Posey.
âSure does,â said Gramps.
âLadybug, ladybug, fly away home,â Posey said.
Just like that, the ladybug opened its wings and lifted into the air.
âI guess you told it a thing or two,â said Gramps. âDig in.â
Posey scooped up two handfuls of mulch. âIâll make sure the roses are warm,â she said.
âThatâs my girl,â Gramps said. âThey will thank you for it, too.â
CHAPTER FOUR
MISS LEEâS NEWS
A t the end of school the next day, Miss Lee called, âBoys and girls. I have a special announcement.â
A special announcement! Posey put down her pencil. Everyone around her did, too.
âGuess what tomorrow is?â Miss Lee asked.
âWednesday!â Luca shouted.
Posey frowned. That Luca! He always forgot to raise his hand. Miss Lee usually reminded him. All she did now was smile.
âThatâs right, Luca. Itâs Wednesday,â she said. âBut itâs also my birthday.â
Miss Leeâs birthday! How exciting!
âItâs my turn to bring in birthday cupcakes,â Miss Lee said. âWeâll celebrate after lunch.â
Everyone started to talk. The room buzzed like the inside of a beehive. Posey got in line with Ava and Nikki to wait for the bell.
âIâm going to bring Miss Lee a present,â Nikki said.
âMe too,â said Ava. âIâm going to bring her something very special!â
âIâm going to bring her something very, very special!â said Nikki. âHow about you, Posey?â
Posey knew exactly what she was going to bring. Her present was going to be very, very, very special.
âMineâs a secret,â she said.
âMine is, too,â said Nikki.
âMine, too!â said Ava.
Posey could hardly wait to get home and work on her present. She could hardly wait for tomorrow.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE VERY, VERY, VERY SPECIAL PRESENT
âH urry, Danny, hurry!â Posey cried. She ran across the backyard.
âHeâs coming as fast as he can,â her mom said. She held Dannyâs hand to keep him from falling.
Danny couldnât walk by himself yet. All he did was stumble and fall, stumble and fall.
Every time he fell on his bottom, he laughed. Most of the time Posey laughed with him.
Today she wanted him to go faster.
âSee, Mom?â Posey said. She waited for them in front of the roses. âOne, two, three, four, five! Miss Lee will love them, wonât she?â
âIâm sure she will,â said her mom.
âLetâs leave this one.â Posey pointed to a tiny bud. It was still closed. âIt hasnât been born yet.â
âMaybe we should cut them in the morning,â said her mom.
âDanny might spill his cereal in the morning,â said Posey. âWe might be late.â
âOkay.â
Her mom cut the roses. Posey carried them inside. She wrapped the stems in a wet paper towel.
Then she wrapped foil around the paper towel and put the roses in the refrigerator.
âI bet no one else gives Miss Lee such a special present,â she said. âSheâll be amazed, wonât she, Mom?â
âSheâll love them because you grew them,â said her mom.
Posey could hardly wait to see Miss Leeâs face. She was going to smile and smile.
She would know Posey liked her more than anyone.
In her secret heart, Posey hoped Miss Lee would like her more than anyone, too.
CHAPTER SIX
A NOT-SO-WONDERFUL SURPRISE
P osey held her roses tight as she walked slowly down the blue hall. She didnât skip even her tiny inside skip.
Excitement butterflies were tickling the inside of her stomach.
Miss Lee was going to be so happy. She was going to say, âWhy, Posey! These are the most beautiful flowers I ever saw!â
But thatâs not what Miss Lee said.
When Posey got to the door of their classroom, she heard Miss Lee say, âWhy, Nikki! What