Dogs Don't Tell Jokes (Someday Angeline 2)

The woman next to him set her box down on the counter.

“For the talent show,” said Gary. “I want to be in the talent show.”

“So?”

“So, how do I sign up for it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can you ask somebody?”

Mrs. Walls sighed, then headed to the back of the office. She returned a moment later. Nobody in the office seemed to know—or care, for that matter. All anyone seemed interested in was why Gary wasn’t in class where he belonged.

“All I want to do is sign up for the talent show,” he said aloud as he headed to class. Around him, posters urged him to be in the show and show off his talents. First prize would be a one-hundred-dollar savings bond. Second prize would be a twenty-five-dollar gift certificate at Zulu’s Records and Tapes. And third prize would be two free sundaes at Maurecia’s Ice Cream Parlor.

But none of the posters said where or how to sign up for it.

DON’T BE COOL!

MAKE A FOOL

OUT OF YOURSELF

IN THE TALENT SHOW!

“I know I can do that,” he said.

He learned the talent show would be on November 16. He couldn’t remember today’s date, but he knew the month was October. He figured he had about a month to get ready.

“It’ll probably take me that long just to sign up for the stupid thing,” he grumbled.

Mrs. Carlisle glanced at him but didn’t say anything when he walked in late. The date was on the board: Tuesday, October 23. He figured it out at the desk. At first he didn’t know if October had thirty or thirty-one days, but then he remembered Halloween was October 31. The talent show would be on a Friday. He had exactly three weeks and three days.

He spoke to Mrs. Carlisle after class. “Do you know where you’re supposed to sign up for the talent show?”

Mrs. Carlisle didn’t seem to understand the question. “The show is for students, not teachers,” she said.

“I know. I want to be in the show. Do you know who I’m supposed to tell? I’m not supposed to just walk up on stage without telling anyone, am I?”

“I wouldn’t think so,” said Mrs. Carlisle, but she didn’t know whom he was supposed to tell.

“So’d you hear?” he asked. “They’re not making pencils any longer.”

“Pardon?”

“They’re long enough already!”

Gary sat at his desk in math, looking at Miss Langley but not really listening. It was beginning to feel like a bad dream—one where he just wanted to do something simple, like open his locker, but for some reason could never get it done.

He decided he’d wait until fifth period, gym, and talk to Joe Reed. Joe would know.

“Gary,” said Miss Langley as Gary was leaving math class. “The homework assignment is on the board.”

He glanced at the board. He knew it was there. He’d already written it down. She didn’t have to keep telling him every single day.

“What does she think I am—stupid?”

Outside at recess, he decided he couldn’t wait until fifth period. What if it was too late? What if Joe was absent?