Henry and the Clubhouse (5) by Beverly Cleary

Author:Beverly Cleary [Cleary, Beverly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780061685088
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1962-05-06T23:03:28+00:00

Ramona was standing on a chair in front of the washing machine. She was not actually doing anything wrong, but knowing her, Henry was not taking any chances. “You better get down from there,” he said.

“Pooh,” said Ramona.

The washing machine gave a loud click and started to spin. Ramona reached toward the lid.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Henry spoke more forcefully this time.

“I don’t have to mind you,” Ramona informed him. “You’re just an old boy.” She lifted the lid of the washing machine to peek inside. Instantly dirty water and detergent spun out of the machine with a great whoosh, hitting Henry right in the face, drenching Ramona, and spraying the whole kitchen.

“Cut that out!” yelled Henry, snatching Ramona off the chair and slamming down the lid of the washing machine, but not until the jet of dirty water had circled the kitchen several more times.

All the children were howling with fright and Ramona howled the loudest. The dog shook himself and began to bark. Henry mopped his face with his damp sleeve and looked around at the rivulets of dirty water trickling down the walls and cupboard doors onto the floor. It was a wet, sloppy mess, and there was no time to clean it up.

“What did you have to go do that for?” he demanded of Ramona, as Mrs. Kelly’s feet came thumping down the stairs.

Ramona, who was dripping with dirty water, stopped howling and looked sulky. “I just wanted to see what it looked like inside when it was spinning,” she said.

Disgusted as he was, Henry felt a small flash, a very small flash, of understanding for Ramona. He had always been curious to see a load of spinning clothes, too.

“Oh, my goodness!” exclaimed Mrs.Kelly from the doorway as she looked at the wet children and dripping walls. The children’s howls subsided when they saw their mother. “What on earth happened?”

“I’m awfully sorry,” Henry apologized.“I tried to stop Ramona, but she lifted the lid of the washing machine before I could get to her.” He glared at Ramona, who made a face right back at him.

“Tattletale,” said Ramona.

Maybe he was a tattletale, but Henry didn’t know what else he could have told Mrs. Kelly. She would know the washing machine did not open itself. “I’ll help wipe it up,” he offered, feeling this was the least he could do.

Mrs. Kelly looked around her dripping kitchen. “Oh well,” she said with a sigh. “I suppose I should wash down the walls sometime. No, don’t bother to help.You just take Ramona home so she can get cleaned up and into some dry clothes.”

“OK . . .” Henry tried to sound willing. “I’m sure sorry, Mrs. Kelly. I’d be glad to come back and help clean up.”

Mrs. Kelly managed a smile. “No thank you, Henry.You’ve done enough already.”

Henry was not at all sure how she meant this remark. “Come on, Ramona,” he said, anxious to get away.

Outside, Ramona pushed her wet hair back from her forehead so it wouldn’t drip into her eyes and said,“I can go home by my own self.

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