10 Ch10-The Big Stupid Art Contest

Chapter 10 The Big Stupid Art Contest The next morning I was on my best behavior. I was trying very hard to not say anything mean to Andrea. But it wasn't easy, because she is so annoying. When Andrea gave an apple to Miss Daisy as a present, I wanted to say something mean. But I didn't.

When Andrea showed everybody the A+ she got on the math quiz, I wanted to say something mean. But I didn't. When Andrea told Miss Daisy how pretty her hair looked, I wanted to say something mean. But I didn't. Andrea wasn't saying anything mean to me either. We both wanted that candy bar. Miss Daisy was happy that Andrea and I were being so nice to each other. When it came time for lunch, she sat us at the same table with Ryan and Michael and Emily. I traded Emily my banana, and she traded me her potato chips. "Did you all bring in your stuff for the

art contest?" asked Emily. "Ms. Hannah is going to judge the winner this afternoon." I had forgotten all about the stupid art contest. Michael said he made a statue out of toothpicks. Ryan said he made a papier-mache head. Emily made a col- lage. Andrea made a mobile with hanging butterflies (of course!). I was the only one who didn't bring in anything. I hate art. Art is stupid.

"Did you see the art room?" Andrea asked. "When I brought my mobile in, the place was just a big mess." "Of course it's a big mess," Ryan said. "Have you ever seen Ms. Hannah throw anything away?" "She can't throw anything away," Michael said. "She doesn't have a garbage can." "That's exactly what I mean," Andrea said. "Ms. Hannah just gets more and more stuff, and never throws anything away. My mother is a psychologist. She helps people with their problems. And my mother says that people who can't throw anything away have a problem."

I was going to tell Andrea that she was the one who had a problem. But I didn't. I wanted that candy bar. "You know, everything isn't art," Andrea said. "Some things are garbage. Maybe Ms. Hannah became an art teacher because she couldn't throw anything away. She might be a sick, sick woman who needs help." "I never thought of it that way," Ryan said. "We've got to help her!" said Emily. "What can we do?" asked Michael. "I've got an idea!" said Emily. "Why don't we sneak into the art room during recess and clean it up? When Ms. Hannah

sees how neat and clean everything is, she will realize she has a problem." "That's a great idea!" Andrea said. It didn't sound like such a great idea to me. Cleaning things up was no fun at all. I don't like cleaning my room at home. I sure didn't want to clean up the art room. But I didn't want to get into an argument with Andrea either. If we had a fight, I wouldn't get my candy bar. After we finished lunch, the five of us snuck down the hall to the art room. Andrea was right. The place was a big mess. That's when I came up with the greatest idea in the history of the world. "You know what?" I said. "Instead of