Nov 1, 2016 4 min read

The story so far: J.P. and Logan have just announced that the most important part of Election Day is about to happen.

J.P. and Logan pull us into the library.

“What are you doing?” Corinna asks. “We were counting up the votes.”

“Exactly!” J.P. says. “We have to vote.”

He points to his watch. “We only have three minutes left.”

I can’t believe I almost forgot to vote on Election Day. The rules for voting are very strict. You have to be in line to vote before noon. There are no exceptions. We file into the short line at the voting table.

Mr. Phillips walks up to us. He is Mr. Marx’s best friend. He would do anything to make sure his friend wins.

“Sorry, kids!” he says. “You’re too late to vote.”

J.P. points to the clock on the library wall.

“We still have two minutes!” he says.

“You have to be checked in five minutes before the voting deadline,” he says. “It’s in the election book.”

I study Mr. Phillips’ face. I think he’s making it up.

“Is that true, Robyn?” Corinna whispers.

“I don’t think so,” I whisper back. “I know all the rules. I’ve been studying them for weeks.”

“I wish you had them here now,” Corinna says.

“Wait a minute!” I say. “I do!”

I go over to the corner of the library and pull a folder off the shelf. It’s the neighborhood association handbook. The library always carries the latest copy, and it has the Election Day rules in it.

I take the folder over to Mr. Phillips. “Please show us where that rule is,” I say.

He glares at me. “It’s going to take me a minute to find it,” he says.

“We’ll be in line,” I say.

I don’t think Mr. Phillips will be back to bug us. Mrs. McMillan checks us in and has us sign our names.

“I was wondering if you all would make it,” she says.

I take my ballot and head for a voting booth.

I put an X by Mrs. Palooso’s name. Then I vote “No” on the park referendum. I figure I might as well support my fellow robin. We finish just in time. They close the voting booths and ring the bell. This means the election is over.

We go out to the front of the library. The pancake breakfast has just gotten under way.

This is an Election Day tradition. After the bell rings, everyone eats. While the neighborhood fills up on pancakes and sausage, the Election Committee counts the votes.

“Should we eat?” Corinna asks.

I hand my reporters plates. They did a good job on Election Day. Now we eat!

I top my pancakes with bananas and strawberries. Then I cover them with syrup. This is the best way to eat pancakes! Half an hour later, Mrs. McMillan comes outside. She is carrying an envelope.

The results are in!

She walks up to the microphone. The crowd stops talking at once. Everyone is anxious to know the results.

“First off are the results on the park referendum,” Mrs. McMillan says.

Logan and J.P. stare at each other. I hope their friendship can survive the vote!

“The neighborhood has voted yes on the referendum,” Mrs. McMillan says. “We will remove the bird statue and replace it with a fountain.”

Logan smiles. The people with E shirts stand up with their signs and cheer.

“DOWN WITH ROBIN!” they shout.

Mrs. McMillan holds up her hand. “Next are the results for Neighborhood Association president,” she says.

Everyone gets quiet again.

“This was a very close race,” she says. “The votes came in at 133 to 137.”

I write as fast as I can in my notebook. I don’t want to miss anything.

“And the winner is…”