Joseph Anderson Donetti looked around the classroom. Nope. No missionary yet. Pastor Chuck had promised last week that they would have a special guest today. A real missionary. Joseph Anderson Donetti had heard about missionaries, of course, but he had never actually seen a real missionary before.
“Hold still!” Mrs. Pastor Chuck said. “Your beard will be all lopsided!”
Trevor pulled the sheet down as far as his nose so he could see Mom. “I don’t want to watch a baby,” he muttered crossly. “It’s one of the last days of my summer vacation!”
“Then get your clothes on! I’ll make you a sandwich you can eat in the car for breakfast. And don’t wear shorts!” she reminded him. “Wear long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt, and a vest. And gloves. The ice rink is cold as winter even though it’s summer outside!”
Joseph Anderson Donetti frowned at the news. “I thought Mrs. Randall would get well fast!” he exclaimed. “We’ve been helping her a lot!”
Hannah Maria Estevez swung slowly back and forth, back and forth on the long rope swing that Papa had made for her in the front yard. It was her favorite hot-summer-afternoon thing to do.
Trevor Paul Monroe listened to Joseph’s excited voice on the phone. “Do you think you can come?” Joseph asked. “We’ll have so much fun! G.M. will let us make a picnic supper and everything! Don’t you think it will be fun?”
MacKenzie Isabelle Evans landed on G.M.’s back porch with a thud. She banged on the kitchen door with her fist. “Come in quickly!” G.M. called from the sink. “I can’t afford to have you knock a hole in my door!”
Trevor Paul Monroe raised his hand high. He wiggled it in the air. He sure hoped Pastor Chuck would call on him first. He didn’t know the answers to lots of questions, but he knew the answer to this one. At least one of the answers.
Joseph grabbed the cooler that was setting on the kitchen counter. He didn’t want to go without lunch! He dashed out the back door and slammed it.
