Sophie the Awesome Read Online Free Page B

with a wide, stuffed mouth and even wider eyes. She had never, ever had the principal speak to her before. But she had seen him speak to other kids (like Toby and Archie) a lot. So she knew that when he asked you a question, you’d better answer.
    But how was she going to answer him with twenty-three French fries in her mouth?
    She figured the best thing to do was just shake her head.
    “I didn’t think so,” said Principal Tate. “And I hope that I also don’t need to remind you of the
consequences
of poor manners.”
    Consequences! That was not one of Sophie’s favorite words.
    “Such as sitting out recess?” the principal went on. He raised one eyebrow, then the other.
    How did he do that? And how was Sophie going to get rid of her French fries, she wondered. Chew? No. Spit? She wished.
    She shook her head again and felt warm drool run down her chin.
    “I know you wouldn’t like that,” said the principal. “And neither would I. That’s why I suggest you carefully remove those extra French fries from your mouth. And from now on, please eat them as they should be eaten: one at a time.”
    This time Sophie nodded. And Principal Tate nodded back.
    “Very good, Miss Miller,” he said. “Enjoy your lunch.”
    S ophie did not enjoy her lunch, of course. She did not enjoy everyone snickering at her. And she did not enjoy staring at her pile of spit-covered fries.
    She was glad when lunch was over and it was time for recess. But still, she wasn’t awesome yet. And it was hard to be
very
glad without that.
    “Come on,” said Kate as they hurried outside. “Let’s play our game.”
    For two weeks, they had been playing the same recess game every day: International Superspy and Wild-Animal Emergency Vet.
    Sophie always looked forward to it. Kate was the vet, specializing in big cats and dolphins. And Sophie was the spy, on a tough, top secret case.
    But not today, she decided.
    “I can’t play. I need to think,” she told Kate.
    “Think? About what?” asked Kate.
    Sophie looked at her. “About how to be awesome!”
    “Oh, right,” said Kate. She twisted her mouth to the side and looked thoughtful. “Hey! How about Sophie the Big Mouth? Get it?” She laughed. “French fries. Big mouth.”
    “Very funny.” Sophie sighed. “But I could have set a new French fry record,” she added. “Besides, Sophie the Awesome is the perfect name for me. I know it! I just have to find the right thing to be awesome at. Something that won’t get me in any more trouble.”
    She looked around the yard as she talked. At the basketball court. And the jump-rope corner. And the jungle gym.
    “That’s it!” Sophie said. The jungle gym! There were a million ways to be awesome there! She took off, with Kate right behind her.
    The school’s jungle gym was brand new that year. It had a straight slide and a twisty one. It had a rope and a rock wall and a regular ladder toclimb up. It had a corkscrew thing to twirl down, and a real fire pole. Plus monkey bars to swing across. And not one, but two forts on stilts on either side.
    The jungle gym was something Sophie was very good at. And it was something she could be awesome at if she tried!
    She jumped up and grabbed the monkey bars. After a few tries, she swung herself up and happily looked down from the top. Awesome!
    “Hey, over here!” she called to the rest of the playground. “Look how high I am! Isn’t it awesome? Check it out!”
    But nobody heard her. The basketball players were too busy. And the jump-ropers were too loud.
    “Check what out?”
    Sophie turned to see Kate right beside her.
    “How did you get up here?” Sophie asked.
    “I followed you,” said Kate.
    Sophie sighed. “You’re not supposed to follow me. I’m trying to be awesome,” she said.
    “Oh,” said Kate. Then she looked around. “You might have to try a little harder. This is pretty easy.”
    “Oh,” Sophie said. She was pretty sure that Kate was right.
    She looked around the