Henry and Beezus Read Online Free PDF

Roger a piece. Roger put it in his pocket.
    â€œHow about that four cents you owe me for eight balls of gum you bought yesterday?” asked Henry.
    â€œI forgot it,” said Roger. “And anyway, how come you’re giving gum away today when you sold it yesterday?”
    â€œWell…” Henry didn’t like to admit that no one was interested in his gum.
    â€œYes,” said Peter, joining in the conversation. “I don’t see why I have to pay you. You’re giving it away now.”
    â€œI wasn’t giving it away yesterday and the day before,” said Henry. “I was selling it, so you owe me money.”
    â€œI do not.” Peter blew a bubble that popped.
    â€œYou do, too,” said Henry, feeling confused.
    The bell rang, and they started toward their classroom. Henry noticed Peter and Roger talking to each other. Then they gathered a bunch of children around them outside the door. They talked earnestly together until Miss Bonner herded them into the room.
    Now what are they up to? thought Henry. He worried about it all through social studies and arithmetic. Somehow, things didn’t seem to be turning out the way he had planned. He was secretly pleased when Miss Bonner made Peter throw his gum in the wastebasket.
    When recess came, Henry was surprised at the number of boys and girls who suddenly wanted free gum. He had almost as big a crowd around him as he had had on the first morning. He began to enjoy himself again.
    Then Roger and Peter called to him. “Hey, Henry, can we see you a sec?”
    â€œSure,” said Henry, stepping away from the others.
    â€œHere’s the gum I owe you.” Roger handed Henry eight balls of bubble gum.
    â€œMine, too.” Peter held out four balls.
    â€œHey, now wait a minute,” protested Henry. “That’s not fair.”
    â€œIt is, too,” said Roger. “We bought gum from you and now we’re returning it instead of paying for it.”

    â€œBut you chewed it,” objected Henry. “I saw you, and Miss Bonner made you throw it in the wastebasket.”
    â€œThis gum hasn’t been chewed, has it?” asked Peter.
    Henry had to admit it hadn’t.
    â€œThen why can’t we return it, like in a department store?” demanded Roger.
    Baffled, Henry took the gum. Something was wrong some place, but he couldn’t figure out what. He did know one thing, that was sure. There went six cents out of his bike fund.
    Then Mary Jane ran up to Roger and Peter. “Did he take the free samples we collected for you?” she asked.
    â€œWell, how do you like that!” exclaimed Henry. “That’s cheating, that’s what it is.”
    â€œIt is not,” said Mary Jane. “You gave us the gum and if we want to give it to someone else, that’s our business.”
    Henry looked glum. He supposed it was her business. Mary Jane was one of those annoying girls who were always right. The worst of it was, now he couldn’t expect the others to pay. Henry was actually glad when the bell ended recess, even though he knew spelling came next.
    That day no one chose Henry to be a monitor, and only Robert sat with him in the cafeteria. He heard Kathleen say she thought she wouldn’t invite any boys to her birthday party.
    After lunch, when the class was settled with its readers, the room door opened and Miss Mullen, the principal, entered. She whispered to Miss Bonner and then turned to the class. “Boys and girls,” she announced, “I want to talk to you for a few minutes this afternoon. We have a problem at Glenwood School that we all should discuss.”
    Now what? thought Henry. Probably running in the halls again or writing on the building with chalk.
    Miss Mullen looked around the room. Then she said, “That problem is gum.”
    Henry felt his neck and ears grow hot. He was sure everyone in the room was looking at him.
    Miss Mullen continued.