Gooney Bird and All Her Charms by Lois Lowry

some of the bushes. They could tell that spring was coming. Tricia said that she had seen a robin.
    But it was still chilly. They wrapped a warm scarf around Napoleon’s neck and pulled a knitted blue hat over his skull.
    â€œHe should have gloves,” Felicia Ann suggested. But they all looked at his long bony hands and agreed that it would be too difficult to fit gloves on him.
    â€œAnyway, he wouldn’t be able to hold his cigarette if he has gloves on,” Nicholas pointed out.
    â€œNo!” the other children shouted. They had been arguing with Nicholas all day. Nicholas thought it would be a good idea to explain the respiratory system by showing Napoleon smoking.
    â€œSee, he goes outside to have a cigarette. My dad does that at work,” Nicholas said. “He stands out on the sidewalk and smokes. Then we can make signs saying how the smoke goes in Napoleon’s lungs and makes them all black and yucky, so he shouldn’t do it.”
    â€œNicholas,” Mrs. Pidgeon had said, “we’ve already had a complaint because we gave him a wineglass—”
    â€œAnd because we talked about his butt,” Malcolm reminded everyone.
    â€œRight,” Mrs. Pidgeon continued. “So we are
not
going to give Napoleon a cigarette! No way. Instead we are going to demonstrate how healthy it is for him to be outside breathing in the fresh spring air.”
    â€œBut what can we give him to hold? He had a basketball for Muscular System. He had a fork for Digestive System. And he had a book for Brain.”
    â€œI know!” Tricia said. “He can have my inhaler. He can have asthma!”
    â€œI don’t think so, Tricia,” Mrs. Pidgeon said. “You might need it, sweetie.”
    â€œI know!” Gooney Bird said suddenly. She lifted the top of her desk, rummaged around, and brought something out. “Here!” she said. “Left over from a birthday party I went to!”
    â€œBalloons!” the second-graders said. “Napoleon can blow up a balloon!”
    â€œWith his
lungs!
” Tyrone said. “Cool!”
    On Monday afternoon, Mrs. Pidgeon and the children put on their own jackets. Napoleon was already dressed. Tyrone and Felicia Ann carried the signs they had made, and a roll of tape. Carefully, quietly, they wheeled the skeleton down the hall and through the back door of the school. They had decided to arrange Napoleon on the back steps so that no one would see them. They could invite the other classes to come group by group in the morning to learn about the respiratory system. Mr. Leroy had promised to announce it on the intercom after the Pledge of Allegiance.
    Malcolm and Barry each blew up one of Gooney Bird’s balloons as they walked. When they were situated outside, with Napoleon seated comfortably on the back steps, they placed one balloon in his left hand, and the other between his teeth, as if he were blowing air into it.
    The first sign was taped to the stair railing behind Napoleon.
    Â 
    NAPOLEON IS OUTSIDE
    TO ENJOY THE FRESH AIR.
    IT IS GOOD FOR HIM.
    Â 
    On the step next to his left foot, they taped the second.
    Â 
    HE BREATHES AIR INTO HIS LUNGS.
    THEN HE BREATHES IT OUT,
    OR HE USES IT TO BLOW UP A BALLOON,
    OR TO TALK OR SING.
    Â 
    â€œI can hold my breath for forty-seven seconds,” Ben announced. “My cousin timed me in my uncle’s swimming pool.”
    â€œYou have good, strong lungs,” Mrs. Pidgeon said. “Everybody? Breathe in and you can feel your chest move. Then hold your breath for a few seconds before you blow it out.”
    All of the children took a deep breath. Everyone but Ben blew it out again. Ben held his breath until his face turned bright pink, then let it out with a
whoosh
.
    â€œGood,” Mrs. Pidgeon said. “You all have great lungs. No smokers. I can tell.”
    Beside Napoleon’s arm, they taped a third sign.
    Â 
    NAPOLEON DOES NOT SMOKE.
    HE TAKES GOOD