The School Story

Natalie’s love for reading and writing has always been a part of her. When she was really young, she loved being read stories by her mom and dad. Mom would read in a calm, soothing voice that made Natalie feel “warm and safe” (9). Dad would act out the character’s voices, make sound effects, and add words to liven the story. Natalie loved both her parents’ reading styles. She couldn’t get enough of them. At four, once she’d learned her ABCs, she asked her parents to point to the words on the page when they read them so she could learn to read them too. Eventually, she could read independently. However, she still loved being read bedtime stories by her parents. 

After her father’s death when Natalie was in second grade, Natalie hid some of the bedtime story books because she didn’t like how her mother read them. Sometimes she would revisit these books and could hear her dad’s voice when she read them to herself. 

Eventually she began to make up her own stories. At first she’d imitate the stories she read, writing similar ones or acting them out with her toys. In fourth grade, she began to take writing more seriously. She and her mom moved into a loft, and Natalie set up a writing space for herself in one corner. She used her dad’s old office chair and computer. It made her feel connected to him.

In the school library, Zoe asks Natalie what she plans to do once the book is finished. Natalie wants to print copies for Zoe and a few other people. Zoe suggests Natalie try to publish it, mentioning Natalie’s mother’s job at a publishing company. Natalie thinks the idea is absurd and says Zoe knows nothing about publishing. The girls have a healthy banter until the librarian asks them to quiet down. 

Natalie and Zoe have been best friends since kindergarten. They are very different kinds of people, but they have a great dynamic and care about each other a lot. 

Outside, Zoe says she knows how to get Natalie’s book published, but she doesn’t reveal her plan yet. She tells Natalie to research a man named Ted Geisel. The girls tease each other for a while before parting ways. Zoe catches a taxi home, and Natalie heads to the bus station to ride the bus to her mother’s office building. Before parting, Zoe again tells Natalie to research Ted Geisel.

Natalie has lived in or near New York City all her life. She is very adept at city life. She takes a taxi to school in the morning, and after school she walks several blocks to a bus stop to ride to midtown, where her mother’s office building stands. She has been taught from a young age how to navigate the city by herself and how to keep herself safe. Natalie’s mother also refreshes her on safety procedures weekly because she worries about Natalie. 

Natalie recalls several times when she encountered strange people in the city, like a lady who yelled at her backpack and a man Natalie thought was following her at first. Natalie stays vigilant at all times.

Natalie arrives at her mother’s office and takes the elevator to the 14th floor. Her mother’s coworkers know who she is and allow her into the work area. Natalie used to think a publisher’s office would be full of people assembling books and painting cover art, but it’s much more mundane than she imagined. She finds her mother’s office and the two hug. On her mom’s desk is a photo of Natalie, her mom, and her dad on a sailboat. Natalie was too young to remember the boat trip, but she wishes she did. Natalie and her mom share some snacks. Natalie goes to the vacant office next door and uses the computer to research Ted Geisel. She opens the Encarta encyclopedia on the computer and finds an entry for Theodore Geisel.

The next day, Natalie tells Zoe that she knows Ted Geisel is the real name of Dr. Seuss. Zoe wants Natalie to use a pseudonym to send her book to her mother’s company. Zoe thinks that it will remove Natalie’s mom’s bias for or against the work. Natalie is unsure about the plan. She hates lying and views this plan as a form of lying. Zoe on the other hand is fine with telling small lies as long as she keeps what she says mostly true. 

Zoe argues that authors use pseudonyms all the time and that doesn’t make them liars to their millions of readers. Natalie points out that Ted Geisel’s mother probably knew he was Dr. Seuss. Zoe thinks this is a fair point, but she adds that Ted’s mother wasn’t also his editor. She speculates that Ted’s mother would have dismissed his work as silly art and rhymes if she were his editor. 

Zoe gives Natalie her first draft of the book back and compliments the quality. Then she shifts her focus to their science experiment, allowing Natalie time to consider Zoe’s suggestion. 

Natalie comes up with the name “Cassandra Day” for her pseudonym. Zoe thinks this is a great name for an author and looks forward to putting their plan into action.

Natalie gets swept up in Zoe’s excitement until the bus ride to her mother’s building on Friday. She begins to consider the logistics of their plan and wonders whether her book is actually good enough to be published. 

At her mother’s office, Natalie observes stacks of unopened envelopes full of potential books. Some of the mail has sat unopened for six months. Natalie doesn’t believe she has a chance to get published with all these authors from around the country sending in their work. 

Natalie uses the phone in the vacant office to call Zoe. She tells Zoe that the plan is stupid, no one will read the book, and even if they manage to get Natalie published, there are better books out there. Zoe demands to speak to Cassandra Day instead. She plays up the bit, acting like she’ll call the police on the girl who is impersonating the great Cassandra Day. 

Natalie reluctantly plays along. She changes her voice and pretends to be Cassandra Day. Zoe tells Cassandra not to listen to “that deadbeat Natalie” (33). Zoe tells Cassandra that she’s a great writer and her grandchildren will read her works one day. Zoe asks Cassandra to trust her and to stay with her on their journey to getting published. Natalie, as Cassandra, agrees that they’re a team but remarks on Zoe’s annoying persistence. Zoe tells Cassandra to do some writing this weekend. Natalie, as Cassandra, agrees to work on finishing the book. Zoe tells Cassandra that she’s proud of her. 

Natalie thanks Zoe and hangs up the phone.