Wonder R. J. Palacio

Take Your Seats, Everyone 
Jack and I walked right behind a couple of sixth graders into the building, and then 
followed them to the auditorium.
Mrs. G was at the entrance, handing out the programs and telling kids where to go.
"Fifth graders down the aisle to the left," she said. "Sixth graders go to the right. 
Everyone come in. Come in. Good morning. Go to your staging areas. Fifth graders to 
the left, sixth grade to the right . . ."
The auditorium was huge inside. Big sparkly chandeliers. Red velvet walls. Rows and 
rows and rows of cushioned seats leading up to the giant stage. We walked down the
wide aisle and followed the signs to the fifth-grade staging area, which was in a big 
room to the left of the stage. Inside were four rows of folding chairs facing the front of 
the room, which is where Ms. Rubin was standing, waving us in as soon as we walked 
in the room.
"Okay, kids, take your seats. Take your seats," she was saying, pointing to the rows of 
chairs. "Don't forget, you're sitting alphabetically. Come on, everybody, take your 
seats." Not too many kids had arrived yet, though, and the ones who had weren't 
listening to her. Me and Jack were swordfighting with our rolled-up programs.
"Hey, guys." It was Summer walking over to us. She was wearing a light pink dress 
and, I think, a little makeup.
"Wow, Summer, you look awesome," I told her, because she really did.
"Really? Thanks, you do, too, Auggie."

---

"Yeah, you look okay, Summer," said Jack, kind of matter of- factly. And for the first 
time, I realized that Jack had a crush on her.
"This is so exciting, isn't it?" said Summer.
"Yeah, kind of," I answered, nodding.
"Oh man, look at this program," said Jack, scratching his forehead. "We're going to be 
here all freakin' day."
I looked at my program.