Lara Bergen - Sophie the Sweetheart

Dear Ms. Moffly,

I love you.

Will you marry me?

Sinseerly, Mr. Bloom

There. Sophie put down her pen. That should work! She grinned. Then she turned to her best friend, Kate Barry. Did she agree?

It was all part of their big plan, a plan theyd just made that afternoon in Sophies room. A plan to get their third-grade teacher, Ms. Moffly, to marry the fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Bloom.

At first, Kate had thought it was a little crazy. Ms. Moffly? she said. And Mr. Bloom? Doesnt he wear jeans? Do you think Ms. Mofflys ever worn those?

Then Sophie explained how much the two had in common: They both teach at Ordinary Elementary School!

And she pointed out how cool it would be if they got married: That means a wedding! And of course that means we get to go!

Oh! That made Kates eyebrows bounce. Then she thought of something, too. Hey! Know what else that means?

What?

It means a honeymoon!

Sophie nodded. Youre right! Do you think wed get to go on that?

Probably not. Kate shrugged. But it might mean no school.

Oh. Well, that was almost as good. It fact, it was pretty great. But not as great as the other thing Sophie hoped this plan would bring: an awesome, perfect name!

Sophie was tired exhausted, even of being Sophie the Most Average Girl in the Whole School. And she was determined to start being Sophie the anything. Anything that made her stand out from the rest of the world.

And now she had the best idea! She had gotten it at the end of school that day. Ms. Moffly had been struggling with a box, and Sophie had run up to help.

Sophie, you are such a sweetheart, Ms. Moffly had told her.

And that was it!

Sophie the Sweetheart! Who could ask for a better name than that? All she had to do was keep being sweet and helpful to Ms. Moffly. And everybody else. It shouldnt be too hard, Sophie figured. Not as hard as some other names had been. She was pretty good at being sweet she just forgot now and then.

Of course, she had run the name by Kate first. Ooh! I like it! Kate said. It makes me think of Cupid! All you need are some wings and a bow and arrow. Then you could make everyone fall in love!

Sophie wasnt going to go that far. But it did give her a great idea. What could be sweeter than helping Ms. Moffly get a sweetheart of her own? Someone like Mr. Bloom to help her carry boxes at home, too!

So do you think its okay? Sophie asked Kate, holding up the letter for them both to read.

Kate nodded. Yeah, it sounds good. Unless you want to use a joke.

Like what? asked Sophie.

Kate raised her eyebrows and grinned. Like, knock-knock.

Whos there?

Howard.

Howard who?

Howard you like to marry me? Kate giggled and slapped Sophies back.

Sophie smiled, but she rolled her eyes, too. Good one. But I dont think so.

Suit yourself. Kate grinned and read the note again. Then a thought seemed to grow inside her. She scratched a freckle on her neck.

What? Sophie asked.

The handwriting, Kate said.

Huh? Sophie studied the page. I tried to be so neat. And look, theres a heart above the i. She could have written in cursive, she guessed. But those fs were so tricky.

I think it might be too neat, Kate said. Grown-up writing never looks as neat as that.

Oh right. Sophie thought about her moms handwriting. That was a mess.

Okay. She reached for a clean sheet of paper. Let me try again. Hang on. Theres something else, Kate said. Sophie froze her pen.

Kate went on. I wonder if we should use first names. Like maybe say Dear Lila instead.

Good idea! said Sophie, nodding hard. Why hadnt she thought of that?

Dear Lila She started writing. Then she stopped. Uh-oh. Do you know what Mr. Blooms first name is? she asked Kate.

Kate did not. Too bad.

But someone else does! Sophie remembered. That someone walked in right then.

Hayley!

Sophies big sister just happened to be in Mr. Blooms class. Sophie waved the pen as her sister brushed past her bed. We have a very important question for you! she said.

Hayley kept walking toward her dresser. No, I will not play Monopoly with you, she declared. You guys always gang up against me, and it takes way too long. Besides, Im here because I have to change for ballet. So you have to go right now.

Sophie sighed. She wished that, just once, Hayley would remember this was her room, too. But she wasnt going to let that bother her. At least, not much.

Dont worry. That wasnt our question, Sophie told her. We just want to know Mr. Blooms first name.

Hayley opened her top drawer and pulled out a leotard. Mike. Then she turned as Sophie started to scribble. Why do you want to know?

Well Sophie shared a look with Kate. They both shrugged at the same time. Why not tell Hayley? Sophie thought. She would find out soon enough!

Here! You can read for yourself. She proudly showed Hayley her new letter. Im going to give it to Ms. Moffly. And shell think that its from Mike. And when they get married, theyll invite everybody. Your class, too, I bet! And theyll live happily ever after. Its pretty sweet of me, dont you think?

She waited for Hayley to answer. She was excited and nervous, too. She knew that this was a great idea. But Hayley didnt always see at first how great Sophies ideas were.

Hayleys mouth twisted sideways. This is interesting, she said.

Yes! Sophie took the letter back. Hayley liked her idea!

I wonder if theyll ask their best students to be in the wedding, Hayley went on.

Be in the wedding? Ooh! Like a flower girl? Sophie asked. She had always wanted to be one of those!

Hayley nodded, then looked in the mirror and smiled. You third graders might be flower girls. Id be a junior bridesmaid, though.

Oh, I hope its not a long engagement! said Sophie. She tried to do the math in her head. Lets see If I give this note to Ms. Moffly first thing in the morning, how long will it take? A week?

That was when Hayleys eyes got serious again. She turned back to Sophie and said very sternly, You cannot give that note to her.

Its my handwriting, isnt it? Sophie sighed. I know. Its too neat.

Hayley shook her head. Mr. Blooms handwriting is a lot messier, yes. But thats not it. Im talking about what happens when Ms. Moffly says, Yes. And Mr. Bloom says, Huh? because he doesnt even know he asked.

Oh.

Sophie nodded. I see, she said, thinking hard. So do you think the note should be from Ms. Moffly instead?

No. Hayley shook her head again. Dont you read or watch TV? People go on dates first, Sophie. They dont just get married.

They dont? Sophie frowned. She thought that was exactly what they did.

No. Hayley rolled her eyes, and she grabbed some tights from her drawer. Youll know that when youre ten.

Sophie turned to Kate. She could tell this was news to her, too. But if Ms. Moffly and Mr. Bloom had to go out on a