Read Horrible Harry Cracks the Code Online
Authors: Suzy Kline
Horrible Harry Cracks the Code (3 page)
“Why are you so happy, Harry?” I whispered.
“I just got a case!” he replied. “The biggest case ever in Room 3B! Who in our room will get a lucky lunch tray!”
“But that's impossible!” I said.
“Not for the world's second-best detective! Me! You heard Mrs. Funderburke,” Harry explained. “She has a special set of numbers. All I have to do is figure out what it is, and bingo! Case solved!”
I covered my face with both hands.
Oh, no,
I thought. This case had college math! It was not going to be lucky for Harry!
I thought. This case had college math! It was not going to be lucky for Harry!
The Schnozzola
I
was glad when Miss Mackle started science. It was Harry's favorite subject. I was hoping it might get his mind off his big detective case.
was glad when Miss Mackle started science. It was Harry's favorite subject. I was hoping it might get his mind off his big detective case.
The teacher was holding a giant model of a human nose. “Boys and girls, we've been studying our five senses. This week we'll learn fascinating facts about the nose and how important our sense of smell is.”
“I love the
schnozzola
!” Harry exclaimed.
schnozzola
!” Harry exclaimed.
Sidney cackled. “Yeah! The big schnozz!”
The teacher opened up the giant nose and showed us what it looked like way back in our nostrils.
“These little hairs are called
cilia
,” she said. “They're like whisk brooms. They keep most of the dust and dirt from going down into our lungs. They're so small you can only see them with a microscope. The cilia appear bigger here.”
cilia
,” she said. “They're like whisk brooms. They keep most of the dust and dirt from going down into our lungs. They're so small you can only see them with a microscope. The cilia appear bigger here.”
“Cool!” ZuZu replied.
“I bet the dust and dirt makes good boogers,” Harry said.
Mary cringed as Song Lee giggled.
“Actually, Harry,” Miss Mackle answered, “you're right. Our nose mucus is like glue. It captures all that dust and dirt. So when we blow our nose, we get rid of . . .”
Suddenly Sidney sneezed into his hands.
“Sidney,” the teacher said, “you just got rid of germs at about one hundred miles per hour!”
“Whoa!” I said.
“Can I go wash my hands?” Sid asked.
“Good idea,” Miss Mackle replied.
When Sidney returned, the teacher explained our next activity. “You can do this by yourself or with a partner. Find something in our room that smells. Put it in a cup, tape paper over it, and punch a few holes on top. Later, we'll see if we can use our sense of smell to detect what the hidden object is.”
Harry raised his hand.
“Yes?” the teacher said.
“May Doug and I go to the cafeteria? I want to ask Mrs. Funderburke if she could donate something that smells for our cup.”
“How resourceful, Harry!” Miss Mackle replied. “Since it was your idea, you and Doug may go. But I'm not sending anyone else. Mrs. Funderburke is a very busy lady. Remember to ask her nicely, and thank her for her time.”
“We will!” Harry said. “Come on, Doug!”
Mary blew up her bangs. She wanted to go too! On our way out, Harry grabbed his two baseball caps off the hook.
Now I knew what Harry was really up to! His schnozzola smelled a possible clue for his big detective case!
The First Clue
W
hen Harry and I got to the cafeteria, Mrs. Funderburke was holding a vegetable steamer. It looked like a giant chrome castle to me.
hen Harry and I got to the cafeteria, Mrs. Funderburke was holding a vegetable steamer. It looked like a giant chrome castle to me.
“Just about done!” she said.
When a whiff drifted our way, I made a face. I didn't like the smell of broccoli.
Harry flashed a toothy smile. “Are you cooking my favorite vegetable?” he asked.
“I sure am!” Mrs. Funderburke replied. “Nice hat, Harry! What brings you boys to my kitchen?”
“A favor,” Harry said. “We're studying the nose in Room 3B, and we need something that smells.”
Mrs. Funderburke laughed. “You came to the right place. How about your favorite green vegetable, Harry? I can cut off one small floret for you.”
“No, thank you,” Harry replied.
“You want something with more aroma?” she asked with a smile.
“Yeah! Something that stinks!” Harry replied.
Mrs. Funderburke pointed to the menu on the wall. “Remember what we had last Friday?”
Harry patted his stomach. “I sure do! Mmm!”
“I do too,” I groaned. “That's why I brought a cold lunch.”
Mrs. Funderburke chuckled. “I've got a few portions left. You can take one.”
“All right!” Harry exclaimed.
As soon as she walked over to the cafeteria refrigerator, Harry and I quickly sniffed around for clues.
The familiar blue plastic trays with six compartments were piled in stacks. The spork and napkin packets were packed in a bin.
I could see chicken nuggets and fries in the oven through the glass doors. They were on huge silver trays. I liked the smell of the chicken and potatoes cooking.
Harry waved me over to a small yellow bulletin board with pictures of a sunflower, black-eyed Susans, broccoli, and cauliflower. Block letters spelled out two words, followed by numbers:
FIBONACCI SEQUENCE
1, 1, 2, 3, __, __, __,
1, 1, 2, 3, __, __, __,
Suddenly Mrs. Funderburke was standing next to us. “Here, Harry,” she said, handing him a paper cup with tinfoil over it.
“Thanks a lot!” Harry said. Then he abruptly changed the subject. “What do the numbers on this bulletin board mean?”
Mrs. Funderburke smiled and said, “Oh, that! Mr. Fib-ba-notch-chee is going to help me place the orange stars on the lucky lunch trays. Run along now, boys!”
On our way back to class, Harry whipped out his small notebook and wrote down the numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3. “It's a code! Her special set of numbers!”
“Yeah!” I replied. “I wonder if today's winner will be number fourâthe fourth person in line. What do you think, Harry?”
“I'm thinking about that name, Fibonacci. I've heard it somewhere before.”
Harry pulled the visor down on his detective hat. “I'm also thinking about those two ones in the beginning of the sequence. What do they mean?”
I shrugged. I didn't know.
“I have to see who the first winner is today, Doug. Then I might be able to figure out who will be the orange-star winner tomorrow!”
I was impressed.
Harry wasn't jumping to conclusions.
He was taking things slow.
He knew his reputation as a detective was at stake.
Payback Time!
T
he next half hour was fun. We got in small groups and tried to guess each other's mystery smells. Harry made sure he was in Mary's group. I knew why.
he next half hour was fun. We got in small groups and tried to guess each other's mystery smells. Harry made sure he was in Mary's group. I knew why.
It was payback time for her tattling yesterday!
“Remember, boys and girls,” the teacher said. “Smell the mystery item first, write down your answer in your science notebooks, and don't tell anyone. After each person has had a turn using their sense of smell, then read your answers out loud.”
“How come you haven't poked any holes in the top?” I whispered to Harry.
Other books
Bluenose Ghosts by Helen Creighton
Horse Tale by Bonnie Bryant
Untamed Passions by Jessica Coulter Smith
Sun Signs by Shelley Hrdlitschka
11 - The Lammas Feast by Kate Sedley
Nerd Do Well by Pegg, Simon
Awakening Kiss (Watcher's Kiss Book 4) by Sharon Kay
Welcoming the Bad Boy: A Hero's Welcome Novel by Annie Rains
Heart of Steel: Book II of the Jonathan Pavel Series by J.S. Hawn
Reveal (Cryptid Tales) by Courtney, Brina
