My favorite part of the day is when everyone gets to school and Miss Queen Tibby reads us a story from her really really big story book. We're already read almost half, and every week she picks two kids who get to sit next to her on the couch when she reads. This week it's my turn and I'm really excited about it, but Natara the evil Cupcake Princess is gonna be there too. Whatever, I still get to sit next to the love of my life and the one true Queen, Miss Queen Tibby.

I ran all the way down the street to the school on Monday even though it was raining and my mommy said she'd drive me. Only she was taking too long, so I put on my raincoat and big boy rain boots all by myself and faced the dangers of the rain. It took me a whole 5 minutes, and Mr. Lichett's toy poodle almost dragged me off, never to be seen again.

It paid off though when I saw that I was the first one there. Normally all the kids waited in a line outside until the classrooms opened, but since it was raining we had to wait inside. I stood proudly by the classroom door, staring down the fifth grader who had to watch us while we waited. I was so excited I could hardly keep myself from screaming. I just really really wanted to go inside and sit next to Miss Tibby while she read to me.

Natara was the next one there, though, and I frowned at her as she walked up. She was perfectly dry cause her mommy drove her, but my soaked clothes and hair showed how brave I was. (Mr. Lichett's dog had really, really sharp teeth!)

"What are you doing here?" I asked with my arms crossed.

"I'm in your class. Duh." She played with the hem of her dress and hummed a stupid song. I hated her. She was the most annoying and boring girl in class. Everyone only likes her just because she started her own kingdom. She's dumb and weird and I hated her.

Eventually everyone else got to school and we were allowed inside. I immediately hung up my coat and a bunch of us put our boots on a mat to dry; Miss Tibby said it would be okay if we walked around in socks for the day. She pulled the book from her special bookcase and I ran to the yellow couch, eager for her to start. Everyone else had to sit on the blue carpet. Miss Queen Tibby sat next to me, and then Natara sat on her other side.

"The Littlest Princess," Miss Tibby began. "Once upon a time in a land far away, a king and queen ruled the land. They had five little princesses..."

I sighed. Miss Tibby's book had really cool stories sometimes, but I hated the ones about princesse and lovey-dovey stuff. It was too icky for me. Besides, I liked the stories about knights fighting monsters and dragons and evil witches. Those were the fun stories. Stories about princesses who liked to bake were boring and dumb. Like Natara. No wonder she loved those stories.

I made a face at Ken and he stuck out his tongue. I sighed again and rested my fist against my cheek to show him how bored I was and he nodded. I wished we could've read the story about the lion who couldn't find his dad again. That one was really funny.

I decided to at least look at the pictures, and when I looked down there was a picture of a princess with dark hair in a purple dress holding a plate of cupcakes. Miss Queen Tibby started to turn the page, but I slapped my hand down before she could.

"Wait!" I hollered.

"What is it?" Miss Tibby asked as she flipped back to the picture.

"She looks like Natara!" I said, pointing at the picture. "Look!"

"You're right, Mal!" Miss Tibby said. "They both are very pretty, aren't they?"

"But-"

"That was very nice of you," Miss Tibby said. Natara was looking at me weirdly, and I felt my cheeks get all warm.

At least Miss Queen Tibby is proud of me. For once.