“We can make it really funny,” I said. “Instead of weapons, the space creatures can throw pies at each other.”
“They can squirt each other with water from hoses,” said Lynda.
“This panel will not be one bit boring!” exclaimed Jackie.
“And it will not show any weapons,” said Bobby. “You cannot get hurt with an apple pie.”
“But you could get full if you ate one!” replied Andrew. (He thought this was another very funny joke.)
“Come on,” said Eric. “We better get to work.”
We hurried to the construction site. We had just enough time to paint the panel white before it started to get dark outside.
We returned on Friday after school, on Saturday morning, and again on Saturday after lunch. We worked together in one big group.
Making a comic strip is hard work. But we all agreed it was worth it. The judging was set for three o’clock that Saturday. At two-thirty, our panel was wet. But it was ready.
The Contest
We had just enough time to run home, change our clothes, and get back to the site for the judging.
A big crowd was already waiting when we arrived. My friends and I stood by our panel. We waved to our families, who were nearby. A man stepped onto a platform.
“Welcome, everyone,” he said. “I am Jack Murphy, the construction site foreman. Behind me are the judges of today’s contest.”
He introduced our three construction site friends, Sally, Bill, and Joe.
“I would like to begin by thanking all of you who took part in this program,” said Mr. Murphy. “When my workers and I leave your neighborhood, we hope you will be happy with the buildings we leave behind. In the meantime, things can get pretty messy. The beautiful panels you have contributed will be much nicer to look at over the next few months than our dirt, cement, and machines. And now it is time to begin.”
Sally, Bill, and Joe walked from panel to panel. They took their time studying each one. On one panel were colorful flowers and trees. Another showed a line of children holding hands with a rainbow in the sky. Still another had a blue lake with sailboats on it.
When the judges reached our panel, they began to smile. Then they began to laugh. Our Gorgones and Tryops were funny. In the first scene they were waving their arms and arguing. Then they were throwing pies and spraying water at each other. In the last scene, they were shaking hands and clowning around.
There were several more panels for the judges to look at. By the time they returned to the platform, my friends and I were so nervous that we could hardly keep still.
It took a little while for the judges to make their decision. Finally, Mr. Murphy came back to announce the winners. There were three categories for each age group. He awarded prizes in the first and second categories. We did not win anything in either of those. I was beginning to wonder if we would win anything at all.
“And now for our third category,” said Mr. Murphy. “In our under ten age group, the first place award for the Funniest Panel goes to number six, The Gorgones and The Tryops.”
Yippee! My friends and I jumped up and down so much that the judges could not even shake our hands. Sally hung the blue ribbon on our panel and waved to us instead. The ribbon looked gigundoly beautiful there.
I was happy our work would be on display for as long as the construction was going on.
When the judging was over, my friends and I walked home with our families.
“Seth and I are very proud of you,” Mommy said to Andrew and me. “It could not have been easy for you and your friends to work on one panel together. But you found a way to work out your differences peacefully. Otherwise the panel could never have been as good as it is.”
I knew we had not worked out our differences peacefully at first. But we had learned. That is the important thing.
When we reached our block we played a game of softball. Then Mr. and Mrs. Barton brought cookies outside for us. Mommy and Seth brought us lemonade. And all of us — old friends and new — had a party to celebrate winning first prize for the funniest panel in town.
About the Author
ANN M. MARTIN is the acclaimed and bestselling author of a number of novels and series, including Belle Teal, A Corner of the Universe (a Newbery Honor book), A Dog’s Life, Here Today, P.S. Longer Letter Later (written with Paula Danziger), the Family Tree series, the Doll People series (written with Laura Godwin), the Main Street series, and the generation-defining series The Baby-sitters Club. She lives in New York.
Copyright © 1995 by Ann M. Martin
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First edition, 1995
e-ISBN 978-1-338-05787-4
Ann M. Martin, Karen's Toys
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