Bits and Pieces of Our Days

Conversation overheard between Anne-with-an-e (who works as a lab assistant at school) and Betsy (who lets her sister wear her clothes):

Betsy: You got what kind of bacteria on my Ravenclaw shirt?!

Anne: It's nothing deadly....

Betsy: Mom, she wore my Ravenclaw shirt to the lab.

Anne: ... and it's not a stain or anything. It might not have even landed on the shirt. I just saw a drop go flying....


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Reading with Ramona:

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, for one of her book clubs. We enjoyed it BUT we want the world to know that the book has a BIG Charlotte's Web spoiler. If you have a child who hasn't read the marvelous-wonderful-splendid Charlotte's Web, don't let them read this book. Ramona and I have spoken.

The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry -- in progess. We've just begun, so can't say much yet.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo -- also in progress.  This one is depressing Ramona. She calls it part of "the Island of the Blue Dolphins vicious cycle syndrome -- I want to find out what happens and it's an engaging story, but it depresses me to read it." Betsy has assured her it has a happy ending -- "ending" being the operative word.

Reading on her own: anything and everything Andrew Clements. His Frindle may be one of my favorite books of all time. The one she's reading now -- The School Story -- inspired her to suggest that she and I write a novel together.

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Overheard:

Atticus: What do you think of that play?

Anne-with-an-e (who is reading Richard III): Well, basically Richard is trying to kill everyone so that he can be king. And he's doing it sneakily.

Atticus: That pretty much sums it up.

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Prom?! 

I am going to prom with Atticus. (Ah, the extracurricular duties of teachers.)

Last year I didn't go with him because I had to be out of town.

"Hey, this year," he said, "I'll have a date. I won't have to bring a Graham Greene book."

"You didn't read during the prom last year," I said. "You had to talk to people."

"Well, I didn't get to use it, but I had the book in my jacket pocket."

Anne-with-an-e looked at us with a frown on her face. "Had to talk to people? What is wrong with this family?"

Oh, plenty, my dear. We've just scratched the surface.