Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise by Suzy Kline Page B

seats.

    â€œBoys and girls,” he said. “I have some bad news.”
    Room 2B was pin-quiet.
    â€œMiss Mackle went to the emergency room early this morning about her knee. Remember how she fell yesterday?”
    Everyone nodded their head slowly.
    â€œShe thought she would just get it checked and then limp back to class. She didn’t want to miss all the special activities you had planned.
    â€œWell, when the doctor had her knee X-rayed, he discovered she had torn a ligament. She’s going to need special surgery and was just admitted to the hospital. She called me as soon as she could.”
    Everyone groaned, “The hospital!”
    I noticed Harry wiped his eyes with his sweater sleeve. I think he was trying not to cry. “When will she be back?” he asked.

    â€œAfter Christmas vacation, Harry. And then, she’ll be teaching in a wheelchair for a while.”
    â€œOh ...” Sidney grumbled, “we won’t be able to do our Christmas skit.”
    Harry leaned over the aisle and put a fist next to Sidney’s nose. “Who cares about the skits? Our teacher is in the hospital!”
    â€œWait a minute,” Mr. Cardini said. “Why can’t you still give your skits?”
    â€œWe don’t have a teacher!” Mary complained.
    â€œYes, you do.”
    â€œWHO?” we all asked.
    â€œMe.”
    â€œBut you’re the principal!” I said.
    â€œMost principals were teachers before they became principals.”
    â€œThey were?” Sidney made a face.
    â€œYes. And sometimes when a principal can’t get a substitute at the last minute, he has to take over a teacher’s classroom.”
    Sidney pounded his fist on the desk. “We’re doomed,” he whispered. “We have Mr. Cardini for a teacher.”
    â€œNo, we’re not!” I whispered back. “Remember when I put mousse on his head in my demonstration talk? He liked his hair spiked. Mr. Cardini is a cool guy.”
    â€œBut who would play Miss Mackle’s part in our Christmas skit today?” Mary moaned.
    â€œI can!” Mr. Cardini said.
    We all laughed. Sidney snorted like a pig.
    â€œWhat’s so funny? What part do I have to play?”
    â€œMOTHER GOOSE!” we shouted.
    Mr. Cardini fiddled with his moustache. “I can do Mother Goose. Where’s her costume?”
    Mary ran to get it in the costume box in the drama corner. “Song Lee’s mother made it.”
    We all stared at the principal as he put the elastic skirt over his head, then the blouse with the big collar, and then the flowered apron.
    â€œSong Lee, come up and tie this for me, please.”
    Song Lee got out of her seat and made a nice bow. “You need the bonnet,” she said softly. And she went back to the costume box.
    When Mr. Cardini put the white bonnet on his head, we all laughed again!
    â€œI never knew Mother Goose had a moustache!” Sidney cackled.
    â€œOkay, boys and girls, the show will go on.”
    Everyone cheered except Harry. He had his head down on his desk.
    Mr. Cardini went over to him and patted his back. “Are you feeling horrible, Harry?”

    Harry nodded. He didn’t like this kind of horrible. “I don’t feel like being Georgie Porgie. Miss Mackle is in the hospital. I just want to be sad.”
    â€œWell, I know it would make your teacher sad if her accident kept you from doing your Mother Goose skits.”
    â€œIt would?” Harry put his head up.
    â€œYes. She would want you to give them as planned for the kindergarten and first-grade classes.”
    â€œCould we dedicate our performance to our teacher?” Harry said, wiping his eyes again with his sleeve.
    â€œI’ll let you make the announcement before the skit begins. Okay, Georgie Porgie?”
    Harry sat up and smiled. Then he lowered his thick eyebrows. I knew he had just gotten an idea. “Can we videotape it for Miss