Maybelle Goes to School by Katie Speck Page A

help noticing all the crumbs along the way. Lunchrooms were delightfully messy.
    Of course, she shouldn’t think about food with Henry in trouble.
    On the other hand, she had to keep up her strength. She snatched a taste of this and a nibble of that as she scurried along beneath the lunch tables.
    When she reached the cakes, she climbed up, up, up the Tower of Taste and waited. Maybelle had a plan.

 
    8
    Yoo-hoo!

    â€œBoys and girls! Here is today’s Something Interesting,” said the Principal. “Go ahead, Samantha.”
    Samantha Snerdly took Ramona out of her carrying case. The Peabodys glowed. Ramona did not look pleased.
    Maybelle stood tall atop the pile of fruit on Mrs. Peabody’s cake.
    â€œThis is Ramona Peabody,” Samantha said in a small voice.
    Maybelle waved her antennae. Ramona’s eyes widened.

    â€œHiss!” Ramona said.
    Mrs. Peabody saw Maybelle at the same moment Ramona did. “Herbert! There’s a cockroach on my cake!” she whispered.
    Samantha went on. “She is a tabby cat. She has tiger stripes. See how shiny her stripes are?” Samantha held Ramona up high.
    Maybelle wiggled her antennae and five of her six legs at the cat.
    â€œRrrrrr,” Ramona said.
    â€œIt’s standing up and waving its nasty little feet!” Mrs. Peabody said.
    Samantha struggled to hold Ramona up even higher so everyone could see her. “She’s really big, too.”

    From the top of the cake, Maybelle waved her antennae and four of her legs and jumped up and down.
    â€œOh no!” Mrs. Peabody wailed.

    â€œRAAOO-OOOW!” Ramona yowled. She scratched Samantha, leaped into the air, and landed on Mrs. Peabody’s famous Tower of Taste. SPLAT!
    But Maybelle was already off and running.

 
    9
    Ramona to the Rescue

    â€œMy cake!” Mrs. Peabody screeched.
    â€œOur cat!” Mr. Peabody roared. “Catch her!”

    The Peabodys ran after Ramona. Ramona sprinted after Maybelle— “Spit! Hiss!” —and Maybelle fled across the lunchroom to Henry’s glass.
    Ramona chased Maybelle across the tables. The cat ran so fast, she slipped on a glob of Mystery Meat and skidded into some macaroni and cheese. But she didn’t slow down. She leaped after Maybelle through a pile of succotash and knocked over cartons of milk. Still, she didn’t slow down.

    Little humans squealed and giggled and jumped out of their chairs. Lunch trays crashed to the floor. Pudding cups exploded. The Lunch Lady shouted, “Order! Order!” But even that didn’t slow Ramona down.

    Maybelle had never run faster, but she could feel Ramona’s whiskers close behind her.
    Samuel Snerdly’s Dressed Flea under a glass was just ahead.
    Oh, poor Henry! Maybelle thought. She dashed up the table and onto the top of the glass. Ramona was so close and going so fast that she slid into it—and knocked it over!

 
    10
    Henry Wears the Pants

    Henry was free.
    â€œCome on, Henry! Let’s go!” Maybelle said.
    But Henry wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry. His pants were too big. The best he could do was hold them up and shuffle along.
    â€œTake the pants off, Henry!”
    â€œNo,” Henry said. “I won’t.”
    Maybelle couldn’t flee without her friend, but she was in terrible danger. Ramona crouched over her.
    Before Ramona could pounce, Mr. Peabody seized his cat. She was covered with Today’s Lunch Menu.

    â€œOhhh,” Mr. Peabody moaned. He held her at arm’s length so she wouldn’t ruin his clothes. “The beautiful stripes! The shiny coat! Gone!”
    â€œOur poor Precious! It isn’t her fault this school is full of revolting bugs,” Mrs. Peabody said. “I expect you to complain to the Principal, Herbert.”
    â€œI intend to, dear,” Mr. Peabody said.
    The Peabodys carried their cat off in a huff.
    Maybelle grabbed Henry and hid under a table while