Horrible Harry and the Dungeon by Suzy Kline Page B

hairy.”
    â€œHairy?”
    â€œHe was wearing Bermuda shorts, and I saw his legs.”
    â€œHe has hairy legs?” I said.
    â€œYes, and ...” Harry paused. “A big black shoulder bag. It bulges.”
    â€œWhat do you think is in it?”

    â€œMaybe whips, a sledgehammer, and chains. It was heavy. I know because I tried to pick it up.”
    â€œYou did?”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œWhere were you?” I asked.
    â€œDownstairs in the basement. I watched him check out the Suspension Room. Then he walked through the gym and into the boys’ bathroom.”
    â€œYou followed Skooghammer into the boys’ bathroom?”
    Harry nodded. “He left his black shoulder bag on the floor outside the stall. It was open a little, so I stuck my hand inside.”
    â€œYeah, go on.”
    â€œThat’s when I pricked it on something sharp.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œIt felt like that spiked weapon the knights used.”
    â€œA mace? Whoa!”
    â€œAnyway, Skooghammer came out of the stall, so I dashed over to the sink and washed the blood off my fingers.”
    â€œDid you get a look at his face?”
    â€œI sure did. The guy had an earring in his eyebrow.”
    â€œHIS EYEBROW?”
    â€œYup. His hair looked like a bunch of S.O.S. pads sitting on his head. The dude’s weird. After Skooghammer went back to the Dungeon, I stuck my head in the fountain to cool off. I wouldn’t want to spend a day with that guy.”
    â€œBut I bet you’d like to see what’s in his big black bag,” I said.
    Harry nodded. “I’m working on a plan.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYup, and when I figure one out, I’ll raise my eyebrows three times. Just go along with whatever I need you to do. Okay?”
    â€œOkay,” I said slowly. But I wasn’t looking forward to it.
    Harry’s Big Black Bag Plan sounded dangerous.

Clash, Flash, and the Big Black Bag Plan

    That afternoon, while we were working on math, Harry kept rolling balls of clay and then chopping them in half with a ruler.
    â€œI hate fractions,” Harry whispered. “They’re boring.”
    â€œYou’re making some right now,” Miss Mackle said behind us. “Halves.”
    Harry took out his math paper. Not one problem was done.
    â€œWould you rather work in the Suspension Room?” Miss Mackle suggested.
    Harry suddenly got busy.
    A few minutes later, I heard Mr. Cardini’s voice at the door, so I looked up. He was standing there with a woman who was holding a camera. “Room 2B, this is Mrs. Kamaya, from the newspaper. I called her up so she could see the new butterflies and your interest in science.”
    As soon as the principal left, Miss Mackle went over to greet the woman. “Come in, Mrs. Kamaya. Boys and girls, we can have our science clubs meet now, if you like.”
    â€œYeah!” Harry blurted out. “Take a picture of our Snake Club. It’s the best!”
    Sidney turned around. “Our Eagle Club is the best. We have better pictures. Besides, eagles eat snakes.”
    Harry put up a fist.
    â€œBoys!” Miss Mackle exclaimed.
    I could tell the teacher was embarrassed. She was rolling her eyeballs.
    When she turned to the newspaper woman, she shook her head. “Welcome to the classroom. June is a challenge.”
    Mrs. Kamaya smiled. “I have three children. I know. They clash over the silliest things.”
    Harry walked over to Sidney and Dexter at the Eagle Club table. “Snakes eat eagles.”

    â€œEagles eat snakes. The Mexican flag proves it!” Dexter replied.
    Flash!
    When Mrs. Kamaya took our picture, I noticed Miss Mackle had her hand over her eyes.
    â€œBig deal,” I said. “Eagles can’t swim. Snakes can. Here’s a picture of one.”
    Harry and I unrolled the mural we had made of a nine-foot-long sea snake.

    Flash!
    Dexter pulled a quarter out of his