The next morning Katie and Joy sat at the kitchen table.
Katie frowned at the bowl in front of her.
"We're having cereal?" she asked her mother.
Grandpa usually made them oatmeal or pancakes.
"Sorry, girls," Mom said.
"Grandpa's away, and I have to get ready to go to work."
Joy had an idea.
"I'll get some eggs to make us an omelet!"
She put on her raincoat and ran out to the chicken coop.
"Good morning, girls," she called to the chickens.
Four of them clucked around her ankles as she opened the gate.
She reached her hand into the nest box.
No eggs! That was strange.
"The chickens are being lazy," Joy announced back in the kitchen.
"No eggs today!"
Mom looked up from the sink, where she was washing dishes.
"That's unusual. But you girls have to leave for school soon anyway.
Hurry up and eat your cereal.
And don't forget to come to the library after school."
In class Ms. Barrow announced that they'd be working on their social studies projects today.
"For the next thirty minutes, please work by yourself," Ms. Barrow said.
"To find information about your leader, you may use the Internet or books."
Joy looked around.
Larry had pulled out a book about President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Laura was reading a book on Abraham Lincoln.
It seemed like most kids had already gone to the public library.
They were ready to start their projects, but Joy hadn't even chosen her leader yet!
Ms. Barrow saw her looking around.
"Here, Joy. Try this."
Ms. Barrow handed her a book called Great American Biographies.
"You might find someone you like in here."
"Thanks," Joy said.
She opened the book and tried to read.
But she couldn't concentrate.
She thought about the list of chores Mom had put on the refrigerator this morning.
She thought about what she had brought for lunch.
Then she started wondering what Dad and Grandpa were doing on their fishing trip.
Katie jumped up from a computer and ran to Joy's desk.
"Did you know that Abraham Lincoln used to walk miles just to borrow a book?" Katie whispered.
Joy shook her head.
"He loved to read and write," Katie added.
Joy shrugged. "So I think we should walk to the library after school today!
Get it? Like Abe Lincoln!"
Joy looked at her sister and sighed.
"Katie, we were going to walk there anyway."
"You're right," Katie said.
"But I'm still going to use it in my report. HA!"
She rushed back to the computer.
After school it was still raining.
"This really makes me feel like a leader!" Katie said.
She stomped on a frozen puddle, cracking the ice.
"We're walking through the freezing rain to get books because we believe in . . . education!"
Joy rolled her eyes and continued walking quietly.
At the library Mrs. Donovan helped Joy find lots of books on leaders.
"Mom," Joy said slowly.
"Who should I do my leader project on?"
"I can help you pick books, honey.
But I can't pick your leader for you.
That's something only you can decide."
Mom patted the stack of books and smiled.
"You'll find someone good soon. Don't worry."
After dinner Joy practiced her fiddle until bedtime.
Then she grabbed a flashlight.
"I'm going to check for eggs!" she called.
She headed outside toward the chicken coop.
"One, two, three, four, five, six." Joy counted the chickens.
"All there!" Then she shined her light into the nest box.
It was empty again!