Read Remembering Mrs. Rossi (9780763670900) for Free Online

. . for a big surprise!”
    “Like I always say”— Mrs. Peterman puts her arm around Annie as she leads her inside, to the takeout counter at Carmen’s —“great minds think alike.”
     

     
    By the time they get to the university gates (with three chocolate cupcakes in a box with yellow ribbon), Annie is
nearly
in a good mood. By the time they get to Sherman Hall, she
is
in a good mood. And by the time they find her father’s book-lined office (room 202), she is absolutely
giddy.
They walk right in and yell, “Surprise!”
    Professor Rossi is
so
surprised he nearly jumps out of his chair! “Well, look who’s here! How about this! I’ve got company! The best company in the world!” He keeps scratching his head in confusion. “To think you two
innocents
cooked up such a sneaky little plan!”— he laughs —“And here I was, thinking just this minute,
If only I had something to eat, preferably chocolate!
”
    Afterward — after they eat the cupcakes and sing the happy birthday song, and after Professor Rossi blows out pretend birthday candles — Mrs. Peterman taps her wristwatch with two fingers in a gesture that means it’s time to go home. “Come along, Annie.” Her tone is pleasant but has an edge of
authority.
“We have to let your father get back to work now.”
    “I better stay here, Mrs. Peterman.” Annie’s tone is pleasant, too. She smiles at Mrs. Peterman.
    “Now, Annie . . .”
    “My father shouldn’t be
lonely
on his birthday.” As the words slide sweetly off her tongue, Annie hopes everyone in the room will recognize what a nice girl she is — a girl who chooses to keep her father company on his birthday, instead of watching TV! (Annie would prefer keeping him company at the playground, of course, or perhaps in a movie theater, but her father has already explained — several times — about his teaching
responsibilities
here at Columbia University, including his 4:30 responsibility, which has something to do with creative writing.)
    A few minutes later, having successfully persuaded the grownups to let her stay, Annie makes herself at home at her father’s important-looking desk. She sits in his big black chair, feeling terribly important herself as she watches him pack up for his 4:30 class. “By the way,” she says casually, “I’m quitting school, Daddy. You’ll never talk me out of it, so don’t even try.”
    “Quitting school is serious business,” he responds in a not-too-serious tone of voice. “I would be remiss if I didn’t at least
try
talking you out of it.”
    Annie leans forward on her knees and types her name on his old-fashioned typewriter. But typing is hard and it comes out
anine.
It seems to her (except for the cupcakes) this whole day is hard.
    Grownups!
They spoil everything! A father who doesn’t want a dog for his birthday. A teacher who says, “I’m disappointed in you, Annie,” and steals your picture of your mother . . .
    Annie prints Annie was here on her father’s desk calendar on today’s page. She makes a picture of a dog on tomorrow’s page, then another dog, right next to the first one, and now no one is lonely.
    A few minutes later, they are clattering down the stairs. In light of the perfect spring day, Professor Rossi has made arrangements for his 4:30 class to meet
outside
today, under a tree.
    “Do you want to know
why
I’m quitting school?” Annie asks as they walk across the grass.
    “I’m always curious to know why you do the things you do, Annie.”
    “Because Miss Meadows doesn’t like me anymore, that’s why!”
    “Really?”— big frown —“I was under the impression she likes you immensely.”
    “She used to,” Annie says. “But not anymore. I never had a teacher who didn’t like me before,” she adds gravely. “Miss Kim used to like me. Every single day of second grade.”
    “Miss Kim was a big fan,” Professor Rossi agrees.
    “And do you remember Mrs. Levine? She was my first-grade teacher, and she