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Tuxedo. Everybody clapped.

    “Today, boys and girls, we are here to show how proud we are of Class 3T. They showed excellent teamwork on a project raising money to plant trees in the Children’s Rain Forest in Costa Rica. Because of them, one hundred trees will be planted for the Virginia Dare School. Margaret Mead says, ‘Never doubt that a small group of concerned people can change the world.’ Our special thanks to 3T for helping to change the world!”
    Everybody cheered and clapped some more.
    “Ranger Piner is here as our special guest from the County Parks Department. They have donated a cedar tree, like the ones in the rain forest, to the Virginia Dare School. Right after the assembly, Ranger Piner will help Mr. Todd’s class plant the tree in front of our school.
    “To show our appreciation, I have here, for every member of the class, a T-shirt and a gift certificate for one free Rain Forest Mist ice-cream cone from Screamin’ Mimi’s.” Ms. Tuxedo waved an envelope in the air, and held up one of the T-shirts. It said TURN PLASTIC INTO TREES under a picture of a tree made out of bottles.

    Judy’s class jumped up and down and hooted some more. A T-shirt with words! And the kind of certificate that got you a free ice cream! Saving the world was even better than Judy thought.
    “There’s one person who proved to be a good friend to the whole planet and I’d like her to come up on stage — Judy Moody!”
    Judy looked back at Mr. Todd. He motioned for her to go up on stage.

    Judy Moody stood in the bright beam of light and tried not to squint. She looked out at all her classmates from 3T who had helped plant trees to save the rain forest. They waved their hands in the air and gave a howler-monkey hoot.
    Ms. Tuxedo continued. “Usually this award goes to one fifth-grade student, but today, I think the whole third-grade class is deserving.”
    Award!
Judy stood up straighter.
    “Class 3T has made a contribution that will help not only our community, but the larger community — our planet, our world. Judy Moody and Class 3T, let me present — the award for somebody who really sticks their neck out — the Giraffe Award!”
    The Giraffe!
Judy could not believe her ears. Even her best third-grade listening ears. Everybody wanted to be a Giraffe when they got to fifth grade. She, Judy Moody, was a Giraffe in third grade!
    Ms. Tuxedo handed her a gold trophy of a giraffe. “Let’s give a big hand for 3T!”
    Then, all of the third-grade Giraffes came up on stage to join hands and get their pictures taken in their new bottle-tree T-shirts. Cameras snapped and bulbs flashed. One of the cameras was Dad!

    Dad reached up to give Judy a hug. “I brought the car,” said Dad. “Thought I’d help take bottles to the Recycling Center after school.”
    “Rare!” said Judy.
    “We’re proud of you, kiddo,” said Dad. “All of you.”
    Judy smiled. Not a Siberian-tiger smile. A real smile. The kind the dentist would really miss seeing.

    Class 3T had joined together to make a difference. One hundred brand-new trees would be planted, like a Band-Aid for the rain forest. And she, Judy Moody, had played a small part in saving the world.
    Judy stood in the center of the 3T ecosystem. She held the trophy high, and stretched her neck tall as a true Giraffe.