Something terrible happened. Rondi grew two new front teeth.
Rondi was afraid nobody would think she was cute anymore.
Mrs. Jewls was giving a health lesson. "Always brush your teeth," she said, "and remember to scrub behind your ears."
"But I\'ll get toothpaste in my ear!" exclaimed Todd.
132
Everyone laughed. Except Rondi. She didn\'t want anybody to see her teeth. She hadn\'t smiled for a week.
Mrs. Jewls made Todd write his name on the board under the word DISCIPLINE.
At recess Rondi decided to tell Louis her problem.
Louis was talking to Deedee.
"Do you have any green balls left?" asked Deedee.
"I\'m sorry, I\'ve already given them all away," said Louis.
"That\'s not fair!" said Deedee. "Why don\'t you ever save one for me?"
"You know I can\'t do that," said Louis. "If I save a ball for you, then all the other kids will want me to save balls for them, too."
"Thanks for nothing, Louis!" said Deedee. She stormed away.
It was Rondi\'s turn. She made sure nobody else was listening. "Louis, will you help me?" she whispered.
"Sure, Rondi, what\'s the problem?" asked Louis.
Rondi smiled, showing Louis her teeth.
"Very nice," said Louis.
"And listen to this," said Rondi. "She sells sea-shells by the seashore."
"Very good," said Louis.
"No it isn\'t!" complained Rondi. "I used to whistle when I said words with s\'s in them. Now nobody will think I\'m cute."
133
"I think you\'re cute," said Louis.
"You don\'t count," said Rondi.
"Well, thanks a lot," said Louis.
"I didn\'t mean it bad," said Rondi. "You think everybody\'s cute, even Miss Mush! That\'s why I like you."
"Thank you, Rondi. I like you, too."
"Thank you," said Rondi. "Will you please kick me in the teeth?"
"No," said Louis.
"Why not?" asked Rondi. "You said you liked me. If you liked me, you\'d kick me in the teeth."
"You know I can\'t," said Louis. "If I kick you in the teeth, than all the other kids will want me to kick them in the teeth too."
Rondi scowled. "Thanks for nothing, Louis!" she said. She crawled into the bushes where nobody would be able to see her mouth.
"Louis! Louis!" shouted Stephen and Jason as they ran toward him.
"Terrence stole our ball!" said Jason.
"I wish you children would learn to share," said Lou............