Chapter 7

Calvin had a big, round face.

"Calvin," said Mrs. Jewls, "I want you to take this note to Miss Zarves for me."

"Miss Zarves?" asked Calvin.

"Yes, Miss Zarves," said Mrs. Jewls. "You know where she is, don't you?"

"Yes," said Calvin. "She's on the nineteenth story."

"That's right, Calvin," said Mrs. Jewls. "Take it to her."

Calvin didn't move.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked Mrs. Jewls.
28"She's on the nineteenth story," said Calvin.
"Yes, we have already established that fact," said Mrs. Jewls.

"The nineteenth story," Calvin repeated.

"Yes, Calvin, the nineteenth story," said Mrs. Jewls. "Now take it to her before I lose my patience."

"But, Mrs. Jewls," said Calvin.

"Now, Calvin!" said Mrs. Jewls. "Unless you would rather go home on the kindergarten bus."

"Yes, ma'am," said Calvin. Slowly he walked out the door.

"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Terrence, "take it to the nineteenth story."

"Give it to Miss Zarves," hooted¹ Myron.

"Have fun on the nineteenth story," called Jason.

Calvin stood outside the door to the classroom. He didn't know where to go.

As you know, when the builder built Wayside School, he accidentally² built it sideways. But he also forgot to build the nineteenth story. He built the eighteenth and the twentieth, but no nineteenth. He said he was very sorry.

There was also no Miss Zarves. Miss Zarves taught the class on the nineteenth story. Since there was no nineteenth story, there was no Miss Zarves.

And besides that, as if Calvin didn't have enough problems, there was no note. Mrs. Jewls had never given Calvin the note.

"Boy, this is just great," thought Calvin. "Just great! I'm supposed to take a note that I don't have to a teacher who doesn't exist, and who teaches on a story that was never built."
29He didn't know what to do. He walked down to the eighteenth story, then back up to the twentieth, then back down to the eighteenth, and back up again to the twentieth. There was no nineteenth story. There never was a nineteenth story. And there never will be a nineteenth story.
Calvin walked down to the administration³ office. He decided⁴ to put the note in Miss Zarves's mailbox. But there wasn't one of those, either. That didn't bother Calvin too much, however, since he didn't have a note.

He looked out the window and saw Louis, the yard teacher, shooting baskets. "Louis will know what to do," he thought. Calvin went outside.

"Hey, Louis," Calvin called.

"Hi, Calvin," said Louis. He tossed⁵ him the basketball. Calvin dribbled⁶ up and took a shot. He missed. Louis tipped it in.

"Do you want to play a game?" Louis asked.

"I don't have time," said Calvin. "I have to deliver a note to Miss Zarves up on the nineteenth story."

"Then what are you doing all the way down here?" Louis asked.

"There is no nineteenth story," said Calvin.

"Then where is Miss Zarves?" asked Louis.

"There is no Miss Zarves," said Calvin.

"What are you going to do with the note?" asked Louis.

"There is no note," said Calvin.

"I understand," said Louis.

"That's good," said Calvin, "because I sure don't."

"It's very simple," said Louis. "You are not supposed to take no notes to no teachers.
30You already haven't done it."
Calvin still didn't understand. "I'll just have to tell Mrs. Jewls that I couldn't deliver the note," he said.

"That's good," said Louis. "The truth is always best. Besides, I don't think I understand what I said, either."

Calvin walked back up the thirty flights of stairs to Mrs. Jewls's class.

"Thank you very much, Calvin," said Mrs. Jewls.

Calvin said, "But I-"

Mrs. Jewls interrupted him. "That was a very important note, and I'm glad I was able to count on you."

"Yes, but you see-" said Calvin.

"You delivered the note to Miss Zarves on the nineteenth story?" asked Jason. "How did you do it?"

"What do you mean, how did he do it?" asked Mrs. Jewls. "He gave Miss Zarves the note. Some people, Jason, are responsible."

"But you see, Mrs. Jewls-" said Calvin.

"The note was very important," said Mrs. Jewls. "I told Miss Zarves not to meet me for lunch."

"Don't worry," said Calvin. "She won't."

"Good," said Mrs. Jewls. "I have a coffee can full of Tootsie Roll pops on my desk. You may help yourself to one, for being such a good messenger⁷."

"Thanks," said Calvin, "but really, it was nothing."

1 hooted   

（使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• An owl hooted nearby. 一只猫头鹰在附近啼叫。
• The crowd hooted and jeered at the speaker. 群众向那演讲人发出轻蔑的叫嚣和嘲笑。

2 accidentally   

adv.偶然地；意外地

参考例句：

• Mary accidentally let out that her mother had telephoned.玛丽无意中说出她的母亲来过电话。
• As I turned around,I accidentally hit him in the face.我转身时不经意撞了他的脸。

3 administration   

n.经营，管理；行政，行政机关，管理部门

参考例句：

• Who is in charge of the administration of your company?你们公司的行政工作由谁负责？
• The teachers are responsible to the school administration.教师向学校行政负责。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 tossed   

v.（轻轻或漫不经心地）扔( toss的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）摇荡；摇匀；（为…）掷硬币决定

参考例句：

• I tossed the book aside and got up. 我把书丢在一边，站了起来。
• He angrily tossed his tools and would work no longer. 他怒气冲冲地扔下工具不肯再干了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dribbled   

v.流口水( dribble的过去式和过去分词 )；（使液体）滴下或作细流；运球，带球

参考例句：

• Melted wax dribbled down the side of the candle. 熔化了的蜡一滴滴从蜡烛边上流下。
• He dribbled past the fullback and scored a goal. 他越过对方后卫，趁势把球踢入球门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 messenger   

n.报信者，先驱

参考例句：

• By the time the messenger reached him,the damage had been done.送信人赶到他那儿时，损失已经造成了。
• I'll order a special messenger to deliver the document.我会派专人把文件送去。