A Long Pitch Home by Natalie Dias Lorenzi

Author:Natalie Dias Lorenzi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781607348702
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: 2015-12-07T05:00:00+00:00

On Monday everyone boards the bus clutching their Halloween costume bags. Most people are keeping their costumes a secret, but Akash tells me he’s going as Harry Potter. I peek at the white cricket uniform in my trash bag. Maybe I should have dressed like Harry Potter, too. I’ve read all the books in Urdu, and people would at least know who I am.

During morning meeting, Mrs. Wu holds her own bag on her lap—a huge, black trash bag. Whatever’s inside is long and has lumps. “Okay, a few reminders about today.” She smiles. “I know it’s Halloween, and you’ve all got candy on the brain.”

Everyone laughs, and it feels good to understand her joke. “But before the parade this afternoon, we still need to focus on things like math, science, language arts, and social studies.” Tristan shudders. “Scary,” he says, and even Mrs. Wu laughs.

“Instead of our usual morning greeting, I want everyone to think of one clue about your costume or about the book it’s related to. I’ll begin.”

Mrs. Wu pulls her bag closer and props her elbows on top. “My favorite book”—Mrs. Wu pats the bag with a solid thump—“showed me that sometimes the things we run away from are the very things we need most.”

I am relieved to see that the other kids look as confused as I am.

“Okay, who would like to go next?”

I think of what I’ll say about my book—one I’ve never read—as the others give their clues.

“This is some book!”

“Mine’s a diary—maybe dorky, maybe wimpy. You’ll find out at the parade.”

“The title of my favorite book could be worn as a necklace.”

“You won’t guess mine unless you follow the rules.”

“Mine is super hard to guess.”

With each clue some people look confused and others look thoughtful; I look confused for each and every one. My turn is next, and I am clueless. This means I do not have a clue about what clue to give.

“Bilal?” Mrs. Wu smiles, and nods at my bag.

I swallow. “My book . . . ,” I begin, and then stop. My book, what? Is a book I’ve never read? Is full of information I already know? I glance at Jordan, who’s got a look on her face that says, “Well? What is it?”

Then I have an idea. “My book is not about a bug.”

Mrs. Wu waits, like she’s thinking that maybe I’ll say more, but I don’t. That’s my clue. I’m no longer clueless.

I don’t listen to the next clues, because I know I won’t know these books. I should ask Mr. Jacobs how I can hurry up and learn enough English to read the same books everyone else can read.

I do pay attention when it’s Jordan’s turn. She holds up a brown paper lunch bag, and I wonder what kind of costume could fit inside a bag so small. She looks down, running her fingers along the creased top of the bag.Then she looks up and says, “Yes, and . . .”

And that’s it.

Everyone looks confused except for Mrs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.