Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine Read Free

that disturbed her was the way Eddie Philips, who sat in the row on her left, kept staring at her.
    Eddie was a stocky, broad-shouldered boy with a heavy face and thin, blond hair. From the time Irene first took her seat, Eddie stared at her, and this made her so nervous that for a day or two she could not pay full attention to the teacher.
    On Friday, during the science period, he was staring at her when Miss Arnold called on him to answer a quite simple question. Eddie got up and stammered foolishly, and it was only the bell that saved him. After school, as Irene was starting for home, he came up to her.
    â€œHello,” he said, “Can I—can I carry your books for you?”
    â€œNo, thank you,” said Irene. “I’m perfectly capable of carrying my own books.”
    â€œOh. Well, can I walk you home?”
    â€œI can’t stop you from walking in any direction you like,” Irene tightened her lips, and then added, “Just as I can’t stop you from staring at me so much in school.”
    â€œI wasn’t staring. Just looking hard.”
    â€œTry looking soft, then. And mind your own business, and maybe you’ll be able to answer Miss Arnold’s questions.”
    Eddie flushed. “Aw, I know that science stuff cold.”
    â€œReally? You didn’t seem to know it today.”
    â€œThat’s because I was thinking of—of somebody.”
    Just then Danny and Joe came up. Danny said, “Hi, Irene. Let me take your books.”
    â€œOh, thank you, Danny,” Irene said primly, handing them to him.
    â€œWhat are you looking at, Snitcher?” Danny said to Eddie. “See something funny?”
    â€œYeah. Very funny,” said Eddie, staring belligerently at Danny. Scowling, he turned away. “And maybe I’ll have the last laugh,” he added, over his shoulder, and left them.
    â€œWhy did you call him ‘Snitcher’?” Irene asked, as they began walking.
    â€œBecause that’s what he is,” Danny replied. “He’s always telling on kids—not so much because he wants to get something for himself. Just out of meanness.”
    â€œWell, whatever he is, I wish he’d stop staring at me in class. He makes me nervous.”
    Joe was walking on Irene’s other side, gloomily muttering to himself. He stopped long enough to say, “He thinks you’re pretty. Ha!”
    â€œOh, so that’s what it was.” Irene could not help smiling.
    Danny saw her smile. “Gosh, don’t tell me you like him,” he said. “That creep!”
    â€œI can like anyone I want to,” Irene retorted. “I like all sorts of people—I even like Joe.”
    Joe blinked at this. Irene paid no attention to him, but went on, tossing her pony-tail, “So there, Danny Dunn.”
    Danny began to look a little hurt. She peered at him with such a merry grin, however, that he cheered up at once.
    â€œCome on over to my house,” he said. “Mom made some ginger cookies this morning.”
    But when they entered the pleasant house of Professor Bullfinch, all thoughts of cookies were at once forgotten, for the place looked as though a miniature tornado had struck it. Clothing was strewn about the living-room floor, papers and notebooks covered the dining-room table, and a trail of odds and ends littered the staircase. As they looked in astonishment, Professor Bullfinch came bustling from the laboratory. He was a short, plump man with a round bald head. He wore thick-framed glasses, behind which his calm eyes twinkled. At the moment, his forehead was wrinkled and he looked disturbed.
    â€œI know I put it somewhere!” he exclaimed. “Danny, my boy. Where on earth is my pipe?”
    â€œYou’re holding it in your hand, Professor.”
    â€œI am? Why, so I am. Thank you, Dan. I knew I could depend on you.”
    Mrs. Dunn came into the hall with an armful of clothes. “Hello,