Waylon! One Awesome Thing Read online

  “Because of today?” Neon asked. “That’s great.”

  “Mostly because pinecone sap ruins clothes. Everybody’s parents were really mad about the team thing on Wednesday night. But yep, also because of today.”

  “A single day with a friend is more valuable than a lifetime with a bar of gold.”

  Waylon looked at his sister, surprised. Did she remember that was a line from Lonelyville? “You can’t cry on the shoulder of a bar of gold,” he answered, watching her carefully.

  “Or eat popcorn at midnight with it,” Neon answered with a grin. Then she tipped her head toward the living room.

  “Are you sure?” Waylon asked.

  She held up a comb. “Hurry up. Before I change my mind.”

  Waylon scrambled off the bed.

  In the living room, Neon plunked down at her mother’s knees and handed her the comb. Mrs. Zakowski kissed the top of her head and began braiding.

  “Trust is the timber that built the house of our friendship, Louise Pembleton. Yours has rotted away!” Waylon quoted, plopping onto the couch next to his mom.

  “Punish me if you must, but don’t turn your backs on me!” Neon answered, her hand flung dramatically to her brow.

  Mr. Zakowski stared for a moment. Then he flew off the couch, knelt in front of his daughter, and hugged her so hard, Waylon thought she’d be crushed.

  Neon struggled out of his hug enough to moan, “Don’t send me to Lonelyville!” and everybody broke into the kind of laughter that usually made Mrs. Zakowski remind them their furniture wasn’t waterproof. Which she didn’t do this time because she was laughing too hard.

  And just then the strange, seeing-himself-from-the-outside thing happened again. The boy Waylon saw had brought his family back together. Somehow, he had managed to connect Baxter and the other kids, too. Isthmus was a hard thing to say and a dumb thing to blurt out in a classroom. But it was a fine thing to be.

  THE END

  (almost)

  Monday morning, Baxter Boylen came to school with a face that looked like the whole world had sat on it.

  “They picked him up again last night,” he moaned. “In a Dumpster behind China Delight. He jumped right into the squad car with a sparerib still in his mouth.”

  Baxter collapsed onto his desk and buried his head in his hands. But Waylon felt strangely elated at the news. When he stood up, he felt as if he were floating.

  As if gravity had loosened its grip.

  He put a hand on Baxter’s shoulder. “No, it’s going to be fine. Because we have ten whole days this time,” he said. “It’s going to be even more awesome!”

  THE END

  ALSO BY SARA PENNYPACKER AND MARLA FRAZEE

  Clementine

  ★ “Fans of Judy Moody will welcome this portrait of another funny, independent third-grader.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  ★ “Frazee’s engaging pen-and-ink drawings capture the energy and fresh-faced expressions of the irrepressible heroine….A delightful addition to any beginning chapter book collection.”

  —School Library Journal (starred review)

  The Talented Clementine

  ★ “Clementine is a true original….Libraries will need multiple copies of this one, because early chapter-book readers will jump at the chance to spend another eventful week with Clementine.”

  —School Library Journal (starred review)

  ★ “Pennypacker once again demonstrates her keen insights into the third-grade mind with Clementine’s priceless observations of the world around her.”

  —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  Clementine’s Letter

  “Through it all, [Clementine] shines with a vibrant spirit that can never be completely extinguished, even when she is feeling down. Frazee’s pen-and-ink drawings perfectly capture Clementine’s personality and her world.”

  —School Library Journal

  Clementine, Friend of the Week

  ★ “Pennypacker’s writing once again brings creativity, humor, and sensitivity to Clementine and her world. Black-and-white line illustrations grace the book, capturing the child’s personality and varied emotions. A must-have for most collections. Fans will be in for another fun serving of their favorite girl named after a fruit.”

  —School Library Journal (starred review)

  Clementine and the Family Meeting

  ★ “Filled with familiar Clementine charm but, more importantly, a whole lot of heart, too.”

  —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  Clementine and the Spring Trip

  “In her sixth book…we have classic Clementine. Not only does she solve the mystery of the smelly bus but she also figures out why fussy Margaret is so neurotic and realizes that a new student might be a new friend. Clementine’s voice is growing more sophisticated as she gets older, but it’s still true to her age and her fans’ ages, too.”

  —The Horn Book

  Completely Clementine

  “The plot unfolds gently onward, seamlessly interweaving threads that are just right for their audience. Frazee’s breezy pen-and-ink…illustrations capture Clementine’s frenetic energy and goofy panache….A warm, bittersweet sendoff for a beloved literary friend.”

  —The Horn Book

  SARA PENNYPACKER splits her time between Florida and Massachusetts, where she feels lucky to be able to write every day. She is the author of many children’s books, including seven in the New York Times best-selling Clementine series; Pax; two in the Stuart series; Meet the Dullards; Summer of the Gypsy Moths; and Sparrow Girl. Her books have won numerous accolades, including a Golden Kite Award, a Christopher Award, and several children’s choice state awards, and they have appeared on many Best Books of the Year lists. For more information, visit www.sarapennypacker.com.

  MARLA FRAZEE illustrated all of the books in the Clementine series. She was awarded a Caldecott Honor on two occasions: for All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, and her own A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. She is also the author-illustrator of Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus: The World’s Number One Toy Expert, The Boss Baby, Boot & Shoe, and The Farmer and the Clown. Marla lives in Pasadena, California, has three grown sons, and works in a small backyard cabin under an avocado tree. Visit her at www.marlafrazee.com.