3 Ch3-If You Read This You'll Go Blind

Chapter 3 If You Read This, You'll Go Blind Mr. Macky was reading that soup can he brought into our class. I love to read, said Mr. Macky. Don't you? Yeah! said all the girls. No! said all the boys. Mr. Macky is always trying to get us to

read. What is his problem? Doesn't he know that reading is a big bore? Why are you even reading this book? If I were you, I'd be doing something worthwhile, like watching a big-screen TV. The only books worth reading are Dr. Seuss books. He was cool. My friend Billy who lives around the corner told me that if you read too much, you'll go blind. Homework involves a lot of reading. So, just to be on the safe side, I'm going to stop doing my homework so I won't go blind. Mr. Macky, why do you have a can of chicken noodle soup? asked Michael. I was reading the label, he said.

Reading can take you on a journey. So can watching TV, I said. Yes, but you can learn so much more by reading, said Mr. Macky, because you can use your imagination. I'll read anything. But what can you learn from a soup can? asked Ryan. I learned that chickens have noodles, said Mr. Macky. Chickens have fingers, too, said Michael. My mom gives me chicken fin- gers for lunch all the time. Chickens have nuggets, too, I added. They do not, said Andrea. Do too, I told her.

Do not. We went back and forth like that for a while. Let's discuss chickens some other time, said Miss Daisy. I think Mr. Macky

is here to talk about Presidents' Day. Right you are, said Mr. Macky. I had an idea to promote reading at Ella Mentry School. In celebration of Presidents' Day, we're going to read all about the presi- dents. We're going to learn a lot. Each of you is going to give an oral report* on a president. You'll even get to dress up as your president. The whole school will be involved. Doesn't that sound like fun? Yeah! said all the girls. No! said all the boys.

Why is it that girls always want to read books, learn stuff, give reports, and play dress-up? What is their problem? Girls are weird. How come we never celebrate any- thing by sitting around and watching big-screen TVs? I think it's a great idea, said Miss Daisy (a girl, of course). I don't know anything about the presidents. Of course not. Miss Daisy doesn't know anything about anything. I can't believe she got a job as a teacher. I think it's a great idea too, said Andrea, the big brownnoser. When did you get this great idea, Mr. Macky?