Ms. Bixby's Last Day Read Online Free PDF Page A

erase it, but I wouldn’t let her. I knew what book it was from.
    It was supposed to be a “sort of” farewell party. Sort of, because she insisted she’d be back. Probably not till next year, but she’d be back. It was a temporary good-bye. More of a “see you later.” The party was scheduled for Friday. Her last official day. It was to take place during lunch. She was going to order pizza for the whole class, and McKenzie’s mom was bringing cupcakes. We had leftover juice boxes from our Valentine’s Day celebration a few months ago. There would be a more professional gathering with coffee and pound cake in the teachers’ lounge after school, a chance for Ms. Bixby to say “see you later”to the other teachers, but this party was just for us.
    Except it didn’t happen.
    That Monday, with only five days left until her last day, we all shuffled into the room to find someone else waiting for us beside Ms. Bixby’s desk. It was Principal McNair, wearing a navy business suit, black hair corralled into a bun, purple bags under her eyes. “I’m sorry, kids,” she began. “But I’m afraid Ms. Bixby isn’t coming in today. It looks like she won’t be back for the rest of the year, in fact.”
    Standing beside me in his stupid Gap sweatshirt, Kyle Kipperson blurted out, “Is she dead?” I turned and glared, wanting desperately to punch him square in that giant, upside-down-lighbulb nose of his. Principal McNair looked like she was about to have a heart attack.
    â€œOh heavens, no!” she choked. “No. Not at all. She just isn’t feeling well. And we all thought it best if she started taking her leave of absence early and concentrated on taking care of herself.”
    There were groans from all over. Most of them were for Ms. Bixby, though I’m sure some were just disappointed that there wouldn’t be a party. Part of me just wanted to scream at them. Topher told them all to shut up, which raised the principal’s eyebrow but at least stopped the groaning.
    â€œYou should know that she fought us over it, but we insisted,”Principal McNair continued. “She wanted to be here. She even recorded a message for you.”
    Principal McNair turned around and fumbled with Ms. Bixby’s computer for a moment, trying to get the smartboard to work. She wiggled the mouse and the screen flashed to life, revealing Ms. Bixby, looking much the same as the Friday before, except like she’d just woken up, her eyes not as bright. She smiled that smile of hers, though: The one that lets you know that she knows what you’re really up to. The one that I’d gotten more than once.
    â€œHello, class,” prerecorded Bixby said, pulling the pink strand behind her ear, her face filling the camera. “Sorry to leave you all in the lurch like this, but it turns out Principal McNair doesn’t want me hanging around the school anymore. She’s afraid I’m contagious.”
    â€œAbsolutely not true,” the flustered principal whispered, but we all hushed her so that we could hear the rest of Ms. Bixby’s message.
    â€œTurns out I’m going to take my time off a little earlier than expected. Relax in my hammock with a good book and some mint tea, catch up on my to-dos, and, of course, get healthy. But before I leave, I want you all to know how proud I am of you. It has been wonderful getting to know you and watching your minds evolve and expand, and I only hope that you’ve learned asmuch from me as I’ve learned from you.” Video Bixby paused, looked down and then back up. “I will be back next year,” she said finally, “and you will all come back and visit me, I’m sure, and we will have that party we planned on. So be good for Principal McNair and the sub, and thanks for being such an awesome class. Remember me and smile, for it’s better to forget than to