Wayside School Is Falling Down Read Online Free PDF Page A

to be free,” he said bravely.
    The man with the attaché case wrote something on the piece of paper and gave it to Myron. “Sign here,” he said.
    Myron couldn’t read the piece of paper. It was written in some kind of foreign language. He signed his name.
    The man took the paper and pencil from Myron and put them back into his attaché case. “Okay, you’re free,” he said.
    “Good luck, Myron,” said the bald man. “Here, I think you’ll need this.” He gave Myron his left sneaker, then reached up and pulled the chain. The light turned off.
    Myron found himself alone in the darkness. He put his shoe back on, then hopped across the basement floor. He had no idea how to get back.
    At last his hand hit against a pipe. But he still didn’t know which way to follow it, left or right. He didn’t even know if it was the right pipe. He turned left and continued hopping, keeping his finger on the pipe.
    He was just about ready to turn around and try the other way when he nearly fell over the bottom stair.
    He hopped up the stairs, and continued hopping all the way up to Mrs. Jewls’s room.
    He was tired, sore, and dirty.
    “You’re late, Myron,” said Mrs. Jewls. “Go write your name under DISCIPLINE, then return to your seat for the arithmetic test.”
    But Myron didn’t feel like taking an arithmetic test. And he definitely didn’t want to write his name on the board.
    So he sat on the floor.
    And there was nothing Mrs. Jewls could do about it.
    He was free.
    After school Mrs. Jewls found Myron’s other sneaker in the teachers’ lounge, in the refrigerator.
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    Chapter 8
    The Best Part
    Todd brought a toy to school. It was a cute, adorable puppy dog. Everyone who saw it said, “Aw.”
    “Aw,” said Jenny. “He has such a sweet face.”
    “Aw,” said Stephen. “Look at her darling eyes.”
    “Aw,” said Deedee. “Isn’t he the cutest puppy you’ve ever seen?”
    “Aw,” said Calvin. “Isn’t she adorable?”
    Joy sat at the desk behind Todd. Big deal, she thought. It’s just a hunk of plastic that happens to look like a dog.
    But even though Joy didn’t like Todd’s toy, she decided to steal it.
    “Wait,” said Todd. “Let me show you the best part.”
    Before he could show them the best part, Mrs. Jewls rang her cowbell. “Take your seats!” she commanded. “The bell has rung!”

    All the children returned to their desks.
    “Todd, go write your name on the blackboard.”
    Todd was the only one who had been in his seat, yet he was the one who got in trouble. That was typical.
    Mrs. Jewls had a system. The first time someone got in trouble, he had to write his name on the blackboard under the word DISCIPLINE. The second time he got in trouble, he had to put a check next to his name. And if he got in trouble a third time, he had to circle his name and then go home early, at twelve o’clock, on the kindergarten bus.
    Todd went home on the kindergarten bus every day. Some of the other kids thought he was lucky, but he wished just once he could make it to twelve o’clock without getting into trouble three times.
    He walked to the front of the room and wrote his name on the blackboard under the word DISCIPLINE.
    While Todd was at the board, Joy reached over her desk and into Todd’s. She felt around for the toy. But as she tried to lift it out, it caught on something and dropped to the floor.
    Todd returned to his seat.
    “Todd, is that your toy on the floor?” asked Mrs. Jewels.
    “Hey, how’d that get there?” asked Todd.
    “You know the rules, Todd,” said Mrs. Jewls. “Toys must be kept inside your desk, or else I take them. Now bring it here.”
    Todd gave his toy to Mrs. Jewls.
    “Awwww, how precious,” cooed Mrs. Jewls. “He’s the most lovable puppy I’ve ever seen.” She kissed Todd’s plastic puppy on its plastic nose. “I guess I can let you off this time,” she said. “But try to keep him in your desk.” She kissed Todd’s toy again, then handed it