Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise by Suzy Kline

Horrible Sounds

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    K rikkity krikk.
    Krikkity krekk.
    The teacher rocked back and forth in her old reading chair.
    Harry leaned on his elbow and made a wide smile. I could see his pink gums where his two front teeth used to be. “Don’t you love that sound, Doug?”
    Krikkity krikk.
    Krikkity krekk.
    â€œNo,” I said, shaking my head. But Harry would. He loves things like that... slimy things, creepy things, hairy things, and horrible sounds. I know. I sit next to him in Room 2B. Harry’s my best friend. Even his cat’s name has a horrible sound—Googer. Sometimes he just calls him “The Goog,” which sounds kind of scary.

    Suddenly a fire truck zoomed by South School sounding its siren.
    DEE doo, DEE doo, DEE doo.
    Harry jumped out of his seat and ran to the window. “Look! There it goes, speeding in the snow!”
    â€œHarry!” Miss Mackle called. “Sit down.”
    DEE doo, DEE doo, DEE doo.
    Harry watched the fire truck zoom up and over the hill. Then he sat down, folded his hands, and gave the teacher a gummy smile.
    â€œI think we’re ready now for a story,” Miss Mackle said. “It’s a very special story because it’s been read over and over for 168 years!”
    Sidney threw his hands in the air. “Why read it if everyone’s read it so much?”
    â€œBecause it’s so good, Sidney.”
    â€œIf I’ve heard it, I don’t want to hear it again,” he said, plugging his ears.
    â€œREAD THE STORY!” the rest of us shouted.
    Miss Mackle rocked in her chair as she opened her big, heavy storybook and turned to the right page.
    â€œâ€™Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house ...”
    â€œI love that story,” Mary exclaimed.
    â€œMe, too!” Sidney said, taking his fingers out of his ears.
    While everyone was clapping and cheering, Ida said, “Miss Mackle, you look pretty today in your green dress and green sparkly earrings.”
    Miss Mackle whispered “thank you” as she turned the page and rocked in her chair.
    Krikkity krikk.
    Krikkity krekk.
    â€œ... not a creature was stirring, not even a-aaaaaaaugh!”
    Suddenly the creaky chair tipped all the way back and the bottom fell through!
    Miss Mackle landed on the floor with a THUD! and KABOOM!
    â€œMY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!” she shouted.
    There was our teacher, sitting on the floor, on broken pieces of wood!
    The big heavy storybook went flying in the air! It knocked the globe off its stand, and sent the world bouncing into the hallway.

    THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
    One of Miss Mackle’s green sparkly earrings took a nosedive into the fish tank.
    BLUB! BLUB! BLUB!
    Three guppies took a quick look and then swam away fast!
    Everyone got out of their seats and rushed to the teacher. We stood there in a circle with our mouths open.
    â€œAre you okay?” we all asked.
    Miss Mackle started to giggle. “Well, I’m glad I fell gracefully. I could be standing on my head.”
    While the rest of the class was laughing, I covered my eyes. I didn’t want to picture the teacher standing on her head!

    After we helped her get up, we took the wood pieces and dropped them in the big wastepaper basket.
    CLUNK, BONG, THUNK!
    â€œThat was a dumb old rocker!” Sidney said, slapping his hands clean.
    â€œNo, it wasn’t,” Harry replied. “I liked that krikkity old chair.”
    â€œYou just like horrible things!” Sidney replied.
    â€œYou are just off your rocker!” Harry said, holding up a fist.
    â€œNow! Now!” Miss Mackle said, limping back to her desk chair. “Christmas is only four days away. It’s time for peace and goodwill.”
    Just then the principal showed up at the door. “Anybody in here need a world?” he asked, holding up the globe.

    â€œWe do!” Miss Mackle exclaimed. Everyone laughed as the principal returned the world to