The name game.

My mother was walking me to my new school. I was glad. It was my first day, and I was nervous. Frowning, I tried to remember the name of it. Cu-Cu-Cucumber School. That was not it. No one would name a school after a vegetable.

"Cumberland School," Mother read from a sign.

"Cumberland," I whispered as we entered through the big doors.

We walked down a long hallway and stopped at the last room on the left. Mother looked inside. "Mrs. Berryhill?" she asked.

"Yes?" a voice answered.

Mother gave me a little push, and I stepped into my new classroom. My teacher was the only person inside. I tried to smile.

"Lindsey?" my teacher asked. She walked to her desk and picked up a piece of paper. "Lindsey Ericson?" I nodded.

"I am delighted to have you in my class," she said. "Right now the children are outside at recess. You can join them. I will introduce you when everyone's back inside."

I nodded again and ducked back into the hall. Mother was waiting for me.

"Did you meet your teacher?" she asked.

"Yes," I said. "Mrs.... Mrs.... Oh, no. I cannot remember her name!"

"Berryhill," Mother said softly. "Keep saying it over and over. That is the best way to remember it."

"Berryhill, Berryhill," I repeated.

I kissed my mother good-bye. Then I went through the door and down the steps to the playground. "Berryhill," I whispered. Outside, three girls were bouncing a ball back and forth in time to a poem.

"Ber-ry-hill," I whispered again. Stepping closer, I listened to the poem.

Three little monkeys climbed up a tree.

"Yuck!" cried the baby. "I just ate a bee!"

"Poor little baby," the other monkeys said.

"You may eat some honey instead."

"Ber-ry-hill," I muttered, hoping the girls would ask me to play.

"Hi," said one of the girls. 'You must be new. I am Angie, and this is Becky and Sarah. I hope you did not get Mrs. Pillette. She is hard."

I shook my head. "I got Mrs...." I bit my lip. "Mrs. Berrypill."

"Berrypill?" they shrieked. "It is Mrs. Berryhill." They all laughed. I stared at the ground. How could I have said something so silly?

"We have her, too," said Angie. "Her name is easy to remember. Just think of a hill covered with blueberries. A berry hill."

"Strawberries are better," said one of the other girls. Was her name Sandy? Or Susie? I had already forgotten.

"We have cranberries at Thanksgiving," I said, still trying to think of the girl's name.

"I like cherries," said the girl holding the ball.

"Cherries are not berries!" Angie groaned.

The door to the school opened and our teacher stepped outside. "Look," I said, pointing, "There is Mrs. Cherryhill."

"No!" they shouted. "Not cherry. Berry!"

"Oh," I said softly. I would never get her name right.

Mrs. Berryhill clapped her hands. "Time to come in," she called.

We all lined up and walked into our room. As soon as we sat down, the teacher called on me. "Lindsey?" she said.

I stood up. "Yes, Mrs.... Mrs...." "I closed my eyes. A hill covered with ... cherries ? No, berries! "Mrs. Berryhill!" "Yea!" cheered the three girls.

"It looks like you have already made new friends," said the teacher.

I grinned. Now all I had to do was remember their names!