《神奇树屋》 第二十三册 Twister on Tuesday 04 Reading Lesson

　　It was warm and dry inside the schoolhouse.



Several oil lamps lit the darkness.



"Class, meet Annie and Jack 1," the young teachersaid.



What class? thought Jack.



There were only three kids.



On one bench sat a small boy and a girl. The boylooked about Annie's age. The girl looked a littleyounger. On another bench sat a tall boy. He wastough-looking.



"Thank you. We're very grateful for it," said MissNeely. "And where do you live?""Well, we actually... ," Jack started. Then hestopped--he wasn't sure what to say.



"Actually, we don't live around here," Annie said.



"We're passing through.""You must be from the wagon 2 train I saw thismorning," Miss Neely said.



Annie nodded. Jack smiled.



Good work, Annie, he thought.



"We can only stay a little while," he said. "Howexciting for you," said Miss Neely.



"Heading west on a wagon train. Where are yougoing?""California," Annie said.



"California! That's wonderful! Isn't it, class?" MissNeely said to the others.



"Yes, ma'aml!" said the two younger children. Theolder boy barely 3 nodded.



"Have you ever been to school before?" Miss Neelyasked Annie.



"Yes, ma'am," Annie said. "We both know how toread and write. Jack's one of the best readers you'llever meet.""My! Isn't that wonderful, class?" said Miss Neely.



"Yes, ma'am!" said the younger children.



The older boy gave Jack a scowl 4.



"Not exactly the best," Jack said modestly.



"I love to read," said Miss Neely. "I'll read any bookI can get my hands on.""Me too," said Jack.



"Then perhaps you'd like to start off our firstreading lesson of the school year," said Miss Neely.



"Sure," said Jack.



"Sit with Jeb, then," said Miss Neely, "and Annie,you sit with Kate and her Will."Will and Kate quickly made room for Annie ontheir bench.



But Jeb didn't move over for Jack, not even an inch.



Jack barely had room to sit. He took a deep breathand sat on the end of the bench.



Miss Neely handed Jack a book.



"This is our only reader," she said. "It's called theMcGuffey Reader. Please read the first two lines ofthe poem on page fifty.""Oh, urn 5.., sure, ma'am," said Jack.



He turned to page fifty. He pushed his glasses intoplace. Then he read aloud:



"Twinkle, twinkle, little star.



How I wonder what you are.""Very good!" said Miss Neely. "Now pass the readerto Jeb."Jack handed the book to Jeb.



"Jeb, please read the next two lines," said MissNeely.



The older boy cleared his throat and stared at thepage.



"Maybe Jeb can't read," Will said in a kind voice toMiss Neely.



Jeb's face got red.



"Shut up, Will," he muttered 6.



"Oh!" said Miss Neely. She looked confused.



Jack felt sorry for Jeb. He wanted to give him some help.



Barely moving his lips, Jack whispered, "Up abovethe world so high, like a diamond~"Jeb turned on Jack with an angry look. "I don't needyour help," he said.



"Now, Jeb, don't get mad," said Miss Neely. "And,Jack, you shouldn't give people the answers.""I'm sorry," said Jack.



Miss Neely sighed and pulled out her pocket watch.



She was starting to look tired.



"Why don't you all go outside and have your noonmeal?" she said. "I'll stay in and prepare for our next lesson."Miss Neely opened the door of the sod hut. Annie,Kate, and Will bounced up from their seats andstarted cheerfully out of the schoolroom.



Jack turned to Jeb.



"Hey, sorry for what happened," Jack said. Jeb justglared at him and didn't say any-thing.



"Come on, Jack!" Annie called outside the hut. "Kate wants us to eat with them!"Jack hurried out the door. He didn't look back at Jeb.