A Frog in My Throat (5 page)

Kate told Mr. Bolin her plan.

“I like your plan,” he said. “Let's talk more at recess.”

Kate zoomed back to her seat.

“What's up?” asked Jake.

“Tell you at recess.”

“Okey-dokey,” said Jake, finishing his rain forest picture.

As soon as the recess bell rang, Mr. Bolin asked Kate, Jake and Patty to come to his desk.

“Kate has a problem. She wants to be partners on the chocolate factory trip with both of you,” Mr. Bolin told them, “but you know the two-person-per-seat rule.”

Kate glanced at Jake and Patty. They didn't look happy.

“But Kate came up with a great plan,” said Mr. Bolin. “Do you want to tell them about it, Kate?”

“It's a way we can all be partners,” said Kate, “and Mr. Bolin can have a partner too. On the bus to the factory, Mr. Bolin and Jake can be partners, and I'll be partners with Patty. On the way back, we'll switch. Mr. Bolin and Patty can be partners, and I'll be partners with Jake. But we'll all sit in the same row so we'll all be together. And Mr. Bolin promised to tell us jokes on the bus.”

“What about at the chocolate factory?” asked Jake.

“There's no two-person rule there, so the three of us can all be partners together!” said Kate.

“Is that okay with you?” asked Mr. Bolin.

“Well...,” said Jake. “Do you really know a lot of jokes?”

“Lots,” said Mr. Bolin.

“Great. I know some too. I'll tell you on the bus.”

“How about you, Patty?” asked Mr. Bolin.

“Do you want the window seat?” she asked.

“No, I like aisle seats better,” said Mr. Bolin. “That way I can stretch out my legs.”

Mr. Bolin had long legs.

“Good!” said Patty. “I love the window seat. I'll be your partner.”

“Hurrah!” sang Kate. “This is going to be the best and most delicious trip ever!”

She felt so happy that they'd all be partners and friends, she wanted to jump up and dance.

So she did.

Louise-Andrée Laliberté
has built a career as an artist, illustrator and graphic designer in both English and French. She was awarded CAPIC's Gold Prize for book illustration for
L'Homme Étoile
. She is also the illustrator of Susin Nielsen-Fernlund's
Hank and Fergus
(a Mr. Christie Silver Seal Award winner, Orca 2003) and
Mormor Moves In
(Orca 2004). She lives in Quebec with her family.

Frieda Wishinsky
is an international award-winning author of many popular books for children, including
Dimples Delight
,
A Noodle up Your Nose
and
A Bee in Your Ear
, all
Orca Echoes
. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family.

For more titles in the Orca Young Readers series, please
click here
.