On the second day of July, in the middle of the mitten,In the heat of the day, he was sittin’.Just enjoying the sun, just like anyone.For summer is for fun, isn’t that how it’s done?

The Log Report,

Of Course!

By: Jennifer Slack

But Horton, he heard a small soundAnd he turned and he frowned.It couldn’t, it couldn’t be true.There was a voice from the water so blue,But there couldn’t be anyone there, he swears.

Are those teachers he sees? What can this be?Are they singing with glee or cheering “WHOOPEE”? Are they having a summer jubilee? No, it’s a big writing spree!

Those teachers were all gathered togetherLike they’ve known on another simply forever,Talking about kids, kids, kids!How have they not lost their lids or ran and hid?

But Horton, he wanted to hear more,So he asked, he implored,“What happened today?Did you get to play? What did you say?Is it like a regular school day?”

“Zizzer-zazzer-zuz!” yuzzed a voice. ‘Twas a blonde kangarooWho spoke as if on cue! A story, we’re sure, would ensue.She began with a trill, with a voice like a quill.For writing into the day, we will go back in the

day.If you could speak to the old you, what would

you say?

Then a Who with a gruff, “Humpf, humpf, humpf!”

Got up and said, “I’ll do you one finer, I’ll tell you yester-yesterday’s sum!”

He was creatively witty, that Who. He presented our log report so authentically,

too!He showed us a log cut so precisely, so fineWith of all their names all aligned on the pine; (He even had mine!)

“Goodness!” Horton zillowed with shock

on his face.“How do you all keep up at this pace?Surely, by now, I would be lost in space.”

But from there, he liss-listened to another Who-girl,And when she spoke, her 1st grade teacher persona unfurled.Her lesson made them chatter like squirrels And made them want to give informational writing a whirl.

They learned about that cheery theory of inquiryTricia used her tiger impressions, all snarly and

sneary.They explored all kinds of animals – not one was

dull!Cheetahs, spiders, penguins, and tigers (Uh oh! Did I hear that they are quite slutty?)Oh boy, all day were they nutty!

Then there was lunch! Oh, what a crazy bunch!All Horton could hear was a crunch-crunch-crunchAnd the clickity-clack of the keys like that.They were busy, busy as they chomp-chomped on their munch.

Once they zipped back, a new group of Who’s were on track.

Oh, Yeah! They were ready to argue, Ready to spew a queue of different views!

They made claims and aims that came with a name, Not one was even remotely the same. They read about a dog and a frog that had a sad epilogue.And those pennies? We just have way too many!So, we wonder, can people change? It seems kind of strange that people can re-arrange

without feeling deranged.So, so what?Now our argumentative stuff we can strut.

Then, so he heard, that the whole group had parted! That’s right! They parted and started their writing uncharted!There was one club, a club, so he heard, A club that he heard from a bird’s third word.This club, he was told, had a secret hub, A hub they had dubbed for their own secret club.

And they shared and they shared till their sharer was sore. But they listened and listened and listened some moreUntil they thought they just couldn’t share anymore.

But time brought them back to the room they call home

Because, for right now, this room is their own.They wrapped up the day with kind words and good

wishes,Not yet wanting home with kid’s squishes and dishes.

They wanted to stay, not go away,They wanted to stay all day and play,But tomorrow they’ll come back,Ready to give writing a crackAnd they’ll do it with a smile, And write for a mileBecause they know it will all be worth their while.