Miss Brown Is Upside Down! by Dan Gutman Page A

*
    â€œYou need to raise your hand, A.J.,” said Mr. Cooper.
    Then Miss Brown jumped up so she was on her feet like a normal person.
    â€œYou’re probably wondering why I was walking on my hands,” she said. “ Anybody can walkon their feet. It’s more creative to walk on your hands.”
    â€œMiss Brown is an expert on creativity,” said Mr. Klutz. “She’s going to be your coach for the Brain Games.”
    â€œThe Brain Games are a competition where you use your brains,” said Miss Brown. “It involves creative projects blah blah blah think differently blah blah blah create and explore blah blah blah . . .”
    What a snoozefest. I had no idea what she was talking about.
    â€œWhen I say ‘up,’ I want you to think ‘down,’” said Miss Brown. “When I say ‘in,’ I want you to think ‘out.’”
    â€œThis isn’t going to be one of thoseboring educational activities, is it?” asked Mr. Cooper.
    Ewww , Mr. Cooper said the E word!
    â€œOh no, the Brain Games are going to be fun !” said Miss Brown. “The kids are going to create their own vehicle, and they’re going to build a bridge, too. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
    â€œYes!” shouted all the girls.
    â€œNo!” shouted all the boys.
    â€œThe Brain Games are sponsored by the Jiggly gelatin company,” said Miss Brown. “I’m sure you’ve all tasted Jiggly at home.”
    â€œIt jiggles, so you know it’s good,” added Mr. Klutz.
    I’ve tasted Jiggly gelatin. It looks like Jell-O, but it tastes horrible. My mothergave Jiggly to me one time when I was sick. It was worse than the medicine.
    â€œAnd here’s the big news,” said Mr. Klutz. “Your class is going to compete against another school to see which third grade will be the Brain Games champion of our town.”
    â€œWhich school?” we all asked.
    â€œDirk School,” said Mr. Klutz.

    WHAT?! No! Not Dirk School! Dirk School is on the other side of town. That’s where the really smart kids go. We call it Dork School.
    I didn’t like the whole idea of the Brain Games. I guess I was making a mean face.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, A.J.?” asked Mr. Cooper.
    â€œThe Brain Games sound like a way to trick dumb kids into being smart,” I said.
    â€œThere’s no way we can beat those Dirk jerks anyway,” said Ryan.
    â€œYeah, they’re way too smart,” said Michael.
    â€œYou kids are smart, too,” said Mr. Klutz, “and I think you can win. Oh, by the way, there will be a prize for the school thatwins the Brain Games.”
    â€œA prize?” asked Andrea.
    â€œA prize?” asked Emily, a big crybaby who says everything Andrea says.
    â€œA prize?” asked Alexia.
    In case you were wondering, everybody was saying “a prize?”
    â€œThe school that wins the Brain Games,” said Mr. Klutz, “will get a trip to PizzaWorld Water Park!”
    â€œWOW!” we all said, which is “MOM” upside down.
    PizzaWorld is the coolest water park in the history of water parks. You get to go down a water slide on a giant slice of pizza. They have a tomato sauce log flume. The best ride is Cheese Mountain, a roller coasteron a mountain made of cheese. And in the snack bar you get all the pizza you can eat.

    â€œWe need to choose a team captain,” said Miss Brown. “Are any of you in the gifted and talented program?”
    Andrea’s hand shot up in the air.
    â€œAren’t you in the G and T program, too, A.J.?” asked Mr. Cooper.
    I slinked down in my seat. I never wanted to be in the gifted and talented program. That’s for dorks like Andrea. But Ms. Coco, our gifted and talented teacher, forced me into it.
    â€œOkay, A.J. and Andrea will be the cocaptains of your Brain Games team,” said Mr. Cooper.
    â€œOoooo!” Ryan said.