6 Short Stuff

Short Stuff

Early the next morning, Stink's team stood out in front of the school. As the buses pulled up, Captain Pluto and the Underdogs waved their signs. Rotten Riley marched up to Stink, hands on hips. "School hasn't even started yet," she said. "Mrs. D. said we could do this only during recess." "Who can wait?" said Stink.

Riley turned and stomped away. "Oh, you just wait. I'll get you for this, Stink Moody." "That's Captain Pluto to you!" yelled Stink. "And the Underdogs!" yelled the Underdogs. At recess, Captain P. and the Underdogs waved signs again. They shouted stuff. They even sang songs. "R-E-S-P-E-C-T! That's what Pluto needs from me," Stink sang at the top of his lungs. "Give me a P!" Skunk yelled. "Give me an L! Give me a U! Give me a T! Give me an O! What have you got?" "PLUTO!" yelled the Underdogs.

"I can't hear you!" "PLUTO!" screamed the Underdogs. Soon nearly half the whole playground was screaming, too. Then out came Rotten Riley and the KPBs. They were dressed in black from head to toe and carrying shovels. "Are they wearing garbage bags?" asked Sophie. Sure enough, Riley and the KPBs had on black garbage bags with holes cut where their heads and arms poked through. Somebody yelled, "Who forgot to take out the trash?" "We're not trash," said Riley. "We're dressed in black because we're going to a funeral." "Huh? Wha?" "FYI, Pluto died. Pluto is D-E-A-D dead."

Then Riley and her rotten team began to dig in the dirt, but they were not planting a garden. They were not searching for buried treasure. They were digging a grave. A grave for Pluto! "We've been skunked!" said Skunk.

Riley took out a tiny plastic ball. "Pluto is officially dead," she said, dropping the ball into the hole and covering it over with dirt. "Good-bye, Pluto," said the KPBs. "Sure, we'll miss you. But you're not a planet anymore." When they were done, they put up markers in the dirt, like at a pet cemetery. "Moment of silence, please," said Riley with a serious face. A hush fell over the second-grade crowd, and the playground was dead silent. Stink felt like he was in a black hole. He couldn't help it. He spoke. He broke the spell.