Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson

“And what about our field trip to the duck pond? Ms. Bixby said she’d take us on Thursday.”

“And we never got around to finishing our unit on the coral reef.”

“Is there a chance she’ll be back before the year ends?”

“Can’t she just come back for the party at least?”

It was a flurry of questions. Everybody was just shouting them out, nobody bothering to raise their hand. Even with the principal in the room, the class soon dissolved into a muddle, twenty uncertain voices burbling at once. I didn’t raise my hand.

The questions I had, I was sure Principal McNair couldn’t possibly answer. Neither Topher nor Steve raised their hands either.

The principal looked from one face to the next, clearly overwhelmed, reaching out to steady herself against the desk. Then I heard McKenzie ask if she should still bother to bring in cupcakes on Friday.

Next thing I knew, Principal McNair was walking quickly out the door, one hand over her face, just leaving us alone in the room with a blank screen, an unfinished book, and so many questions.

I’m no genius, but there is one thing I do know: I know that Ms. Bixby isn’t coming back this year. I know a thing or two about hospitals and medical procedures and recovery times. I know 35