The Great Smelling Bee Read Online Free PDF Page A

Heinie squinted at me through her glasses. “What did you say?”
    â€œI said, come take a PEEK.”
    â€œThat’s what I plan to do,” Mrs. Heinie said, gazing around.

    Lippy squawked from his cage.
    â€œBernie, what did you say?” Mrs. H. repeated.
    â€œI said, lovely WEATHER.”
    Mrs. Heinie began searching my room for pets. She sniffed around in every corner. She searched my closet. She went through my dresser drawers. She even got down on her knees and searched under my bed. “I don’t like that smile on your face, Bernie,” she said. “I know you’re hiding pets in here somewhere.”
    â€œI’m only smiling because I’m happy to see you,” I said. I flashed her my best dimples. “You bring a little sunshine to all of us boys, Mrs. H.”
    â€œCut the baloney,” she said. She sighed. “I can’t find any animals. Guess I’ll say good night.”
    She started to shake my hand—then stopped.
    Her eyes bulged, and her mouth dropped open.
    She was staring at the bed. Staring because Gassy had poked his head up through the covers. Gassy had his head on the pillow, staring up at Mrs. H.
    â€œUh…I can explain this,” I said.

Chapter 13
T HE N EW S TUDENT
    Think fast, Bernie. Think fast.
    â€œMrs. Heinie, have you met the new student?” I said.
    She blinked several times. “New student?”
    â€œYes. He arrived today. Meet…uh…Barry Bone.”
    Mrs. Heinie squinted at Gassy. “Welcome to Rotten House.”
    Gassy burped.
    Mrs. Heinie turned to me. “I’m shocked. I don’t believe you’re sharing your room! You never wanted a roommate. You always wanted to be by yourself.”
    â€œOh. Well…I wanted to give the new kid a break,” I said. “You know. Help him get a good start.”
    â€œThat’s so nice of you, Bernie,” Mrs. Heinie said.
    A big gob of drool ran down Gassy’s chin. I stepped behind him and hugged him to cover the drool.
    â€œBernie—what are you doing?” Mrs. Heinie asked.
    â€œI’m starting a new tradition,” I told her. “A nightly handshake and a nightly hug.” I tightened my hug around Gassy.
    Mrs. Heinie had a tear in one eye. “Bernie, I never knew you had such a sweet side. A nightly hug is a wonderful idea.”
    She stepped forward and stuck out her hand. “Barry, welcome to Rotten House. We shake hands every night.”
    I still had a tight hug around the dog’s middle. I stuck out my hand, and she shook it.
    â€œAnd good night to you, too, Bernie,” she said. I stuck out my hand again, and she shook it again.
    Mrs. Heinie turned and headed out the door.

    Yaay . Talk about a close one!
    As soon as Mrs. Heinie was gone, Feenman, Belzer, and Crench hurried into my room.
    â€œBernie, she almost caught you,” Feenman said. “That new student idea was brilliant.”
    â€œBrilliant!” Belzer repeated.
    â€œBut she’ll catch on,” Crench said. “What are you going to do?”
    â€œNo problem. We’ll do it right,” I said. “We’ll enroll Barry in school.”

Chapter 14
J ELLY B EANS
    I listened until Mrs. H. climbed the stairs to her apartment in the attic. I heard her door close. Then Feenman, Crench, and I got dressed and tiptoed out of the dorm.
    It was a cool, breezy night. Very dark. No moon or stars.
    Our sneakers slid over the wet grass. I was in a hurry. Feenman and Crench had to jog to keep up with me.
    â€œTell me again, Bernie,” Feenman whispered. “Why are we sneaking into the Headmaster’s office?”
    â€œTo enroll the new student,” I said.
    We made our way to Upchuck’s building. He was asleep. All the lights were out upstairs.
    We sneaked in through a back window. Our flashlights danced over the walls. The Headmaster had a big desk, cluttered with papers and files. A desktop computer sat