Stella and her classmates arrive at their school. Riverside School has 35 students from first grade to 11th grade. Mrs. Grayson teaches all the students together in one room. A stove warms the room on chilly days. Before Mrs. Grayson begins this day, she tells the students to take care to walk together and seek adults’ help. She reminds them that school is a safe place: “I am always here for you, and you are safe when you’re with me” (44). Then she announces practice for the Christmas pageant, in which everyone will play a role. Stella sees that rehearsal is a good distraction for younger students.

When Mrs. Grayson lifts the lid on the piano, two frogs jump out, surprising her. She suspects the older boys of playing the prank, but it is first grader Claudia Odom who admits to putting the frogs in the piano. She did not intend to scare the teacher, just to provide the frogs with “exercise.”

After the morning music session, Mrs. Grayson assigns writing projects due at the day’s conclusion. Stella’s age group will write opinion pieces of one to two pages. Mrs. Grayson recommends that Stella write about what she saw the night before.