Karen returns to the classroom, and the class does the spelling test scheduled for that morning. Jessica gives the spelling words because she always aces the test. The class completes the test by 9:30am, and a substitute still hasn’t arrived. Karen then reveals that she did not tell anyone about the missing substitute and says that they should run the class themselves. Kids react by “giggling nervously,” and Bastian chants “KIDS RULE!” Jessica (who wants to be a Supreme Court judge one day) worriedly argues that it is illegal for them to lead their own class. Rachel writes out a note for Missy to read to the class, stating that she thinks Mr. Fabiano would want them to talk about it and decide together whether to tell the school authorities that no teacher is present. The class votes, and only Jessica votes in favor.

The class then start their daily flashdrafts (a spontaneous writing exercise). When Rachel thinks about what to write, she remembers how Tommy Feathers used to write a story for her every day. He gave her dozens of stories, and “every day she threw them away” (41). She tries to write without thinking of Tommy again.