Across the street from Bowditch, at the levee, a jackrabbit popped out of his burrow, stretching with a yawn, when he noticed a coyote staring hungrily at him.
The coyote gnashed its teeth at the jackrabbit, who ran from the levee, across the street to Bowditch with his one foot and peg-leg.
At the same time, I had just gotten out of my mom's car as she said. "Have a great first day!"
"Thanks, Mom! Bye, Mom!" I called back before seeing the peg-legged jackrabbit run past me, bumping headfirst into a tree, from which its leaves fell on top of him.
Meanwhile, as I made my way up the ramp, the Hall Monitor Patrol, Rolf, Jonny 2x4, and Jimmy were talking with Sarah and Nazz.
"Oh, Sarah, it was so divine!" said Jimmy. "In just one day, Plank saved me from those Kanker witches and a creepy-crawly!"
"That's awesome, Jimmy." said Nazz.
"Yeah, it is!" agreed Sarah.
"Witches? Creepy-crawly?" repeated Rolf, who ran away in panic. "MAMA! THE FAIRY TALE THAT HAUNTS ROLF HAS COME TRUE!"
As I watched him go, a voice said. "Great, we've got ourselves a bunch of crazies."
On hearing this, I turned to see a pen filled with farm animals.
A sigh was placed outside, saying...
"Patch of Heaven Petting Zoo?"
"The way I see it, each new school year is full of different surprises."
I looked up, surprise at what I was hearing from the big brown cow that came up to me.
"Did you just..."
"Talk? Uh, yeah?" replied the big brown cow. "What are ya, some kind of Dolittle?"
I chuckled nervously. "You might be referring to Eliza Thornberry. My name is actually Nathan Rosenberg."
"Well, Nathan Rosenberg." said a black and grey cow that also came up to me. "This is quite a surprise and pleasure to hear and meet someone..."
"...that isn't on the looney side of things?" added the big brown cow.
As she spoke, Jonny ran like crazy and all around me, holding Plank up like he was a superhero.
"Point aside," said the black and grey cow. "I'm Mrs. Caloway."
"Hi." greeted a yellow cow that had just came up, waving at me.
"This is Grace." said Mrs. Caloway.
"Hi." repeated Grace.
"And, of course, you've already met Maggie." Mrs. Caloway went on, motioning towards the big brown cow.
"Hi." Grace repeated again, much to Caloway's annoyance.
I waved back, then asked. "So, uh, what's up with this petting zoo?"
"Oh, yes." said Mrs. Caloway. "Well, you see, our owner, Pearl was offered a job here at Bowditch to teach physical education."
"They call it 'PE,' Caloway, not 'physical education.'" explained Maggie, whom Mrs. Caloway stared at, then went on. "To which she accepted, on the condition that her animal family, that's us, move along with her."
"Uh, speaking of classes," said Grace. "Isn't it almost time?"
I looked at my watch that I had gotten for my 12th birthday, then said. "Actually, there's still a few minutes left, but I get what you're saying."
I started to leave, but Maggie held me back with her tail, saying. "Hold on there, sport. What is this you've got jammed up in your ear?"
As if by magic, she had pulled out an apple, to my surprise.
"Wha...how did that get in there?" I asked.
"Here's a little something to give to your new teach." Maggie said as she placed the apple in my hand.
Upon close examination, I saw that Maggie had plucked the apple...from my backpack.
"Hey, wait a minute!" I said before hearing Eddy crying out. "This stinks!"
Sensing that I was needed, I turned to the cows, saying. "Uh...nice meeting you."
"Bye!" Grace called out, waving as she watched me go. "Come up and see us on your way home!"
"What a nice young man." said Mrs. Caloway.
"Yep, he's a keeper." added Maggie.