05 Brain Freeze

Brain Freeze After school on Thursday, Mr. Todd lined up the Virginia Dare Bookworms in the front row of Class 3T. Stink and Judy sat on either end, like bookends. Sophie, Jessica, and Frank were in the middle. "Welcome, Bookworms," he started. "This is our last official practice before the final Book Quiz Blowout on Saturday. I know you've been working hard. What great readers you all are." Just then, Mr. Todd noticed Stink's cape covered in sticky notes. "Stink, what's all this?" asked Mr. Todd. "This is my Cape of Good Answers. The sticky notes help me remember stuff from the books I read." "It's his cheat sheet," said Jessica Finch. "Nah-uh," said Stink. "Think of it like a study aid." "I can see how notes might be helpful for

studying," said Mr. Todd. "But you'll have to get through this practice session without them." "Stink, you won't be able to use notes at the real Book Quiz," Sophie reminded him. "So think of this as a dress rehearsal." "You mean undress rehearsal," said Stink. He took off his cape and handed it to Mr. Todd. "Okay, team. You've eaten up all the books on the reading list like bookworms. Just do your best. If you can't think of an answer, don't panic. Take a deep breath and try again." Mr. Todd took out a list of practice questions. "Here we go, Bookworms. Sophie, let's start with you."

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"Wait," said Stink. "Where's the buzzer?" "We won't be using buzzers today," said Mr. Todd, "so we can focus on the questions and answers." "Aw, no buzzers!" Stink slunk down in his chair. Mr. Todd cleared his throat. "In Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly by Grace Lin, what does Ting plant in her garden?" "Cupcakes!" said Sophie. Mr. Todd nodded. "Jessica, who wrote and illustrated the true story of a young artist named Jean-Michel Basquiat in Radiant Child?" "Javaka Steptoe," said Jessica Finch. "That is correct." "Judy, in Diary of a Spider—" "Fly! Grandparents Day! Itsy Bitsy Spider!" Words from Diary of a Spider sputtered out of Judy like popcorn popping. "Judy, please slow down and wait until you hear the question. Ready?" Judy took a deep breath. "In Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin, Grampa spider suggests that butterflies taste better when eaten with what?"

Judy sprang up from her seat. "Not ketchup. Not mustard. Barbecue sauce!" "Correct!" said Mr. Todd. "Frank, in Friends for Freedom by Suzanne Slade, name one of two famous civil-rights leaders who become good friends." "We just read this. It's..." Frank snapped his fingers three times. "Susan B. Anthony and... Frederick Douglass." "Good for you," said Mr. Todd. "You got them both." "Stink, your turn. In The Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach, what mischief happens to Marvin the beetle and his cousin Elaine?" Bzzz. Stink made a buzzer sound. Then, nothing. Judy looked over at Stink. Something was not right. Something was wrong. He looked like he had just swallowed a fly. His eyes looked like a robot's. Or a zombie's. Zombie robot! Oh, no! This could only mean one thing...

Brain freeze! Judy had to help Stink snap out of it. The clock was ticking... Stink looked around in a panic, hoping to take a peek at the Cape of Good Answers. He saw Judy instead, pretending to... sharpen a pencil. "Stink?" asked Mr. Todd. "Are you with us?" Stink's eyebrows shot up. "Pencil sharpener!" said Stink. "They get trapped inside a pencil sharpener." "That is correct," said Mr. Todd. "But I'm afraid you took too much time, so the Bookworms would not have gotten the ten points." Judy whispered to Frank. "Tell Stink to shake it