One day Jimmy's desk was empty.

Jimmy wasn't the sort to stay in bed with a cold or a bump. He wasn't the sort to stay in bed at all.

Jimmy loved school. He loved being right in the middle of everything.

But best of all Jimmy loved growing plants.

He always had somthing growing in pot or a packet of seeds in his pocket.

If Jimmy was sent out for ceatting in maths,he always slipped off quietly to help the gardener. But Jimmy never missed school. It was very,very odd.

Jimmy's desk was empty again the next day...and the next.

When his desk was still empty at the end of the week Milly and Molly and all Jimmy's friends were very worried indeed.

It was comforting when Miss Blythe suggested Jimmy was probably sick with the measles or mumps. Everyone expected him to be back at his desk in no time.

Then one moning, Miss Blythe seemed different. She sat on the small chair in the middle of the classroom and asked everyone to gather closely around her. She explained gently that Jimmy wouldn't be coming back to school. She Said very softly that Jimmy had been taken to hospital and had died peacefully in the might.

Miss blythe stretched her arms around everyone and they all cried together.

Miss Blythe didn't mind that they missed maths or spelling.

And no one felt like singing or playing games at lunch-time.

Miss Blythe was happy just to chat and isten and give lots of hugs.

It upset Milly and Molly to look at Jimmy's empty desk. But they didn't want Miss Blythe to take it away either.

They decided to put bunch of flowers on Jimmy's desk and for while that helped.

Everyone took part in bringing flowers from their gardens and they kept Jimmy's bunch of flowers fresh and beautiful.

When everyone was ready, Jimmy's desk was taken away.

Milly and Molly very carefully put Jimmy's books and bits and pieces in a box for his mother to collect.

Tucked away in the corner of Jimmy's desk Milly and Molly had found a packet of seeds amongst and extraordinary assorment of pens and pencils.

With Jimmy's mother's blessing, Milly and Molly planted the seeds in the school garden on a warm sunny day.

They watered and waited...and waited and watered.

On the twelfth day, row of small green plants pushed their heads up through the soil.

Every day they slowly grew bigger.

Suddenly, the middle plant grew taller and taller.