16. The Cold and Flu Season

CHAPTER 16 THE COLD AND FLU SEASON Soon it was autumn, and the new season brought with it many changes: crisp, chilly air; early morning frost; and bright, colorful leaves. But with the beauty of autumn came another change that wasn't quite so welcome: the cold and flu season. All through Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, people were getting sick. The hallways were filled with runny noses, sneezing mouths, and aching bodies.

And unfortunately, one of those noses, mouths, and bodies belonged to Melvin Sneedly. Every time Melvin sneezed, thousands of tiny driblets shot out of his mouth,

spattering the chalkboard with a thin layer of foamy, glistening, gunky-green, tapioca-like mucus. "Don't forget to cover your mouth, Melvin, dear," said Ms. Ribble.

"Oh, sorry," said Melvin. "Sorry." He put his hand over his mouth and sneezed again. This time, the explosion of air from his stifled sneeze blew off large, wet globs of his body, which sprayed over the entire classroom.

It was as if somebody set off a giant firecracker inside a bucket of green paint. The warm, smelly goo smacked into people's hair, splattered onto their clothes, and seemed to drench every square inch of the room.

"On second thought, Melvin," said Ms. Ribble, "don't cover your mouth next time. Now, who wants a cookie?"