"Hey, Monday is also April Fools' Day!" Mo called out. "Monday should get a new name. Monday Funday!" Tilting his head, he stuck out his tongue and pulled on his lips. All the kids laughed really hard. I wish I had thought to say, "Monday Funday."
        Beside me, Lizzy whispered, "Mo's so funny."
        Even my very best friend can't get enough of Mo.
Max made a goofy face right along with Mo. He's a professional copycat.
        Ms. Silva gave us her Teacher Look, where she squints until her eyelids almost touch. "Yes, it's April Fools' Day. But remember that anyone who wants to celebrate needs to do it in good fun, or not at all. You don't want to scare or hurt anyone. My mother once pulled a good-natured prank on our family. She cooked scoops of mashed potatoes with black beans in them. When we opened the oven, my siblings and I thought she'd made us chocolate chip cookies!"
        I never would've guessed Ms. Silva had a mom that funny.
        "So, Ms. Silva," said Mo, "that means on April Fools' Day we can give someone a funny meal, but we can't toss mealy worms on them?"
        Nearly everyone cracked up. Even Ms. Silva smiled as she nodded. Ava smiled a bit, but she didn't laugh. She was serious about sharing her birthday plan.
        Maybe I could be as funny as Mo. Maybe I could be the funniest. I could make April Fools' Day a holiday the whole class would remember.

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Excerpted from Ellie May on April Fools' Day by Hillary Homzie
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