Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley Page A

small, in someone’s sunglass lenses.
    â€œCan I touch it?” she asked.
    Junior’s neck turned pink, but he nodded.
    Holding her breath, she ran her palm lightly over the spikes. She let her breath out in a shaky sigh. “Wow. Junior, that’s really…”
    â€œI know.” He looked as pleased as Gertie had ever seen him. “Mom did it last night so we could show it off today.”

    The Riptide really was the most amazing thing. It was better than anything she’d ever imagined. A cloud passed over the sun, and the color faded out of the world. She tore her eyes away from Junior and slowly traced her finger across the names graffitied on the seat in front. Even her very exciting speech wouldn’t be enough to beat the Riptide. But this was Junior Jr., and he was carefully running his hands along his buzzed head, so she made herself smile and pat his arm.
    â€œYou’re going to be great,” she assured him in the brightest voice she could manage, hoping Mary Sue wouldn’t ruin it for him by bringing her dad and a couple of movie stars.
    *   *   *
    When Gertie and Junior walked into the classroom, everyone rushed over to examine Junior’s hair up close. It was impossible to get enough. A person didn’t want to look away from it. So many students stared at Junior’s head that Ms. Simms asked him to sit in the back of the class so that the others would be able to focus on their work.
    When the first adults started arriving, the students were so excited that Ms. Simms abandoned the lesson altogether and allowed them to greet each new person who walked in the door.
    Mr. Zeller showed up wearing his uniform that said Zeller’s Carpet Cleaners on the back. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and inspected the giant Look What We’ve Accomplished! board that Ms. Simms had set up. Gertie wondered if Mr. Zeller was counting the gold stars on Jean’s homework assignments.
    Gertie studied all the parents, matching them to the students. She was looking for someone who looked like he might be a famous movie director. Instead, a tall woman in a pale pantsuit waved to Mary Sue from the back of the classroom where the parents all crowded together.
    Gertie knew then that Junior would be the best. And maybe she would be a close second, which wasn’t enough, but she had to act like it was okay for Junior’s sake.
    Everybody demanded that Junior and his mother stand up first. They went to the front of the classroom. Mrs. Parks winked at Gertie. Nobody would have thought that skinny, nervous Junior was related to Mrs. Parks, who was plump and pretty and always had a calm smile. Junior rubbed his shoes against each other, but he was grinning.
    â€œI’m Junior’s mama,” Mrs. Parks said, even though almost all of them knew her from years and years of haircuts. “I’m a hairstylist. It’s a very exciting career because this ”—she gestured at Junior’s head like she was displaying a fantastic game-show prize—“is the kind of work I do at my salon.”
    Junior shoved his hands deep in his pockets.
    Mrs. Parks said, “For only fifteen dollars, ladies and gentlemen, you, too, can have your very own Riptide.”
    The class gasped. Gertie hoped Aunt Rae would give her fifteen dollars.
    The other parents glared at Mrs. Parks and shook their heads.
    Her smile grew brighter. “I’ll see you all after class.” She and Junior went back to their places.
    The students clapped and pounded their fists on their desks. One thing was for sure, thought Gertie. Mary Sue Spivey might have had the best of everything else, but at least she wouldn’t have the best Career Day speech.
    The other Career Day adults were nothing compared to Mrs. Parks. June’s aunt was a dental hygienist, and she gave them each their own new toothbrush and a packet of floss and told them if they didn’t use them she