The Big Blueberry Barf-Off! Read Online Free PDF Page A

Yeah, you guessed why. The mice outnumber the students two to one. You can’t fall asleep in class. The mice will crawl up your legs.

    The next afternoon, I was walking out of the School House when I saw April-May by the front door. “Hey, hi!” I called. “How’s it going?”
    â€œFine,” she said. She kicked a mouse out of the way and started up the front stairs.
    I chased after her. “Looking good,” I said. “I like what you did to your hair.”
    â€œYou can’t see my hair. I’m wearing a cap,” she replied.
    â€œHow about a walk? Or maybe we could hang out at the Student Center?”
    â€œNo way,” she said. “I have my cooking class now. With Ms. Monella. It’s going to be very cool. We’regetting everything ready to bake chocolate cakes tomorrow.”
    I stepped in front of her. “Chocolate cakes? How many kids are in your class?”
    â€œTwenty-five,” April-May said. “We’re baking twenty-five chocolate cakes. Get out of my way, Bernie.”
    My brain was spinning. “Why not blueberry pies?” I said.
    She squinted at me. “Are you crazy? It’s chocolate cakes.” She pushed me out of the way and started into the classroom kitchen.
    â€œAbout those dance lessons Saturday night—” I said.
    She slammed the door in my face.
    â€œIs that a maybe?” I shouted.
    I stood there, thinking hard. Chocolate cakes…chocolate cakes… Why not PIES ?
    There’s gotta be a way….

Chapter 12
J ENNIFER E CCH
    I booted a fat mouse from my path and stepped outside. It was a cool, gray afternoon. But my brain was steaming hot. I was picturing twenty-five cakes turning into pies.
    â€œHey, Big B—what’s up?”
    Feenman and Crench were calling to me. We started walking across the Great Lawn toward Rotten House.
    I explained the problem to them. “The pie-eating contest is a lock,” I said. “But how do we get the pies? Any ideas?”
    â€œRun,” Feenman said.
    â€œYeah. Run,” Crench said.
    â€œRun? Why?” I asked.
    Crench pointed across the lawn. His finger trembled. “Here comes Jennifer Ecch!” he cried.
    I turned and saw Nightmare Girl running at me full speed, like a tiger ready to pounce.

    â€œJennifer Ecch!” I shouted. “RUN!” I took off, my sneakers slapping the ground.
    Behind me, I saw Jennifer Ecch soaring across the grass, her brown hair flying behind her head.
    She’s a big, strong girl, about a foot taller than me. I mean, she’s a really big girl. Her knees are as big as my head!
    Someone told me that she’s here on an ArmWrestling scholarship.
    I cut around a flower bed and darted into a bunch of bushes. I glanced back.
    Jennifer was gaining on me. She had her hands outstretched, ready to grab me.
    Sweat poured down my face as I dove through the bushes and dashed through a clump of apple trees. It’s so embarrassing to be in fourth grade and have a girl who’s madly in love with me.
    What could be worse?
    I was panting now. I picked up speed as I tore through another clump of bushes.
    Behind me, I heard Jennifer’s loud cry. She leaped and flew through the air. She tackled me from behind.
    I went down hard, landing on my elbows and my knees. My glasses went flying.
    Jennifer landed hard on top of me. We were both gasping for breath.
    It was a struggle. But I finally pulled her off me. I climbed to my feet and brushed myself off.
    â€œHey, Jen—” I said. “I was looking for you!”

Chapter 13
T HE H ORRIBLE A CCIDENT
    â€œHuh? Looking for me?” Jennifer Ecch pulled herself to her knees. She wiped grass stains off her hands. She squinted at me with her one blue eye, one brown eye.
    â€œYeah. I was looking all over for you,” I said. I pulled a clump of leaves from my hair. I picked up my glasses.
    â€œIs that why you ran so fast?” she asked.
    She