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Joe never went to Clarence’s birthday party. On Wednesday, Mrs. North announced that Joe would not be returning to class. “His family is having to move again,” she said.
Everybody seemed sad, not just Marvin.
“I was just getting to know him,” said Stuart.
“Joe is cool,” said Travis.
Mrs. North got a big piece of paper and made a giant friendship card for Joe.
At the top it said, To Joe. Thanks for being our friend. Beneath that, everyone wrote a short message and signed his or her name.
Marvin wrote, I hope I get to see you again.
Mrs. North told the class that she would try to get Joe’s address and send the card to him.
Marvin and his friends still played wizzle-fish tag at recess. He noticed that kids from other grades were playing it, too.
He wondered if someday it would be like wall-ball. Nobody knew how wall-ball got started, or why there was a wall in the middle of the playground. Maybe in the future, after Marvin went on to middle school and high school, kids at this school would still be playing wizzle-fish tag. But nobody would know how it got started.
After school, Marvin walked out of the building and slowly down the stairs. It wasn’t fair, he thought. The other kids liked Joe now. Why did he have to leave?
He hoped nothing was wrong. Deep down, he’d never quite believed everything Joe told him. What kind of parents would let their child wear the same clothes every single day? What if Joe didn’t even have parents?
Marvin didn’t want to think about it. He pressed his face against the flagpole. The cold smooth metal felt good as it squashed his nose.
Later that evening, Marvin was in his room when Jacob came in and announced, “There’s a limousine in the driveway!”
Marvin looked out his window and saw a long, black, shiny car. A soldier stepped out of it. Marvin could see medals and ribbons on his chest. The soldier walked around and opened the back door of the limo.
First a man got out, then a woman, and then Joe.
Marvin and his brother raced down the stairs. They reached the door just as the bell rang.
Joe’s eyes were red, like he might have just stopped crying. “Hi, Marvin,” he said. “We have to leave.”
“I know,” said Marvin. “Mrs. North told us. We all wrote you a giant friendship card.”
The rest of Marvin’s family came to the door. “Hi, Joe,” Marvin’s mother said brightly.
“Hi, Nancy,” said Joe. “These are my parents, John and Jane.”
John and Jane said, “How do you do?”
Joe introduced Marvin’s family to them. “That’s Linzy, Jacob, Nancy, and Dennis. And this is Marvin Redpost, my best friend in the whole universe!”
“Joe told us how much he enjoyed himself the other night,” said Joe’s mother. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to thank you before now, but we were in an important meeting with your president.”
“Oh, well, yes, I understand,” said Marvin’s mother.
“Can I look at the limo?” asked Jacob.
“Of course,” said Joe’s father.
While Marvin’s and Joe’s parents continued to talk, Joe led Jacob, Linzy, and Marvin to the limo.
“Cool,” said Jacob as he walked around the front of it. The soldier was standing by the back door. “Can I look inside?” Jacob asked him.
