Addie and the King of Hearts by Gail Rock Page A

we still always seemed to be arguing about something, so I didn’t see how anyone could say I liked him.
    I unfolded the paper airplane and read it to myself, then burst out laughing.
    â€œOK, attention, everybody!” I shouted, running to the front of the classroom. “Here’s Billy Wild’s New Year’s resolution!”
    â€œIt is not!” he shouted again.
    Everyone was laughing, and I climbed up on top of the teacher’s desk to read it aloud.
    â€œDated January 1, 1949,” I read. “I, Billy Wild, resolve for 1949 to kiss every girl in the seventh-grade class.”
    Everyone screamed with laughter, and Billy’s face got bright red.
    â€œIt’s not mine!” he shouted.
    â€œThat’s one resolution you’ll never keep!” I shouted, and folded the airplane, then shot it back in his direction.
    Suddenly everyone stopped laughing and the room fell quiet. I couldn’t imagine what was happening; and then I realized that they were all looking at something behind me. I turned.
    There standing just inside the door was a tall, blond, handsome, young man. For a moment I thought I must have seen him in the movies; then I realized that he looked a bit like Alan Ladd. Of course he had to be the new teacher. And he had found me standing on his desk, flying paper airplanes!
    I stood there frozen. Miss Collins would have dragged me to the principal’s office. He just smiled. He had a wonderful smile and crinkly blue eyes. I thought he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. I suddenly realized I was still standing on top of his desk.
    â€œMay I help you down?” he said to me.
    He extended his hand and helped me down as the class snickered behind me. I was numb with embarrassment, both at being found on top of his desk and at the way he looked. He was so attractive that I felt I should look away.
    â€œWon’t you have a seat?” he said, and I sheepishly went back to my desk. I knew I should say something to him, but I was tongue-tied. That was not at all like me.
    â€œMy name is Douglas Davenport,” he said to the class, “and I’m your new teacher.” He turned to the board and wrote his name there.
    Carla Mae, who sat behind me, leaned forward and whispered to me.
    â€œIs he gorgeous? I don’t believe it!”
    I didn’t say anything. I was still speechless.
    Tanya leaned over to join in the conversation from her desk across the aisle.
    â€œHe is an absolute doll!” she said.
    Mr. Davenport turned back to the class and noticed a watercolor hanging on the wall near his desk.
    â€œDid someone in the class do this painting?” he asked.
    I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
    Carla Mae spoke up behind me.
    â€œAddie Mills did it,” she said, pointing to me. “She’s the best artist in the class.”
    â€œOh, the paper airplane pilot,” Mr. Davenport said, smiling at me again.
    Everyone laughed, and my face burned.
    He was still smiling at me.
    â€œWell, Addie,” he said. “I can tell you’re very talented. Studying art is one of my hobbies. I’ll have to talk to you more about that.”
    Carla Mae swooned behind me and whispered, “You lucky dog!”
    I just sat there staring at Mr. Davenport and feeling strange.
    In the next few weeks we all got to know Mr. Davenport better, and it was soon clear that he was to be one of the most popular teachers our class had ever had.
    All the girls agreed that he was an absolute dish, and though the boys thought we were ridiculous for gushing about him, they liked him a lot, too. We discovered that he was only twenty-four years old, that he drove a tan Chevrolet convertible coupe with white sidewall tires, and that he wore neat, tweedy suits and incredible argyle socks, and smoked a pipe. We spent hours discussing these little details about him, and I collected this information more avidly than anyone, though I never let