7. An Orson Eerie Original

AN ORSON EERIE ORIGINAL 7 Sam, Lucy, and Antonio landed with a THUD! They were sprawled out on a desk. Bits of ceiling sprinkled down on them. Sam sat up. Their art teacher, Ms. Winter, had her hand over her mouth. "Um, hello, Ms. Winter," said Sam as he shook dirt from his hair.

The hall monitors glanced around. They had fallen through the floor of Orson Eerie's old art studio and dropped right into Ms. Winter's art class. Twenty-two shocked fourth-graders stared at them.

Suddenly, there was a crashing sound from above. "Watch out!" Lucy said. The friends covered their heads. WHACK! Orson Eerie's self-portrait toppled onto the hall monitors! Ms. Winter swooped over. She didn't seem to mind the mess. She was smiling from ear to ear!

"Oh my! This is an exciting discovery!" Ms. Winter squealed as she picked up the painting. "Do you know what this is?" "Ah... art?" Antonio asked. "Not just any art... It's an Orson Eerie original!" Ms. Winter exclaimed. "And I know exactly what to do with it!" Sam, Lucy, and Antonio stood up. Ms. Winter, still smiling, announced, "This painting will be the highest-priced piece of art at Friday's art show! For one hundred dollars, someone will get to take this treasure home!" She held the painting above her head like a trophy. Sam, Lucy, and Antonio were stunned. The fourth-graders looked confused, too. "Let's get out of here!" Lucy whispered, motioning to her friends.

The hall monitors quietly escaped into the hall as Ms. Winter placed the painting on an easel by her desk. The evil painting had a new home.