What are you doing?\" Melody asked
her friend Howie. It was before school on
Monday and Melody， Howie， and Liza
were in their favorite meeting place.
Howie danced around the oak tree and
sang， \"This is so cool! This is fantastic!\"
\"What s so fantastic?\" Liza dropped
her blue Bailey School backpack under
the oak tree and stared at Howie. Usu-
ally Howie was calm. Not today.
Howie stopped dancing for a second. \"I
can t say until Eddie gets here.\"
\"School is a waste of time，\" Eddie said，
walking up beside Liza. \"Why would I
want to be early for school?\"
\"Because，\" Howie said with a big
smile， \"I have the greatest news ever.\"