Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine by Jay Williams, Abrashkin Abrashkin Page A

didn’t like to use because they meant going through the back yards of some rather grumpy people, but this morning he couldn’t stop to worry about that. He climbed a couple of fences, ducked under a line of fluttering wash, crossed a little bridge, ran uphill through a birch wood, and came out at the edge of the athletic field. He made it to the classroom just as the first bell rang, dropped the paper on Irene’s desk, and fell panting into his own seat.
    The very first period was Social Studies. Miss Arnold called on Irene to make her report. Irene quickly took out the paper. She had been too busy and flustered even to glance at it. She wasn’t worried. After all, Minny never made a mistake. The machine was always right. She had no reason to expect that there would be anything wrong with this report. She got up, glanced down at the paper, and began to read:
    â€œThe products of Peru. Within the erpivances of herpitaf m-m-m-many erminals p-p-p-ik! Brrr!”
    â€œWhat?” said Miss Arnold.
    Irene automatically kept on reading, while at the same time she felt a kind of dreadful astonishment at herself.
    â€œThe wool of gl-gl-gl itsnik nergle t-t-ttrips that can be oh-oh-oh brrr!”
    She caught herself then, and stopped. She looked down the rest of the sheet. It was all the same kind of gibberish to the very bottom of the page.
    â€œIrene!” Miss Arnold said. “What on earth—?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Irene said, thinking fast. “I’m— I’ve got a frog in my throat.”
    â€œSounds like a frog with hiccups,” snickered Robin Glenn, who sat in front of her.
    Irene pretended to clear her throat. She could remember feeding the information about Peru into the computer. Frowning with the effort to recall the details, she brought to mind the exact pages of the textbook: pages 93, 94, and 95. She pretended to read from the report but really began to recite from memory: “The products of Peru. Within the boundaries of Peru many minerals are to be found, among them silver and copper…
    She went on, digging into her memory until she had covered all she could think of. Then, red-faced, she drew a deep breath and said, “I guess that’s all.”
    â€œVery good, Irene,” said Miss Arnold. “I was a little startled at first, but you’ve done well. Will you leave your report with me, please.”
    â€œUh—Miss Arnold, it’s kind of scribbled,” Irene gulped. “And I’d—I’d like to copy it so that I can keep it for my own reference. Can I turn it in tomorrow?”
    â€œAll right. Now we come to the geography of Peru. Victoria Williams, please report.”
    Irene sat down, sighing with relief. Then she glanced over her shoulder. Danny was grinning at her.
    She tightened her lips, and gave him a look as sharp and cold as an icicle. Then she turned back to her desk. She was hurt and angry. She knew Danny was full of fun, but she had never expected him to play a trick like this on her.
    CHAPTER TWELVE
    The Professor Returns
    After school, Irene began walking home by herself. Danny came running after her.
    â€œHey!” he called. “What’s the matter?”
    She whirled on him. “How can you talk to me, Danny Dunn?” she snapped. “If that’s your idea of a joke—”
    â€œHuh?” His mouth dropped open. “A joke? What do you mean?”
    â€œAs if you didn’t know.”
    She whipped out the paper and handed it to him. Danny looked at it, and slowly his expression changed; his face grew pale.
    â€œI didn’t do this,” he whispered.
    Irene stared at him. “You mean, it was the machine?”
    â€œYes. Something’s wrong.”
    â€œBut what could be wrong?”
    â€œI don’t know. But—oh, gosh!—we’d better find out right away.”
    He started to run, and Irene had a little trouble keeping up with him. But she