Mary Margaret Mary Christmas by Christine Kole MacLean

Author:Christine Kole MacLean
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2010-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

8. I Am Not a Robber!

I knew it,” says McKenzie, crossing her arms, very dramatic.

I look down at the globe, then up again. Ellie’s face is all wrinkled, like she’s going to cry. Kyle, Jacob, Caleb, and Tristan look at me like I have changed into a monster with orange scales and a pointed tail that shoots fire. Lauren and Ali just stare down at their boots, like they can’t stand to look at me. Arial is grinning like she thinks it’s all big fun. Daisy doesn’t look surprised at all.

“I didn’t do it,” I say. “I don’t know how it got there, but I didn’t take it. Honest!”

Hannah smirks. “You mean honest like ‘My name is Mary Margaret Mary’ honest?”

Uh-oh, I think.

Now everyone is looking at her. “She doesn’t have a middle name,” she says. “My sister is going out with her brother and he says she doesn’t have a middle name.”

“Hannah!” I say. “You promised.”

She shrugs. “Changed my mind.”

Mr. Mooney shakes his head slowly, which means I’m a big disappointment to him. He reaches out for the globe. “Mary Margaret, you stay. Everyone else is dismissed.”

When everyone is gone, he says, “Put your other boot on, Mary Margaret, and follow me.”

I do not want to follow Mr. Mooney. I would rather wear boring clothes for the rest of my life than follow Mr. Mooney. I would rather spend twenty-four or more hours a day with my screaming baby sister than follow Mr. Mooney. But it doesn’t seem like that is a choice of mine, so I follow.

He perches on the edge of his desk and looks at me.

“I didn’t do it!” I blurt out. “I’m telling the truth!”

“The name game?”

I hang my head. “I did do that.”

“Mary Margaret, you are a joy to have in the classroom. You are curious and intelligent. But why must you always push? And this time you went beyond pushing! Why lie?”

“I just wanted to play the game.”

“And win.”

“But I didn’t steal the globe! This time I’m telling the truth. The true one hundred percent truth.”

“I want to believe you, I really do,” he says. “But your actions show what you are made of. Once people see you as a liar, it’s hard for them to believe anything you say. Besides, it was in your boot. I’m afraid I will have to call your parents.”

My icy insides crack up into chips right then and push themselves right up into my eyes, where they melt into tears. “Please, please don’t!” Then I boo-hoo out, “It’s-not-fair-It-wasn’t-me-Just-give-me-a-chance-please-just-a-chance-before-you-call-because-if-you-don’t-I’ll-never-get-to-see-the-World-Famous-Lip-Lip-Lipizzaner-Stallions-Show!”

And then I think of the worst thing of all. Santa! Somehow, now that Mr. Mooney knows that I made a bad choice about the name game, Santa will, too. And that makes me cry even harder.

“Mary Margaret, calm down and take a breath.”

I suck in a giant gulp of air and drop onto my knees. “Please! I’m begging you! My parents mean it when they say I won’t be able to go. And my mom is already in a bad mood because her clients aren’t calling.

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