Horrible Harry on the Ropes by Suzy Kline

Author:Suzy Kline
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2010-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

Valentine’s Day!

On Thursday morning, even though it was a regular gym day, most kids dressed up in red and pink. All the girls wore pants as usual, but some had bows and ribbons in their hair. Ida wore a heart necklace. Mary was wearing a pink sweatshirt with red hearts on it. Song Lee had a red-and-black ladybug barrette in her hair. Sidney was wearing jeans with a shirt and red tie. Harry brushed his hair for the first time since Picture Day. I thought the red socks my grandma gave me were cool. They had white arrows on them.

After we had reading and writing and math, it was noon.

Most of us were eating hot lunch, because it was “Finger Food Day” in our cafeteria. You don’t have to use silverware. I like dipping the chicken fingers in honey, the carrot sticks in ranch dressing, and the French fries in ketchup. Our school cook, Mrs. Funderburke, was stopping by each table wishing kids a happy Valentine’s Day. When she came to Room 3B’s table, she made a beeline for Sidney. “You sure look handsome in that tie,” she said.

“It’s a special day for a special guy,” Sidney chuckled. Then he glanced over at Song Lee. She was eating from a container of kimchi, a special Korean vegetable dish. Her mom packed it often for her lunch.

“Well, don’t break too many hearts, Sidney,” Mrs. Funderburke teased.

Sidney chuckled with delight. “Miss Mackle loved my tie too. I can’t wait until Mr. Deltoid sees it in gym today.”

“Maybe you’ll inspire him to wear one some day!” Mrs. Funderburke joked.

Harry tugged on her apron to get her attention. His mouth was still full of chicken. “You’re the best cook in the world!” he said.

Mrs. Funderburke giggled. “You’re my biggest fan, Harry!” And then she patted his head. “Nice hairdo!”

Harry beamed.

As soon as our cook left, Harry lowered his voice. “I think I can do this, Doug. I think I can make it halfway up the rope. Just count and climb.” Then Harry waved the chicken finger like a baton and started counting, “One . . . two . . . three.”

I kept time with him by popping goldfish crackers into my mouth, “four . . . five . . . six. . . .”

At one o’clock, when we returned to class after lunch recess, all the valentines were on our desks.

“Good job delivering the mail!” ZuZu called out.

Ida and Mary beamed. “We had to stay in during lunch recess. There were so many to deliver!”

Miss Mackle went to the front of the room. “Enjoy reading your valentines, class. At one thirty we’ll go to gym, then come back for our party.”

Lots of us cheered as we began ripping open our valentines.

“I like your Elvis Presley valentine, Dexter!” Mary said.

“It’s an authentic Elvis too,” Dexter replied. “He’s got blue suede shoes.”

I read Harry’s valentine out loud. He wrote a riddle for me.

“‘What fast animal sits on your head?’ I give up, Harry. What is it?”

“A hare.

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