Earthling Ambassador (Space Brigade 1)

"Nicola!" Mr. Nix's hairy eyebrows leaped up and down like trampolining beetles. "I assume you're wondering if you have my permission to leave in the middle of a school day and attend this, this--special mission."

Actually, Nicola hadn't been wondering that at all.

"Well, you do have my permission," continued Mr. Nix unhappily. "I have a note here from the prime minister. Apparently all the world leaders are extremely interested in the success of this mission. It must be something quite serious. So you have my permission for the . . . ah . . . mission."

"Permission for the mission. Ha ha! That rhymes, sir!" cried out a boy from fifth grade.

"I'm quite aware of that, Finch!" said Mr. Nix. "Well, the prime minister will also be in touch with your parents to let them know you've been chosen for this . . . ah, task. Good luck, Nicola. Let's hope you do well.Try not to worry too much about missing out on Mrs. Zukker's math test."

"I'll try." Nicola could hear Katie trying not to giggle.

There was a loud crackle and a hollow voice boomed across the school yard. "Make way! Make way! Make way for the Earthling Ambassador!"

Nicola looked up and saw Georgio speaking into a gigantic megaphone. He was standing next to a huge helicopter, which was unlike any helicopter Nicola had ever seen. Instead of being bubble-shaped, the passenger part was like a long tall cylinder, presumably designed especially for Georgio's height.The helicopter was bright yellow with red polka dots and on the back a neon sign flashed: EArthlInG AMBASSADOR ABOARD.

Katie patted Nicola on the shoulder. "You can do it," she whispered. "Have fun."

Tyler appeared at her side. "You're going to be great!" he said generously. "You're the best person for the job--and that's a really nice, umm, skirt!" (Tyler was smart, but strangely, he could never tell the difference between a skirt and a dress.)

The crowd of students and teachers parted to clear a path leading straight to Georgio and the helicopter. Nervously, Nicola began to walk to it.The school band struck up an out-of-tune tune.

"Good luck, Nicola!" called out her friends and the nice teachers, giving her thumbs-up signals.

"Oh, doesn't she look pretty!" she heard a girl say. "She doesn't normally look that pretty!"

"Missy! You come back here right now!" It was Mrs. Zucchini, trying desperately to push her way through the crowd. Her hair had fallen down around her face and her eyes were bulging.

A policeman appeared and clapped a hand firmly over Mrs. Zucchini's mouth so that she made strange gargling sounds. "Mishie! Shtop it!"

"Madam! Nothing must interfere with this mission!" said the policeman. "It's a matter of global security."

Global security? Now Nicola was feeling even more nervous.

"Hey, Nic!" It was her older brother, Sean. He was bouncing up and down on his toes, looking excited and envious. "How'd you manage to get picked for the mission? Did you cheat? Did you use my mental telepathy trick? Why'd they pick a girl, anyway? Why are you wearing that stupid dress? You don't look like a spy at all! Do you want me to go? Just tell 'em you're too scared and you want your brother to go instead."

Nicola stopped to talk to him. "I'm not a spy and I don't want you to take my place! The prime minister is going to explain to Mom and Dad where I'm going, so they shouldn't be worried."

"Yeah, right.They'll go bananas," said Sean.

"Oh, and you'll have to take my turn loading the dishwasher tonight," said Nicola. "Sorry."

Sean ignored that. "I'd better give you some advice because you're going to mess this up so badly. Okay, so if someone tries to, like, shoot you, just avoid the bullet by leaning over backward like this--" He leaned back like an action hero in a blockbuster movie.

"Yeah, thanks, Sean.Tell Mom I said thank you for putting that butterfly clip in my hair!" said Nicola as she moved away, leaving Sean demonstrating moves from his kung fu for beginners class.

"Nic! Ask them if they need a kung fu expert to come with you!"

Nicola ignored him and kept on walking. She noticed Greta in the crowd, gesturing grandly as she talked to a woman who was writing something furiously in a notebook.

Suddenly a jostling crowd of reporters surrounded Nicola, waving microphones in her face.There were television cameras and bright lights that made her blink.

"Nicola! How do you feel about being the Earthling Ambassador?"

"I feel very . . ." began Nicola.

"Do you feel confident you'll succeed in your mission?"

"Well, I don't actually know what the mission--"