Class President (Marvin Redpost 5)

Marvin didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to disobey the president. But he had been standing before the president came.

“This is Mrs. North,” said Mr. McCabe. Mr. McCabe wore a long-sleeve shirt. He had a hole over his pink and bony elbow.

“I’ve heard wonderful things about you,” the president said. He shook Mrs. North’s hand.

Marvin couldn’t believe that his teacher was really shaking the president’s hand.

“Thank you,” said Mrs. North. “I’ve heard—I mean—we are all delighted you are here.”

The president turned and looked at Marvin. “Those are big numbers,” he said.

Marvin didn’t know what to say.

“Did you add those by yourself?”

“It’s not finished,” said Marvin.

The president smiled. “Well, go ahead, finish.”

Marvin took a breath and exhaled. He looked back at the problem on the board. He’d lost his place. He had to start back at the beginning and add the numbers in his head.

He finished the problem.

The president looked it over. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Um …” Marvin’s brain had turned off again, but then it came back on. “Marvin. Marvin Redpost.”

“Good job, Marvin,” said the president. He held out his hand.

Marvin shook hands with the president.

6

Marvin returned to his desk.

“Thank you for letting me come and interrupt your class,” the president said. “I won’t stay too long. I don’t want you to miss recess.” He smiled.

“We don’t care!” shouted Stuart. “Stay as long as you want.”

Mrs. North gave The Look to Stuart.

“Mrs. North said we’ll get recess after you go away,” said Nick.

Mrs. North gave The Look to Nick, too. Then she said, “We understand you are very busy, Mr. President. We appreciate any—”

There was a jar filled with marbles on Mrs. North’s desk. As Mrs. North spoke, her hand swept across her desk and knocked the marble jar over. The marbles spilled out, rolled off the desk, and bounced onto the floor.

The children in the front row scrambled to pick up the rolling marbles.

The president helped, too.

Mrs. North’s face was as red as the post in front of Marvin’s house.

The children put the marbles back in the jar.

“I am so sorry,” said Mrs. North.

The president dropped two marbles into the jar, plop, plop, and said, “No problem.”