Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise by Suzy Kline Page A

the globe stand.
    â€œMiss Mackle, are you going to finish the story?” Mary asked.
    â€œWhat story is Miss Mackle reading?” Mr. Cardini asked.
    â€œThe Night Before Christmas,” Mary replied. “It’s 168 years old.”
    â€œThat old, huh? Well, I haven’t heard it yet this year! May I join you?” he said, pulling up a little blue chair from the library table.
    â€œWhat do you think, class?” Miss Mackle asked.
    â€œYEAAAAAASSSSSS!”
    Miss Mackle opened her big heavy storybook and turned to the right page. “Why doesn’t everyone help me read the story this time!”
    Everyone sat up and waited for their cue.
    â€œâ€™Twas the night before ...”
    â€œChristmas!” we called out.
    â€œAnd all through the ...”
    â€œHouse,” Mr. Cardini boomed.
    â€œNot a creature was ...”
    â€œStirring,” we replied. Harry made monster hands.
    â€œNot even a ...”
    â€œMouse!” Mr. Cardini twisted his moustache and squeaked.
    Song Lee giggled.
    Sidney laughed so hard he was snorting like a pig.
    Room 2B is full of sounds. Some of them are horrible, and some of them are fun.

Mr. Cardini Takes Over

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    W hen Harry and I got to the classroom the next morning, Miss Mackle wasn’t at her desk.
    â€œWhere is she?” we asked.
    Mary looked at the fish tank. “She’s not putting in a new filter.”
    Ida looked at the science table. “She’s not making sugar water for the ant monitor.”
    Song Lee looked at the plant corner. “She’s not putting a bug in the terrarium for the Venus’s-flytrap.”
    Harry looked at the drama corner. “She’s not trying on her Mother Goose costume for our Christmas skit.”
    â€œShe’s not changing the clothespins on our monitor chart,” Sidney said.
    â€œWHERE IS MISS MACKLE?” the class asked.
    I held up a finger. “I’ll go down the hall and see if she’s still having coffee with the teachers in the teachers’ room. The late bell hasn’t rung yet.”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Harry said.
    As we walked down the hall, we saw the first-graders and kindergartners hanging up their winter jackets, and putting their caps and mittens carefully in their jacket sleeves.

    The kindergarten teacher was standing by the door with her hands behind her back. “Hello, Harry and Doug. We’re looking forward to your skit this afternoon, ‘Merry Christmas from Mother Goose.’ ”
    Harry and I smiled at Mrs. Chan. We had her in kindergarten.
    â€œWhat happened to your teeth, Harry?” she asked.
    Harry showed off his pink gums. “I rammed into a wall.”
    Mrs. Chan took a closer look. “Hmmmmm. I also see some new ones coming in!”
    Harry nodded. He was happy about that. “Did you see Miss Mackle?” he asked.
    â€œNo, I didn’t. I’ve been mixing fingerpaint all morning.” Then she wiggled her red gooey hands at us! “We’re painting Santa Clauses today!”
    Harry and I took a big step back. “Let’s get out of here!” I said.
    When we got to the teachers’ room, we knocked.
    Mrs. Michaelsen, the librarian, opened the door. We could smell coffee and something buttery. “Good morning, boys,” she said. “What can I do for you?”

    Harry drooled when he saw the tray of frosted Christmas cookies on the table. I liked the big computer printout that hung from the lights. MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HANUKKAH! JOY TO ALL!
    â€œWe’re looking for Miss Mackle,” I said.
    â€œShe’s usually in her room by now. Go back and check. Maybe her car stalled. It was 15 degrees this morning!”
    We rushed back down the hall and into the classroom just as the final bell rang.
    Mr. Cardini was standing in front of the class. He was not smiling. Harry and I wondered if we were in trouble. Quickly, we rushed to our