Chapter 2:

Story Time

Matt had to say, "I'm sorry" To me. And he had to spend five minutes in time-out.

Then, I sat up straight. Because I don't think they're kidding in this place.

Sora whispered to me, "Gee, five minutes! That's pretty bad! Even for Matt!"

And then I nodded my head, cause that girl has some brains in her head, apparently.

Then, the teacher clapped her hands real thrilled. And she said, "Welcome to Kindergarten! This year, we'll have a lot of fun! My name is Mrs. Obin!" She signaled for Matt to come out of time-out, and continued. "Now, I don't know you're names! When I call on you, I want you to tell me your names!"

She called on me first. And I said, "My name's Taichi Kamiya, but everyone calls me Tai." Then, I sat back down.

Then, she called on a boy named Jose. And a girl named Lottie-May. And a boy named Larry. And a girl named McKenzie.

Then she picked Sora. She said, "My name is Sora Takenouchi!"

And you know what? She said that so well, I wanted to applaud her!

But I didn't. It's called "being respectingful". "Being respectingful" is a grown-up word for, "Being quiet."

And then she called on a boy named William. And then Matt. He said, "My name's Yomato Ishida, but you can call me Matt."

She picked some other kids, too. But that's all I can remember.

Then, she said, "Why don't you all come over to the story corner, and I'll read to you?"

And you know what? Everyone zoomed over to that place!

But guess what? I got a great place, that's what! I was right in front of the teacher. And I could get the view of a hawk, I tell you!

And you know what? SORA SAT RIGHT NEXT TO ME! It was a dream come true!

The story was called, The Boy Who Cried Wolf. It was about a boy who kept saying that there was a wolf where the sheep were. And the people kept falling for that! But one day, there really was a wolf! And the boy called for the people! Only guess what? They didn't come! And then boy got eaten by the wolf. The end.

Then, the teacher closed the book. And she said, "And the moral of the story is: Don't lie!"

I did a teensy frown. 'Cause something didn't feel right. So I raised my hand. And the teacher called on me.

"Yea, only here's the problem." I said. "Sometimes lying is good. Like once my Mommy got a really ugly dress. And my Daddy said to tell her she looked great. And that's lying, right?"

The teacher blinked. "Well, yes…Sometimes, white lies are good…But you really should be-"

And then Sora said, "Yea, and once, my Mom told me not to tell my Dad what we got him for his birthday. And he asked me, and I said, 'I don't know.' "

Then the teacher looked real confused. "Well, that's another instance when it's ok to lie…But honesty is the best policy…"

Then I stood up. "I think that's wrong, Madame! You should lie when it will help people!"

Sora stood up too. "I agree!"

And you know what? Everyone stood up!

Then, the teacher looked at us. And she put her face in her hands. And she didn't look up for a long time.

Then, we all went back to our seats. Because that wasn't supposed to happen, apparently…