Miami Jackson Gets It Straight Read Online Free PDF

Rollins the gift after closing assembly.
    “Since you bought the thing, you be the one to give it to her,” says Lisa.
10:00 A.M.
    At the closing assembly each class sits together. There is a review of the year. Ms. Rollins stopped letting String and me sit together after the first assembly in September. So, I’m sitting between Lisa and Amika. Ugh! Torture.
    Mr. Hillshire blows into the microphone. The first graders giggle. Mr. Hillshire giggles, too.
    Mr. Hillshire is the first and only principal Turner Elementary has ever had. As principals go, Mr. Hillshire is ah-right. I’m glad he’s coming back next year.
    He announces that we’re getting a new fifth-grade teacher in the fall. Her name is Miss Amerita Spraggins. She’s from Boston, Massachusetts. Wonder if she’s been to Fenway Park?
    Then Ms. Rollins and Mrs. Stone-Wilks are called to the stage. “These two teachers will not be returning next year,” says Mr. Hillshire.
    Mrs. Stone-Wilks is having a baby. Mr. Hillshire gives Mrs. Stone-Wilks a gift. It’s a pretty yellow baby blanket. She holds it up for us to see. Her smile says she likes it. I’m hoping Ms. Rollins will smile when she sees the friendship token. But would she smile if she knew that I hadn’t really bought it for her?
    Next Mr. Hillshire makes a speech about how much Ms. Rollins will be missed next year. He gives her a present, too.
    “Oh, this is too wonderful,” she says.
    Mrs. O’Shay steps to the microphone. “Boys and girls,” she says, “Ms. Rollinspicked her own gift.” She explains, “We went shopping together.”
    I knew that.
    “I watched what she admired,” she says. “Ms. Rollins liked this. So, I hurried back to buy it the next evening.”
    Ms. Rollins holds up the box. It is just like the diary, wallet, and address book I bought … and lost!
    I am too put out! All the girls ooh and ahh. The boys clap, stomp, and whistle. We can get away with that today only.
    “Now that’s the kind of gift you should have bought,” Lisa whispers.
    I can’t stop laughing.
10:15 A.M.
    We’re back in class. My stomach is flip-flopping.
    Destinee goes to the front of the class. “We have something for you, Ms. Rollins.” Ms. Rollins smiles. “You have been a good teacher all year. We hope you like Africa. Please send e-mail to us. Okay?”
    “Excuse me,” says String. “I’d like to say something, too.”
    Oh, no, I’m thinking. He’s going to spill his guts.
    “I like getting gifts,” he says. Somebody snickers. He keeps talking. “I also like to give gifts. I really hope you will enjoy this present as much as we enjoy giving it to you.”
    For the first time I realize what String has been trying to tell me. My feet feel glued to the floor. I make myself walk.
    I know what I’d planned to say. But what I’m saying is not it.
    “Ms. Rollins … I lost your gift.”
    Everybody laughs. They see the package in my hand. Destinee stares at me. “Stop being silly. Give it to her,” she says through clenched teeth.
    “Ms. Rollins,” I say very softly, “I bought you a gift. Then I lost it. I bought this one, too. It’s not the first gift. But I think it’s the best gift. It’s meant to be given to someone special. You are special. I want you to have it very much. We all do, really. We all hope you will like it.”
    “What’s he saying?” Lisa asks.
    “Something dumb again,” says Amika.
    Destinee is eyeballing me. Then she almost smiles. “Nothing. Nothing that’s making any sense,” she says.
    Ms. Rollins doesn’t seem to understand what I’ve said either. “Miami, you do havea way with words.” She opens the box.

    Everybody is standing up, leaning forward so they can see. I’m all the time holding my breath. I can hear my heart beating.
    “It is something we hope you will keep to remember us,” I say.
    Ms. Rollins looks at the Egyptian friendship token. She reads the little write-up. Then she bursts into tears.
    “See!” shouts Lisa. “I