The Great Smelling Bee by R.L. Stine Page A

off. I’ve been studying way too hard.
    No. Suddenly, I knew.
    â€œDudes, why aren’t you cheering?” I cried. “Why aren’t you celebrating? Come on—hurry. Go crazy. Go crazy!”
    They stared at me.
    â€œDon’t you know this is our lucky day?” I said. “Don’t you know what’s in the box? It’s the widescreen TV I’ve been begging for!”
    â€œYes!” Belzer shouted, pumping his fists in the air. “Sweet!”

    â€œI finally convinced my parents that TV is educational,” I said. “I said I need to watch Fear Factor every week to learn what not to do!”
    â€œSweet!” Belzer cried again. He slapped me a high five. “Our own widescreen TV!” We touched knuckles. Then we did the secret Rotten House Handshake.
    â€œBut, Bernie,” Feenman said. He pulled me to the back of the crate. “If it’s a TV, what’s up with the air holes in the box?”
    â€œHuh? Air holes?”
    I stared at the round holes cut into the crate. And then all four of us heard a scratching sound. Something scratching the inside of the crate.
    â€œIt’s ALIVE!” Crench screamed. “The TV is ALIVE!”

Chapter 3
W HAT S TINKS ?
    We heard more scratching sounds, and then a loud squaaaawk . Something was definitely alive in there. We had to get that box open—fast!
    Belzer found tools in the basement. They went to work, prying open the lid. Feenman and Crench used crowbars. Belzer used a claw hammer. I did the most important job: I cheered them on. “Let’s go, dudes! Good job! Good job!”
    It meant a lot to them.
    A few minutes later, the lid popped up, and the front of the box fell to the floor with a crash. Mymouth dropped open as I stared in disbelief at two animals.
    A dog and a parrot.
    MY dog and MY parrot!
    â€œMy pets!” I cried. I dove forward and dropped to the floor of the crate to hug my fat, sloppy bulldog.
    Lippy, my beautiful green parrot, squawked.
    â€œGo bite a WALNUT!”
    Isn’t he sweet? Who taught him to say that? Was it me?

    â€œGo bite a WALNUT!”
    Ha-ha. He cracks me up.
    I hugged my dog. “Good to see you, fella!”
    He snorted hello and drooled drippy stuff all over the front of my school blazer.
    Belzer stuck his head into the crate. “But, Bernie, where’s the TV?”
    â€œThere’s no TV. It’s my pets from home!” I cried. “I guess they missed me so much, Mom and Dad mailed them to school.”
    I felt so happy. I’d really missed my pets. And now here they were. Awesome!
    I jumped up and smoothed Lippy’s feathers. “Are you a good boy, Lippy?” I whispered to the parrot. “Are you a pretty boy?”
    â€œ Eat birdseed and CHOKE !” Lippy squawked.
    Isn’t he cute ?
    Feenman and Crench dropped down on their knees and started to pet my big bulldog. We heard a loud

    The dog let out a moan. They suddenly stopped petting him.
    Feenman made a horrified face. “Ooh, what STINKS?” he gasped.
    â€œThe dog!” Crench cried. “Bernie—your dog—he STINKS! Oh, it’s bad. It’s BAD!”
    â€œHold your breath,” I said. “It’ll go away in a minute or two.”
    â€œI am holding my breath!” Belzer cried. “It doesn’t help!” The poor guy had tears running down his cheeks. He staggered away, choking, his fingers pressed to his nose.
    â€œOh, man, that’s BAD!” Feenman groaned.
    Crench dove for the window, pulled it open, and stuck his head outside.
    â€œBernie, what’s your dog’s name?” Feenman asked.
    â€œGassy,” I said.
    Feenman nodded. “Good name.”

Chapter 4
P ARROT P LOP
    Feenman and Crench both hung their heads out the window, breathing fresh air. The smell faded away in a couple of minutes. I told them it would.
    I hoisted Gassy up and carried the big sweetie to my bed. He pushed his