Summer Adventures with Kate & JR by Edith Hawkins

School’s Out!
    â€œHello, my name is Kate.” Everyone in the second grade was quiet as Kate began her life story. Everyone except for Jerry Slate, who was making faces and odd noises at Kate.
    Mrs. Calhoun pointed her finger at Jerry and put it to her lips, asking him to be quiet. “Continue, Kate.”
    Kate took a deep breath. She was nervous. She was the first one in her class to tell her story. The whole elementary school had been challenged by the principal, Mr. Steele, to tell their life stories on the last day of school. “Tell us about when you were born, what you like to do, and what you are doing this summer,” Mr. Steele said. So Kate had been thinking all week long about what she would say and the photographs she would show. Kate was a little shy, and the thought of standing in front of her class made her afraid. Sometimes she wished she were more like her little brother, JR. He always had something to say; he was never afraid.

    â€œMy name is Katelyn Suzanne. My parents named me after my grandmothers. My Grandma Sue called me Kate from the start. That made Grandma Katie very happy. I was born in April, which makes me eight years old. I have long, strawberry blond hair and blue eyes. My eyes are the same color blue as my father’s. Dad says I have my mother’s smile.” Kate held up a photo of her mother and father for the class to see. The photo showed her mother and father outside their house, sitting on the front porch swing.
    â€œWhen I was two, my parents told me I was going to be a big sister. This is the tee-shirt I wore to the hospital to meet my baby brother, JR.” Kate held up a tiny white tee-shirt with pink flowers and the words “I am the BIG SISTER!” scrolled across the front. “I didn’t like him much at first; he cried a lot. Now he’s bigger, and we can play together.” Kate held up a photo of her brother JR for all to see: “This is when he was just a baby.”
    â€œI have a big white cat named Samson. His fur is long and soft. He likes to rub up against my legs and purr.” Kate showed a photo of Samson curled in his favorite spot beside her bed. “I got Samson for my sixth birthday. JR and I have a dog named Buddy. I’m a little scared of him. He likes to jump up and give you a kiss. Once he knocked me down. It was an accident. After that, I decided he could be JR’s dog to run and play with. I just pat him on the head.” Kate glanced around the room. She spotted her best friend, Susie, who was nodding in agreement.
    â€œI like school. Learning new things is fun. I also like to
play with my best friends. We ride our bikes and sometimes we dress up like grown ladies to have tea and cookies. My Grandpa Jim built me a dollhouse. My Grandma Sue and I decorated the windows with curtains and bought furniture for the rooms. My friends and I play with our dolls and pretend that the dollhouse is their home. My brother gave me a red toy convertible for my birthday that the dolls can ride in.” Kate paused before proceeding. She felt better about speaking in front of the class. Their friendly faces made her feel at ease.
    â€œI love to go outside and play with JR in the backyard. We have two swings, and we try to see who can touch the sky with our toes by going really, really high. Sometimes JR lets me come up and play in his tree house. I like to go up there and listen to the birds sing in the trees.”
    â€œThis summer, I am going to spend some time with my grandparents. We have a lot of things planned to do. Then my parents are taking JR and me to the beach for vacation. I plan to keep a journal and take photos of my summer vacation.” Kate returned to her seat as the class clapped.
    â€œThank you, Kate,” said Mrs. Calhoun, as Kate went back to her seat. “You did a very good job.”
    Kate leaned back in her seat with a big smile on her face. She couldn’t wait to start