The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class by Karina Yan Glaser

Author:Karina Yan Glaser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
Published: 2024-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Nowhere in Sight

On Thursday, everything seemed to go back to normal.

Po Po was making breakfast when Poppy came out of her room in the morning. Poppy’s metal lunch box was packed and ready to go, and when Poppy opened it at lunchtime, she found mini egg tarts inside, which she shared with everyone at her table. The egg tarts were a hit. Sebastian told her it was the dessert he did not even know he needed.

After school, Poppy went home on the bus to find Po Po waiting for her.

“You’re going to Ms. Kellogg’s place today, right?” Po Po asked as they went up the stairs.

Poppy nodded.

“I’m in the middle of making red bean buns,” Po Po said. “They should be done by the time you get home.”

“Yay!” Poppy said. She loved red bean buns, and she could bring any extras to school the next day.

After dropping off her book bag, Poppy went upstairs and knocked on the door.

“Hi, Poppy!” Ms. Kellogg said.

Poppy stepped into the apartment. By the window, there was a canvas on an easel on top of a drop cloth. It was a painting of a leopard, but instead of yellow fur and black spots, Ms. Kellogg used only shades of purple in her painting.

“I love that,” Poppy said. “My friend Rohan is an artist. He draws animals, too.”

“Invite him over one day, and we can paint animals together,” Ms. Kellogg said, leading Poppy to the kitchen, where the ingredients they needed were on the counter. “So, you’re going to show me how to make Dragon’s Beard candy?”

Mama had made a copy of the recipe, and Poppy pulled it from her pocket.

“I’ll need your help with the stove,” Poppy said. “My mom says I’m not allowed to turn the burner on or use the oven without an adult until I’m in middle school.”

Ms. Kellogg nodded. “That sounds smart.”

Poppy measured out the ingredients into a large pot on the stove. Then she clipped a candy thermometer to the side, and Ms. Kellogg turned the stove on low. Poppy watched the thermometer carefully.

Once the mixture had reached the right temperature, Ms. Kellogg turned off the flame. She poured the sugar mixture into the doughnut molds while Poppy helped keep it neat using a spatula. While they waited for the liquid to cool, Poppy measured rice flour and cornstarch into a bowl to use when they pulled the candy.

When she finished, the sugar mixture was still too hot to handle, so Poppy told Ms. Kellogg she was going downstairs to grab her math book so she could do homework.

When Poppy opened the door to her apartment, however, the oven timer was going off. A burning smell filled the air.

“Po Po?” Poppy called out.

She ran through the apartment. She didn’t see Po Po in the kitchen, or in the living room, or in her bedroom.

Poppy looked at the oven. She was not allowed to touch the oven without supervision, ever. Should she call 9-1-1? There wasn’t a fire . . .

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