The classroom buzzed with chatter. Leo sat at his desk, waiting.
"Please take out your project papers," Ms. Rivera announced. Leo jumped. His chair tipped backward — CRASH!
His pencil case skidded across the floor. Pencils rolled everywhere.
Leo grabbed duct tape and wrapped his volcano instead of gluing. Tape flossed into the air like a crazy spiderweb.
"My turn to decorate!" he announced. He smeared bright green paint everywhere.
Ms. Rivera knelt and started cleaning. She wiped the paint, restacked his towers, re-glued the one he'd kicked over.
After everyone left, Leo peeked back into the classroom. Ms. Rivera was still there.
She was correcting every mistake on his VOLCANO PROJECT board. A half-empty coffee cup sat next to her.
She sighed and wiped her forehead. Leo's chest tightened.
Leo walked to her desk. He set down a fresh piece of paper and a brand-new pack of glue sticks.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't see you doing all that." Ms. Rivera smiled.
The next day, Leo sat with his hands folded on his desk. When Ms. Rivera said it, he took out his papers before anyone else.
