"What's your new invention, Iggy?" asked Molly.
"It's something to help people find their glasses," I explained.
"Mrs. Romano will love it!" said Molly.
"There's just one thing," I went on.
"What?" asked Molly as we got in line for the bumpy slide on the playground.
The slide was new, and everyone at our school was really excited about it.
They were so excited, in fact, that the line was always very long.
It was hard to wait for your turn sometimes.
"I need to borrow your flower for my invention," I told Molly.
She put her hand up to her headband.
"My beautiful pink flower?"
"I promise I'll give it back," I said.
"I just want to see if my idea works."
"I have to think about it," said Molly.
"How long do you need to think?" I asked.
"I have to think about that too," said Molly.
I shook my head.
She had to think about thinking about it?
Just then a boy behind us bumped into Molly, and her flower fell off again.
"No pushing in line!" called Mr. Dalmati, the recess helper.
Molly picked up her flower.
"I'm sorry," said the boy. "I didn't mean to push.
I'm just really excited about going down the bumpy slide."
By the end of recess, Molly and I had gone down the slide only once.
"I like the slide," I said, "but I miss running around the playground and playing games."
"I wish we could stand in line and run around at the same time," said Molly.
"Me too," I said.
After recess Mrs. Romano told us she had a surprise.
"Next week a special person is coming to visit our school," she announced.
"His name is Mr. Bright, and he is an inventor."
"I bet he gets lots of bright ideas!" Evan joked.
All of the kids laughed.
"Just like Iggy!" added Molly. "He's an inventor too."
"That's right," said Mrs. Romano, smiling at me.
"But this time I want everyone to be thinking of ideas for inventions.
Mr. Bright will choose the best one to include in his new book, The Kids' Invention Guide."
Jake moaned. "But how do we think up an invention, Mrs. Romano?" he asked.
Mrs. Romano smiled.
"Just look for a way to solve an everyday problem.
Problems are everywhere, right under your nose!"
I leaned forward to whisper to Molly.
"So can I borrow your flower?
I'm going to need it."
Molly turned around.
"I'm still thinking about it, Iggy!"
That afternoon Molly, Jenny, Josh, and I walked home from school together.
The air was warm, and the trees were beginning to turn green.
Jenny was sad.
Sara, her best friend in third grade, was moving away.
"I'm going to miss Sara," said Jenny.
"We wear matching sweaters and matching shoes all the time.
We even have matching glasses."
"Is Sara moving far away?" asked Molly.
"She's only moving ten blocks away," said Jenny.
"But she'll be going to a different school now.
We both cried when we said good-bye."
"You'll be able to visit her," I said.
Jenny nodded. Then I told Jenny and Josh about Mr. Bright's visit.
The kids in Josh's class were writing down their ideas for inventions too.
"I have a great idea for a new invention," I said, looking at Molly.
"If someone will let me borrow her pink flower."
"I've been thinking,"
said Molly as we approached a lady walking a little dog on a leash.
"And I decided—"
Molly never finished her sentence.
Just then Jenny tripped over the dog's leash.
Then Jenny went flying through the air!