When I kicked the garbage bag, stuff fell all over the floor.
Now, on top of everything else going wrong in my life, I had a mess to clean up!
I started picking things up.
The papers were slimy because there was also a banana peel inside.
I guess I had left that in my old room too.
No wonder Tate had wanted me out of there!
A magazine from the bag had slid under my bed.
I reached under and grabbed it.
It was one of my nature magazines.
The cover showed some monkeys in a tree.
At first I didn't know why all these things—schoolwork, monkeys, bananas—reminded me of Matilda Mackey's book The Wicky Wacky School.
Then suddenly I knew the reason.
They were all part of her book's plot!
At that moment I, Iggy, had my most brilliant idea ever.
I would create a plot inventor!
The next day I sat down at my desk and started cutting little pieces of paper.
Then I wrote a different word on each piece of paper.
I did this until I couldn't think of any more good words.
I could smell coffee coming from the kitchen where my mom was making breakfast.
Tate was sitting at the table, eating leftover spaghetti.
He likes cold spaghetti for breakfast.
Have I mentioned that my brother is really weird?
"Mom, do you have any old magazines?" I asked.
"Old magazines?" asked my mom.
"What do you need them for?"
"Probably for another one of his crazy ideas," said Tate.
"My idea is not crazy," I said.
"I am working on an incredible invention."
Tate rolled his eyes.
He always thought my ideas were crazy.
But I wasn't going to let that bother me now.
I knew I had a good idea, and I needed to stay focused.
"There are a few magazines in the living room," said my mom.
"You can have them, Iggy."
I got the magazines and went back to my room.
I picked up my scissors and began cutting out all the pictures.
Soon I had a big pile.
I gathered all the pieces of paper and all the pictures.
I put them in a big box and cut some holes in the lid.
I realized I hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
So on my way out the door, I grabbed the last chocolate granola bar.
I could hear Tate complaining about that as I walked down the hallway.
When I got to school, Mrs. Romano asked me what was in the box.
I told her all about my plot inventor.
She looked at all the small pieces of paper in the box, and I explained how it worked.
"Wow, Iggy," said Mrs. Romano. "That's a very clever idea!"
"Can we try it out?" I asked.
"Certainly," said Mrs. Romano.
She made an announcement to the class after circle time.
"We are going to work on our stories now," she said.
"I know some of you are having trouble thinking of exciting plots."
"I still don't understand how to write a middle," said Gina.
"I don't know how to make something go wrong," added Colby.
Mrs. Romano beamed. "Iggy has invented something that could help all of you.
Iggy, would you like to show everyone how it works?"
Suddenly I felt my stomach flip-flop.
Either my plot inventor was a brilliant idea, or it was a really, really dumb one.