to the fifth verse. Even now, he kept getting the individual pieces of the verses he had previously completed mixed up. Winnie felt lucky that they were allowing him to take the paper onstage.

Tyler tapped Winnie on the shoulder, jolting him away from his worries. "Would you look at those lovely ladies?" He was pointing at a small group of chatting girls. Winnie recognized Cindy, so he assumed that those were her friends from school.

Tyler continued, "I think I'd better give them a big ol' how-ya-doin'. Be my wingman?"

"Well, I don't see why not." Winnie followed Tyler to the girls.

First, Tyler approached a girl with fiery red hair. It literally looked like a bonfire was burning atop her head. Tyler tapped her on the shoulder and said with his ladykiller voice, "Hey babe, whatcha talkin' about?"

The girl's first response was a punch to Tyler's face. "I think she likes you," Winnie commented before having to duck to avoid getting punched himself.

The girl started yelling something in a thick Scottish accent that Winnie had trouble understanding. He was about to duck and cover again when an intercom announcement rang out through the auditorium: "All performers please report backstage!"

"Sorry, Ty," Winnie called over his shoulder as he raced away.


"Thanks, Cruella, for that... ah... entertaining magic act," Mickey announced. His talent show audition had impressed the judges so much, they had asked him to MC the entire show. He'd been doing a good job at it so far, Winnie thought. "And now for something for you word lovers out there - poetry recited by Winnie DePuh of Ashdown High!"

Winnie nearly fell out of his chair with surprise, but stood up and briskly took the podium. The audience's applause released a few of the butterflies in his stomach. He cleared his throat, then announced, "Today I will be reciting my own composition: "Weekday Wonderings"." He had originally called it "Lines by a Boy of Very Little Brain", but (according to his friends) this was much catchier. He cleared his throat again and began:

"On Monday, when the sun is hot
I wonder to myself a lot:
"Now is it true, or is it not,
"That what is which and which is what?"

On Tuesday, when it hails and snows,
That feeling on me grows and grows
That hardly anybody knows
If those are these or these are those.

On Wednesday, when the sky is blue,
And I have nothing else to do,
I sometimes wonder if it's true
That who is what and what is who.

On Thursday, when it starts to freeze
And hoar-frost twinkles on the trees,
How very readily one sees
That these are whose - but whose are these?

On Friday - "

Winnie paused. This was the verse he'd had trouble with. He had completely blanked when reciting it to Mrs. Austers and Ryan. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he managed to finish:

"On Friday, when the hail takes aim
And freezes sidewalks all the same,
It's only then that I can claim
I have no wonderings to my name.

Thank you." Winnie gave a little bow as the entire auditorium burst into applause. He'd done it! He'd recited the poem completely! He was beaming as he exited the stage.

"Wow, Winnie, that was great!" Mickey raved. "Now I'm wondering if our next performer can top that. Please welcome Robin Fox of Pride High with a demonstration of archery!"