Miami Jackson Gets It Straight Read Online Free PDF Page B

knew she’d hate that ol’ rusty thing.”
    “No, no,” says Ms. Rollins. She holds up her hand. “I love this. I’m crying because I am so touched by your thoughtfulness.
Friendship is priceless.
This is such a treasure.”
    Everybody gathers around her to see the hieroglyphs on the coin. They are laughing and talking. I can breathe again.
    Ms. Rollins looks at Destinee and me. “You were great class officers! You worked together so well all year. Let’s give them a hand, for a job well done.”
    “Way to go, Miami,” the boys cheer.
    “Way to go, Destinee,” the girls cheer.
    “Way to go, partner,” says String, smiling.
    “We ah-right?” I say, holding up my hand.
    String gives me a high five. “You did the right thing.”
    We’ve given Ms. Rollins a gift that makes her happy. And that is what really matters. I never want to buy another gift … ever, as long as I live.
3:00 P.M.
    School’s out. School’s out. Everybody inclass passed to the fourth grade.
    Off comes my coat. I pull my shirt out of my pants. I take off my socks. Oh yeah, school is out.
    Me and String are on our way to Camp Atwater!
6:30 P.M.
    Leesie’s a senior now. Seems the homonym has a date with Prince Amon the Creep tonight.
    We’re celebrating, too! Mama has taken String and me out for pizza. Real pizza with good crust.
    “Did Ms. Rollins like the friendship token?” Mama asks.
    “She’s going to put it on a chain. Every time she wears it, she’ll remember 3T,” I say, smiling.
    Then I stop smiling.
    Destinee Tate and her mother are coming in the door.
    “Hello, Elise and Destinee,” Mama says. “Come join us.” Mama and Mrs. Tate work together at the junior college.
    “Mama! Please,” I whisper. But it’s too late. They’re coming over to our table. Mrs. Tate is almost dragging Destinee.
    “I’ve been meaning to call you,” says Mrs. Tate to Mama. “Destinee’s won four tickets to tomorrow night’s Cardinals game.”
    “I heard about that,” Mama says, looking at me.
    Mrs. Tate rushes on. “None of us can go except her dad. So would Miami and String like to go? I know they love baseball. Destinee’s getting into the game herself.”

    “It’s up to the boys,” says Mama.
    “Yeah! Sure! Thanks!” says String, taking another slice of pizza, his third.
    Destinee’s eyes are daring me to say yes.
    I’m thinking, ordinarily I’d say no, but this is a Cardinals game and they’re playing the Cubs. Man! I’d go with a grizzly bear if it had tickets.
    “Sure. I mean, okay. Hey, thanks,” I say.
    Destinee folds her arms and leans back in the booth. “Well, Miami, you did come in
second
in the spelling bee. So in a way, I guess you deserve to go.”
    No way around it.
    I hate Destinee Tate.

About the Authors
    No one knows Miami Jackson better than Pat and Fred McKissack. After all, he came out of memories they have of their own kids growing up. “I took characteristics for Miami from all three of my sons,” Pat says. “But Miami is a lot like my oldest, Fred Jr. He even had a tall, lanky friend like String.” She also put a little bit of herself into
Miami Gets It Straight.
“I’m the mother,” Pat admits. “I taught at the junior college. But I didn’t play the oboe. I made that part up.”
    Pat McKissack is the author of many wonderful books for kids, including the Newbery Honor book
The Dark Thirty
and the Caldecott Honor book
Mirandy and Brother Wind.
Together she and her husband Fred wrote
Christmas in the Big House
,
Christmas in the Quarters.