Horrible Harry and the Triple Revenge (2 page)

Snack Attack!

When we lined up at the school door, Mary was the first to notice Song Lee. “Why are you crying?” she asked.

Song Lee shook her head. “It's . . . nothing,” she whimpered. Then she wiped her eyes and didn't cry anymore.

Song Lee hardly ever tattled.

Mary looked back at us. We were the last ones in line. “I bet Harry did something,” she growled.

Song Lee shook her head again. “No. I'm fine,” she said.

Sidney was the first one to sit down in his seat and take out his writing notebook. He drew a soccer ball on a fresh page, then put it in a circle with a diagonal line. It looked like a “No Soccer” sign.

As the rest of us got out our notebooks, I wondered when Harry would get revenge number one. Right now Harry was just glaring at Sid across the aisle.

“Good morning, boys and girls,” Miss Mackle said. “I hope everyone remembered their healthy snack. We're having a special visitor in a few minutes, and we want to be prepared!”

Harry reached into his backpack and pulled out two snacks. Both were wrapped in foil. One was round. One was square.

Just as he was putting both in his desk, Sid leaned over and whispered, “Can I have one? I forgot my homework. I don't want anyone to know.”

What nerve! I thought. El Creepo was asking for a favor!

“Sure,” Harry said, grinning. “I'd be glad to share.”

My eyes bulged. Harry was secretly handing Sid the square snack. What was Harry up to?

“Thanks, pal!” Sid said.

“Don't open it until you eat it,” Harry added. “Keep it fresh.”

“Gotcha!” Sid replied.

I just shook my head.

Miss Mackle went to the door. “I hear someone coming!”

We all looked up and heard singing in the hallway.

“YUM! YUM!

HERE I COME! COME!”

When it appeared in the doorway, Sidney yelled, “
Yikes!
It's a giant apple.”

Dexter started singing to the tune of an Elvis song. “It ain't nothin' but an apple, walking in our room! It ain't nothin' but an apple, walkin' in our room!”

“SNACK ATTACK!” the apple boomed.

When our class went pin-quiet, ZuZu blurted out, “Who are you?”

“Apple Man,” the creature boomed. “I'm looking for healthy snacks. I'm giving one point for each wholesome food. The class that has the best percentage of healthy snacks wins an extra recess.”

Everyone cheered and clapped.

Except Song Lee. She was just quiet.

And Harry. He was looking at Apple Man's feet. “Those are Mr. Cardini's shoes,” he whispered to me.

I looked down and nodded. It was our principal, all right. He was the big apple!

“Show me your healthy snacks,” Apple Man demanded as he walked up and down the aisles.

“I have a banana,” Ida said.

“I have yogurt,” ZuZu said.

“Yum! Yum!” Apple Man replied.

“See my box of raisins?” Mary asked.

Dexter held up a carrot.

Song Lee had kiwi slices.

I had celery and green peppers.

“Deeeeeelicious!” Apple Man said. “I love vegetables and fruit!”

Apple Man added tally marks on his clipboard for Room 3B.

When he came to Harry, everyone held their breath. Harry slowly unwrapped his snack.

“Orange wedges,” Harry said. “Grandma Spooger even left the white strings on them for me. I love pulp.”

“YUM! YUM!

IN THE TUM TUM!”

Apple Man boomed.

Finally, Apple Man came to Sidney's desk. He waited patiently while Sid unwrapped the four sides of foil. “I've got a healthy snack right here,” Sid predicted.

Everyone watched him unfold the silvery paper.

Suddenly the smell of chocolate filled Room 3B.

“Fudge!” Apple Man said. “No points. NO CANDY FOR SNACKS!”

Sidney sank down in his chair. Everyone groaned, “Sidney!” Harry made a toothy smile. And when no one was looking, he put out his hand. “I'll take it back now, Sid the Squid!”

So that's what Harry was up to!

Sid made a face as he plopped the snack back in Harry's hand.

An hour later, Apple Man made an announcement over the intercom. “The winner of the Snack Attack today was Mr. Moulder's second-grade class. They had one hundred percent healthy snacks, so they get an extra recess!”

Room 3B groaned and moaned. “We lost because of Sidney,” Mary grumbled.

We all had long faces except for Harry. He was smiling as he held up two fingers.

Sid had
two more revenges
coming.

The Underwear Dare

Pajama Day was the big topic at lunchtime in the cafeteria. It was part of Spirit Week for Southeast School. Everybody was talking about it. Most of us had hot lunch that day. It was spaghetti and buttery garlic bread. The carrot sticks were good too.

As we slurped the noodles and crunched the bread and carrots, we talked about the big event.

“What are you wearing, Song Lee?” Ida asked. “I haven't decided what to wear yet. My pajamas or nightgown?”

Song Lee shrugged.

“I bet she brings her oragummy book,” Sid said.

“Origami,” Mary corrected.

When Song Lee didn't light up, Sid's smile disappeared. He could see she was still upset.

“We're having hot cocoa with mini marshmallows on Pajama Day,” ZuZu said. “My mom is one of the room mothers. I know!”

“We get to read books anywhere in the room for a whole hour!” I said. “I'm reading the entire book of
Stone Fox
!”

“I'm bringing my own copy of
Revenge of Wedgie Woman
,” Harry said, making his eyebrows go up and down.

After Mary cringed, she told us what she was wearing. “I have pink cat pajamas and pink fluffy slippers to match, and I'm bringing a book about Pinky and Rex. What about you, Doug?” Mary asked.

“I'm wearing a bathrobe,” I said.

“Cool!” ZuZu replied. “What are you wearing, Harry?”

“Well, Zu, I don't wear pajamas to bed. I just go to sleep in my underwear.”

Mary and Ida giggled.

“Hey, Harry the Canary,” Sid said, “I've got a dare for you! Wear your underwear to school tomorrow for Pajama Day. It's what you wear to bed!”

Harry suddenly leaned way back in his lunch chair. He raised his bushy eyebrows, then pointed his carrot stick at Sidney. “Okay. Maybe . . . I will.”

We all stared at Harry.

“You
will
?” Sid said.

“Maybe. On one condition.”

“What's that?” Sid asked.

“If . . . I wear my underwear to school tomorrow,” Harry replied, “you have to leap around all day like a praying mantis.”

“Huh?” Sid said.

Harry gave a demonstration. He walked on his tiptoes with his head held
high. He moved his head from side to side. His hands were close to his chest, and his fingers wiggled back and forth.

Song Lee looked up. Thinking about a praying mantis made her eyes get watery. But Sid didn't even notice.

“It's a deal!” he said, looking at Harry. “You'll never wear your underwear to school!”

Harry shook Sid's hand. “We'll see about that.”

Mary and Ida gasped, then covered their mouths.

Song Lee looked away.

I could only shudder. Harry's second revenge was risky!

 
The next morning was Wednesday. The bell was about to ring. Miss Mackle was at the bulletin board. Her hair was up in curlers, and she was wearing a granny nightgown.