Horrible Harry and the Ant Invasion Read Free Page B

you think she’s sick?”
    â€œI hope not,” Miss Mackle said. “It would be so nice to have everyone present for the picture.”
    Just then, Song Lee appeared at the door.
    Harry’s eyebrows shot up.
    Miss Mackle went to meet her. “Why, Song Lee, you look beautiful.”
    Song Lee looked down at the floor. Her hair was in a bun. Two white flowers were pinned on either side of her hair.
    She was wearing a long dress and a flowered sash. When Song Lee looked up she said, “Mother want to send picture to Korea for my relatives.”
    Miss Mackle smiled. “They will be very pleased.”
    Just then Mrs. Foxworth appeared at the door. “The photographer is ready for Room 2B in the gym now.”
    As we walked down the hall, I said to Harry, “We probably won’t get to stand next to each other. I’m four inches taller than you.”
    â€œI know,” Harry replied. “I’ll probably be next to the king of hairdos.”
    I knew who Harry meant.
    Sidney.
    â€œMaybe you’ll get lucky,” I said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Harry asked.
    â€œYou might be next to Song Lee.”
    Harry looked at me and grinned.
    â€œYou might be next to the teacher,” Harry said.
    I frowned.
    When we got in the gym, a mother passed out orange combs. Another mother went up to each student and helped to comb their hair. When she got to Sidney, she couldn’t get his snarls out.
    Then the comb broke.
    â€œOkay, kiddies!” the photographer said. “Line up over here.”

    When he saw Harry in his suit and Song Lee in her outfit, he said, “Ooh la la! Look who’s getting married today!”
    Everyone laughed and giggled.
    Harry held up a fist. “I’m going to be a great scientist when I grow up. I’m not getting married.”
    Song Lee kept looking at her sash.
    â€œWell, you two make a great couple. You can hold the sign that says, MISS MACKLE’S SECOND GRADE CLASS.”
    Sidney cackled so loud, he was hurting my eardrums.
    â€œAnd you two gorgeous redheads can stand together!” the photographer said.
    Then he moved Sidney and the teacher together.
    Everyone laughed again. Except Sidney.
    â€œHey, good-looking,” the photographer said to me, “you get to stand between two lovely ladies.”
    I made a face and stood between Ida and Mary.
    â€œOkay, kiddies,” the photographer said. “Say hamburger with pickles and cheese!”
    The photographer flashed his camera.

    â€œNow say liver and onions!”
    The photographer flashed his camera again.
    I was hoping the pictures would be over really soon. I was surrounded by girls.
    â€œSay spaghetti and meatballs!”
    The photographer flashed his camera one last time.
    â€œI hope I didn’t close my eyes,” Miss Mackle said.
    Harry put the sign down on the floor. Then he lined up by the ramp.
    I could tell Harry was miffed about something. He took off his tie and stuffed it in his pocket.
    When I stood next to him, he whispered. “I don’t like that guy.”
    â€œYou mean the photographer?”
    Harry nodded.
    â€œYeah,” I said. “I think he should open a restaurant and sell liver and onions, spaghetti and meatballs, and hamburgers with pickles.”
    Harry looked at me and then at the photographer. “That guy was acting so dumb I wouldn’t buy a picture or a pickle from him.”
    Harry always tells the horrible truth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Suzy Kline graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and received her elementary school teacher’s credential from California State University at Hayward. She has been teaching for sixteen years and is the author of the popular Herbie Jones series (available in Puffin). Kline was selected Teacher of the Year in 1986 by the Torrington School District in Connecticut and in 1988 by the Probus Club of Torrington.