CHAPTER 1

First Day of School

What? The text books are gone! What will we do?

Hello. My name is Blake Sloan. My friends call me Blake theSnake. My dad is a grape farm manager. We just moved fromEugene, Oregon, and I'm a little concerned about my first day ofschool in this new place and meeting and making new friends.Well, off to school I go!

"Good morning, class. I am Ms. Rothchild, and I will beyour fourth-grade learning facilitator this year. I welcome youall to Grape Grove Elementary School, the newest elementaryschool in the Napa Valley area of California. I have good news.This school is the most technologically advanced to date. Lookaround the room, and you will see that there are no books. Allof the information from textbooks will be found online andaccessed from your individual student computer.

"As you can see, each student desk cubicle are a has a computer.The computer is located directly in front of you in the lockedcompartment. Each desk has an electric pencil sharpener and ismounted just to the right side of your desk. On the back left sideof your desk, you will notice a small, mounted container that willbe used for trash depositing. In front of that are two mounted,narrow containers that you will use to deposit completedassignments that are not computer related, as directed by yourstruly ... me.

"Further, hard-copy notes and letters will no longer be senthome to parents, as these will come directly to you throughyour e-mail, and you will be responsible to then forward them toyour parents. If you will look directly behind and at the rear ofthe classroom, you will notice two very wide doors. Once thesedoors are opened, you will see a nicely furnished lounge. As eachperiod ends, you will have a ten-minute break and access to thisarea for your enjoyment and relaxation.

"This area is equipped with a surround-sound system that isconnected to a 105-inch flat-screen television and entertainmentcenter. The latest video games are available, as are light snackfoods. This is the area where we will, beginning tomorrow, startour morning activities and obtain announcements from themain office. I'll give you more information later, but for now I'dlike us all to introduce ourselves to each other. Let's begin withGeorgia."

"Good morning, Ms. Rothchild. My name is Georgia JeanHathaway. I was born and still live here in Napa. My daddy camefrom a banking background, and we live in the old Willfordmansion on Cotton Wood Drive just south of here. As I look outthe window, I can see the top of our home in the distance. It'sthe one on the top of the hillside. That's all I have to say."

"I'm Sy Wilcox, but my friends call me Slo-Mo. You can callme almost anything, but please don't call me too late to eat. Ilove to eat. My parents started the Hensley Steakhouse back in1973. We now operate three others as well. We enjoy skiing forfamily fun. We go skiing every December at Cloud Croft, NewMexico, for our winter vacation. I'm especially looking forwardto this year's vacation so I can get better at my skiing skills, as Iget to go on the big-hill ski jump this time."

"Hello, my name is Pricilla Kay Keaton. My grandmotheris Mary Kay, and she does cosmetics to help pretty girls lookprettier. My parents own and operate the distribution centerfor my grandmother's cosmetics. I won my first beauty contestpageant this past summer and expect to win many more."

"Hi! I'm Billy Mack, the Mackster, and I like to run and playfootball. I'm already the quarterback for the Pee Wee Giants.Coach Watkins says our team is going to go undefeated this yearas long as I'm the quarterback. See ya at the game."

"Yo. What's up! I'm Trevor Walker, and I play football withthe Mackster. My dad is the coach of the Pee Wee Giants, andI'm the best football receiver there is. Coach told me we're goingto go undefeated this year as long as I'm the receiver. Coach saysI'm the best receiver ever, and the Mackster told me that too, andhe's the best quarterback ever. So, come out and watch us thisnext week. We'll be there ... hope to see you there too!"

"My name is Angelina Faye Cash. My grandparents werefamous country singers. My daddy is their son, and he and mymom operate the royalties from some of their enterprises. Ihope to be a singer someday, as I'm taking voice lessons and canalready play the piano and violin. When I get to middle school,I'll be in the band. I can hardly wait for that to happen."

"Aaron Cartwright. My parents operate the Drury Inn Suiteshere in Napa. I like to spend some of my Saturdays there withmy dad. I get free food at breakfast and dinner. I also like to playhide and seek there with my older sister. Dad allows us to play ifwe don't get too disruptive. Also, I would like to say I really likethis new school. I like the way the lights automatically come onwhen I walk into the rooms and restrooms. That's really cool!"

"Amy Colgate here. My dad runs the plant that makeseverybody have a beautiful and healthy smile. I live across thestreet from Georgia Jean. Hello again, Georgia. I'm glad we'rein the same class together. This year is going to be the best!This weekend, our family will see some good ole 49er football.If Trevor and Billy realize that there's no I in team, then maybeI'll be able to see them play college ball someday. So when youdo, I'll be there to watch you guys play."

"Beau Beauregard is my name, and riding my go-cart ismy game. I'm a descendent of a famous general of the greatConfederate States. My dad is chief executive officer (CEO)of Beauregard Enterprises, which specializes in governmentcontracts in the greater Napa area. My most favorite thing todo is to ride my go-cart with my neighborhood buds. There's atrack behind my house, and about five of my friends are usuallythere riding until dark or dinnertime. We have a blast!"

"Hi. My name is Nancy Intwissle. I am a foreign exchangestudent. I come from a small farming community in Norway. Iam staying in the United States with my grandparents, and thenI will return to Momma and Poppa at the end of this semester.I'll be home just in time for Christmas, and I will get to see myschool friends and tell them about my stay in this country. I hopeto get acquainted with all of you. Thank you."

"Aye, what's up, Doc? My name is Jeff McCoy. Everyone aroundhere calls me the Nose. I come from a long line of comedians.Always remember that the Nose knows. The Nose sees all, itknows all, and the Nose is all knowing. Got the picture? I hadan uncle that used to say, `I don't get no respect.' He said hiswife is so ugly that once he parked his car and helped his wifeget out. When she got out, a man walking by looked at her andthen turned to him and said, `I'm sorry.' My uncle then turnedto him and said, `Yeah, but she sure can cook.'

"And I have a cousin from my mom's side that makes a lot ofmoney doing a show that has a lot to do about nothing. He's thereal tall one and always has trouble walking and stumbles mostof the time. And I have—"

Ms. Rothchild interrupted, saying, "Thanks, Jeff, that willbe enough. Next student please ... wait. I appreciate all ofthe introductions. We have three other students that will behere starting on Wednesday, as soon as their summer cruisecompletes. We will be introduced to them upon their return.Now, we have one last student to hear from."

"Hello. My name is Blake Sloan ..."

Some Things to Think About

1. Would you like to go to this school?

2. What things do you do over the winter holiday?

3. Do you think this school would have different rules thanother schools?

4. What things do you do with your family during the summer?

5. Which student or students would you like to hang aroundwith the most?

6. Do you think the ten-minute break time should be longer?

7. What would you do during the break time?

8. Do you know where your parents work and what jobs they do?

9. What job do you want to do when you get older?

CHAPTER 2

All aboard the Great RV Tour

A colorful blossom, a red flower, asweet-smelling beauty ... that's my Rose!

Hello again. It's me, Blake. It's been a year, and I'm a fifth-gradernow. About two months ago, my dad bought an RV. He wantedour family to be close together and have some good timesroaming around the world in it. He thought this would do thetrick. He promised that he would let me have some friends overto spend the night in it too. That night finally arrived.

After school, my buds came over. We were excited! Jeffarrived first. He has a really long nose, and I always tease himthat his nose arrives three minutes earlier than the rest of him.That, of course, is an exaggeration, but it makes the point, andbesides, he's a good-natured person and laughs right along withme. That must be why he's one of my best friends.

Shortly after Jeff arrived, Billy Mack strolled up. The Macksterwas really enthused about this adventure. He had never beeninside a real RV before. That's what I like about the Mackster;everything he sees is viewed as though it's completely new to him.This makes me get excited about things too, even though I mayhave seen them before. He helps me see a different view of things,which gives me a greater appreciation of that which I observe.

Finally, Sy arrived in his slow-moving way. We call himSlo-Mo because he moves so slowly. I slithered ahead and thenmotioned for them to follow me. Slo-Mo was last as usual.I brought out the walkie-talkies and issued one to each of us. Iassigned places to sleep, as we all decided we would sleep in thebunk section of the RV. Dad said we couldn't do any cooking, soMom made us sacks of goodies, one for each of us.

We stayed up talking about things that happened at schoolthe past week. Jeff the Nose said that Ross and Lacey were goingsteady. I asked him how he knew that. He laughed and said hehad a nose for things like that. Then Slo-Mo reported he saw theprincipal kiss his teacher. We all reminded him that they aremarried. The Mackster looked at Sy and said, "You really are slow,aren't you!" They turned to me and asked if I had any news.

At first I couldn't think of anything really exciting thathappened. But then I remembered we got a new student in ourclass, and her name is Rose. As I said this, all three of themlooked at me and began asking all kinds of questions.

"I've heard about her!" the Nose exclaimed.

"I hear that she's a looker," added the Mackster.

"I can verify that she is indeed," I said.

"What's her name again?" asked Slo-Mo.

I told them that she came from Hawaii. I related that she hasreally nice, shiny, dark hair and shiny, dark eyes to match.

"Man, you're lucky that you have such a looker in your class,"said the Mackster.

"Not only is she in my class, but she lives just three blocksfrom here," I said.

"No way," said the Nose.

"Oh, yeah ... way," I said.

About that time, Mom opened the back door, leaned out,and said for us to get ready for lights out. She turned off theback porch floodlight and told us good night. Dad added that hewanted our lights out in the RV within thirty minutes.

"Yes, sir," we all chimed back.

At eleven, Dad stuck his head into the RV and reminded usthat it was time for lights out. We crawled into our places, andafter the lights went out, we said good night to my dad.

Well, we continued our conversation for about thirty minuteslonger, and it all centered around Rose. Then Slo-Mo got abrilliant idea. "Let's sneak over to her house," he said.

"No!" We all said at once.

"Come on. Let's do it," Slo-Mo came back with.

After a few more back and forths, we got out of bed, got outof our PJs, and put back on our clothes. As we eased out of theRV very quietly, I asked if everyone had their walkie-talkies, andSlo-Mo slithered back into the RV to obtain his.

About a half a block down the street, I gathered us together.I reminded them to keep their talkies on low volume and keepthem close to their ears when talking over them.

We went a few more blocks, and I pointed to Rose's house.

"That's the one ... I think," I said as we edged a little closer.

We hunkered down between some bushes that were acrossthe street from her house. Some lights were still on, and wecould see movement inside. We were intent on our observingwhen we heard footsteps coming in our direction that couldn'thave been more than twenty feet from us. Our heads turnedtoward one another, and we all put our forefinger to our lips soas to remind each other not to say a word. The footsteps stoppedabout ten feet away. It was my mom and my dad. They talked fora short while and then went on by and then across and downthe street.

"That was a close one," I said after they were out of sight. "Iguess they were out for a late stroll," I told my buds. We huddledand decided to meet in the alley in the back of Rose's house.This we did, with each of us leaving fifteen seconds apart. Oneby one, we gathered again at the designated place, and Slo-Mowas last to arrive.

"Guys, we have a problem," I stated.

The concern was that the fence was too high for us to seeover. Heads together, we planned to scale the fence. I had toexplain to Slo-Mo that to scale the fence meant that we had toclimb over it. Well we did—climb over the fence, that is. Thebackyard was bushy and had three tall trees in it. I must admitit was a little scary looking. I turned my flashlight on and thenquickly back off. I did that so we could orient ourselves to oursurroundings. Each of us took a position and waited.

A short while later, I heard coming from my talkie, "This isthe Nose ... I see movement." We all relayed back through thetalkies and confirmed the same. The Mackster then reportedthat someone was approaching the back sliding door.

"It's Rose," I said.

Rose slid open the back door and said, "Go on, Lady, do yourthing." Then a large, black and white spotted, barking dog camerushing out.

Four boys got a lesson and experienced their first heart attackthat night. But no time for that as we scrambled around the yard,trying frantically to find the back fence. I heard the Nose say hewas wrapped up and being eaten by a snake. I flashed my lightin his direction and saw that he was tangled up in a garden hose,"Not a snake," I firmly stated. I continued toward the fence andwas about halfway over it when I saw my three friends open theback gate, run through it, and into the alley. I felt like an idiotstraddled across the fence.

A man came running out as I dropped my flashlight andbounded down the backside of the fence and onto the hard alleyground. It was easy to see which way the others had run, as I justfollowed the dust to the street. After that, I followed the smellof ... well ... you know, the burning of shoe rubber on asphalt. Itdidn't take me long to catch up with them.

Well, we made it back to the RV safe but not too sound. I hadto listen to them whine about how I almost got them killed. Ireminded them that it was Slo-Mo's big idea to go over there andnot mine. Then the Nose started in on his nearly being eaten."Yeah, by a garden hose," I reminded him. "Would you guyslike some cheese with your whining?" I asked. That got us tolaughing, and finally we nodded and then dosed off to sleep.

The next morning at breakfast, my mom and dad askedus what was going on at about midnight in the RV last night.We looked at each other and said, "What do you mean?" Theyexplained that they heard us talking up a storm. "Oh, well," Isaid, "We thought we heard something outside".

"It must have been a bear," the Mackster blurted.

"Actually, I think it was a raccoon," I said, quickly recoveringand motioning to him when my parents weren't looking.

"Oh, is that all?" my dad said. "I'm glad it wasn't a lion or asea turtle. Well, anyway, I hope you guys had a fun time."

At school on Monday, Rose came up to me, handed mesomething, and said, "I think this belongs to you." I looked atwhat she gave me, and it was a flashlight that had my nameengraved on the side of it. I looked up, and she was looking atme. Our eyes met, and we grinned ... and then we laughed.

After school, I met up with my buds at the usual corner atthe end of the school grounds. I told them that I talked to Rose.With clenched fists in my face, they immediately reminded methat I was not to say anything about our Friday night adventure.I backed away, and as they lowered their fists, I said, "Too late forthat." I then showed them the flashlight that I had dropped whileon our adventure. "She gave it to me this morning," I hurriedlystated. I showed them my name on the side of the flashlight, andthen they understood.

Some Things to Think About

1. Do you have an RV, or do you know someone who does?

2. Have you ever spent the night in an RV or a tent in yourbackyard like these boys did?

3. What does your RV or tent look like?

4. Do you have a favorite experience to tell about? If so, tell orwrite about that favorite experience.