“I don’t know,” said Gary. “Come to room twelve. You’ll like Mr. Bone.”
Abel and Gus finished their lunch and threw their litter in the back of the truck. They didn’t have to look for a trash can. They drove one.
After school, Miss Turbone gave Gary the keys to her car and told him to bring her the package that was on the floor of the front seat. “It’s a yellow car,” she said. “It has a bumper sticker on the back that says SAVE THE WHALES.”
As Gary walked to the parking lot, he felt special. He had Mr. Bone’s keys in his hand, and he was walking to Mr. Bone’s car, and was going to open Mr. Bone’s car with Mr. Bone’s keys. It made him feel very special. He jingled the keys while he walked.
Angeline couldn’t remember if Gary had said room twelve or room twenty. She cautiously opened the door to room twelve. She thought he probably said room twelve, but then, when she opened the door and saw a lady teacher and no sign of Gary, she concluded she had gone to the wrong room.
“May I help you?” asked Miss Turbone.
“Oh. I’m looking for Mr. Bone,” said Angeline.
“I’m Miss Turbone,” said Miss Turbone.
Angeline’s eyes widened. “You’re Mr. Bone?” she questioned.
“Yes,” said Miss Turbone. “You must be Angeline. Gary will be right back.”
Angeline stared at her in amazement. “You’re Mr. Bone?” she repeated.
“That’s right,” said Miss Turbone.
Angeline still couldn’t figure it out. “You’re Mr. Bone?” she repeated again.
“Yes,” said Miss Turbone, unable to understand Angeline’s confusion. “Come in. Gary is getting something for me from my car.”
Angeline shrugged. “Okay…” she said perplexedly, “…Mr. Bone.”
Gary returned to the classroom carrying a package. “Is this it, Mr. Bone?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you, Gary.”
“Well, what do you know?” thought Angeline. “She is Mr. Bone.”
“What’s in it?” Gary asked, referring to the package he brought in. “Is it for the fish tanks?”
Miss Turbone smiled. “Why, yes, Gary,” she said. “As a matter of fact, that’s just what it’s for.”
She set the package on her desk and then they went to work setting up the fish tanks. It took them over an hour to finish both tanks, yet they still never opened the package that Gary had gotten from Miss Turbone’s car.
“What are these call
ed again, Mr. Bone?” asked Angeline.
“Fish tanks,” said Miss Turbone.
“Fish what?” asked Angeline. She smiled at Gary.
“Tanks,” said Miss Turbone.
“YOU’RE WELCOME,” Gary and Angeline said together, then Angeline laughed hysterically.
They filled one tank with fresh water and one with salt water. Angeline said she liked the saltwater best and Gary said he liked the freshwater best. “Better, not best,” corrected Miss Turbone. “When you compare two things, one can only be better, not best.”
“Do you have any fish for them?” Gary asked.
Miss Turbone smiled. “In the box you brought from my car.”