Chapter 29

Louis had a red face and a mustache of many colors. He was the yard teacher at Wayside School. It was his job to see that the children didn't have too much fun during lunch and recess¹.

And if you haven't already guessed, he is the one who wrote this book.

On June tenth there was a blizzard². Louis was afraid that the children would have too much fun, so nobody was allowed outside.

"Class," said Mrs. Jewls. "After you finish yourlunch today, come back up to the classroom.
116You are not allowed outside."

The children all went to the lunchroom. Miss Mush had made Tuna Surprise. They looked at it, then hurried back up the stairs.

There was nothing to do.

"Now, class," said Mrs. Jewls, "I know that you are all bored, but I have a special surprise for you."

"I hope it's better than the Tuna Surprise," said Maurecia.

Mrs. Jewls continued, "Louis is going to come up and entertain³ us. He will tell us a story. Now I want you all to be on your best behavior."

When Louis walked in, all the children booed.

"Are you going to tell us a story?" asked Bebe.

"Yes," said Louis.

"Well, it better be good," Bebe warned⁴.

"It better be better than the Tuna Surprise," said "Butterfingers."

"I thought the Tuna Surprise was good," said Louis.

"You'd eat dirt if they put enough ketchup⁵ on it," said Mac.

"Hey, everybody, be quiet," said Todd. "Let him tell the story."

"Not too loud, Louis," said Sharie. "I'm trying to get some sleep."

Louis sat in the middle of the room, and all the children gathered around.

Louis began his story. "This is a story about a school very much like this one. But before we get started, there is something you ought to know so that you don't getconfused.

In this school every classroom is on the same story."
"Which one, the eighteenth?" asked Jenny.

"No," said Louis. "They are all on the ground. The school is only one story high."

"Not much of a school," laughed Dameon.

Louis continued. "Now you might think the children there are strange and silly. That is probably true. However, when I told them stories about you, they thought that you were strange and silly."

"US?" the children answered. "How are we strange?"

"I'm normal," said Stephen. "Aren't I?"

"As normal as I am," Joe assured⁶ him.

"The children at that school must be crazy," said Leslie.

"Real lulus," Maurecia agreed.

"Tell us about them, Louis," Bebe demanded.

"For one thing," Louis said, "none of these children has ever been turned into an apple."

"That's silly," said Deedee. "Everybody's been turned into an apple. It's part of growing up."

Louis continued. "Dead rats don't walk into classrooms wearing raincoats."

"What do they wear, tuxedos⁷?" asked Todd.

"And girls never try to sell their toes," Louis added⁸.

"Well, no wonder," said Leslie, "at today's prices."

Louis continued. "They don't trade names or read upside⁹ down. They can't turn mosquito¹⁰ bites into numbers. They don't count the hairs on their heads. The walls don't laugh, and two plus two always equals four."

"That's not the worst of it," said Louis. "They have never tasted Maurecia-flavored ice cream."

A hush¹¹ fell over the classroom.

"Mrs. Jewls, I'm scared," said Allison. "Is there really a school like that?"

"Of course not," said Mrs. Jewls. "Louis was just telling a story."

"It was a good story," said Leslie.

"I thought it was stupid," said Kathy.

"I liked it," said Rondi. "It was funny."

Mrs. Jewls said, "Louis, it was a very entertaining story. But we don't really go in for fairy tales here. I'm trying to teach my class the truth."

"That's all right," said Louis. "I have to go down to room twenty-nine now and tell them a story." He started out the door.

"Class," said Mrs. Jewls. "Let's all thank Louis for his wonderful story."

Everybody booed.

The End

1 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

2 blizzard   

n.暴风雪

参考例句：

• The blizzard struck while we were still on the mountain.我们还在山上的时候暴风雪就袭来了。
• You'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself off.你得等暴风雪停了再走。

3 entertain   

vt.招待，款待；使欢乐，使娱乐；vi.款待，请客

参考例句：

• Emma will be happy to entertain you.爱玛会很高兴招待你的。
• They entertain a great deal.他们常常招待客人。

4 warned   

v.警告( warn的过去式和过去分词 )；提醒；告诫；预先通知

参考例句：

• Motorists have been warned to beware of icy roads. 已经提醒开车的人当心冰封的路面。
• I've warned her countless times. 我警告过她无数次了。

5 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？

6 assured   

a.确实的，深信的

参考例句：

• He spoke in a calm, assured voice. 他冷静自信地说。
• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。

7 tuxedos   

n.餐服，无尾晚礼服( tuxedo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our services include design and tailoring for wedding gowns, tuxedos and party dressesfrom and American brands. 们的服务范围包括高级婚纱设计定制，高级礼服、派对装设计定制，及欧美一线品牌成衣的驳样定制。 来自互联网
• Most tuxedos are black, but some people like to wear white ones called 'morning suits'. 大多数男士无尾晚礼服是黑色的，不过有些人喜欢穿那种被称为“晨服”的白色装。 来自互联网

8 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

9 upside   

n.上侧，上段，上部

参考例句：

• The children hung the picture upside down.小孩把画挂倒了。
• If you turn the envelope upside down, the key will fall out.你如果把信封倒过来，钥匙就会掉出。

10 mosquito   

n.蚊子

参考例句：

• I slapped at the mosquito but missed.我打蚊子，但没打中。
• I was bitten in the leg by a mosquito.我腿上被蚊子叮了一口。

11 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！