Green Gravy Read Online Free

top was missing.
    Carly looked down. “I didn’t mean to,” she said. “It was a mistake.”
    Dee Dee giggled behind her. “That’s what erasers are for—mistakes!”
    Everyone was laughing even harder.
    Suddenly, Carly felt sick. “Excuse me,” she said.
    Off she ran to the girls’ room.

    First thing, Carly turned on the water. Cold water.
    She slapped some on her face.
    Then she dried off with a paper towel.
    The face in the mirror was a fuss face. Capital F!
    â€œWhat’s the matter with me?” she said out loud.
    Soon Miss Hartman came in. “Are you all right?”
    Carly shook her head. “I don’t know.”
    â€œMaybe the nurse should check you,” said her teacher.
    Miss Hartman took her to the littlesquare room. It smelled like mushroom soup.
    The nurse had her sit down. She checked for a fever. She made her say “AHHHH!”
    â€œYou seem normal,” the nurse said. “Maybe a little rest will help.”
    â€œOK. I’ll rest,” Carly said. She went to the cot to lie down.
    But rest was impossible. Things were on her mind. Things like green foods and lunchtime. And Jimmy’s not-green hot lunch.
    She thought about the Pinch Rule. It was Ker-plooey.
    Why not a Lunch Rule, too? A rule for anyone who didn’t eat green foods.
    Like Sour-Pie Jimmy!
    She looked at the clock. It wouldn’t be long now until lunch.
    Would her brother trick her again?

NINE
    Carly stared at the wall in the nurse’s room.
    She let herself daydream.
    Jimmy was wearing a sour apple pie. It was smashed on his head. It had rotten green apples in it. And long green worms.
    Carly shivered. She took a breath.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” asked the nurse.
    â€œI need a drink of water, please,” Carly said.
    The nurse helped her up.
    â€œThank you,” said Carly.
    The lady in white let the water run. She gave her the full glass.
    â€œIs it time for lunch yet?” Carly asked.
    â€œAlmost,” said the nurse. “Are you hungry?”
    Carly nodded and scooted off the cot. “I think I’m better now.”
    The nurse walked her back to Miss Hartman’s room. “Tell your teacher if you’re sick again.”
    â€œThank you very much,” Carly answered.
    The nurse smiled. “What a polite girl.”
    â€œThank you.” Carly smiled, too.
    The nurse was right. She was polite. Most of the time.
    Carly opened the classroom door.
    Miss Hartman was checking handwriting papers.
    Quickly, Carly went to her seat and took out her notebook.
    â€œWe’re making P ’s and D ’s today,” Miss Hartman told her. “For St. Patrick’s Day.”
    Carly made her letters curly.
    â€œThat’s not right,” Dee Dee said in her ear.
    But Carly didn’t turn around. She made seven more letters. Each more curly than the other.
    When Jimmy wasn’t looking, Carly stared at him. She could see his paper. He was drawing a clover leaf at the top.
    A green one!
    Would he eat a green lunch, too?

    At last it was lunchtime.
    Miss Hartman’s green students walked to the cafeteria.
    Carly watched Jimmy. She didn’t let him out of sight.
    â€œFeeling better?” asked Dee Dee. She didn’t wait for Carly to answer. “Still mad at your brother?”
    â€œNot nice to be nosy,” answered Carly.
    She headed to a different table. Abbyand Stacy were sitting there. Jason Birchall and Dunkum Mitchell were there, too. And Shawn, of course.
    â€œHi, Carly,” they all said.
    â€œCan I sit here?” she asked.
    â€œWell, I don’t know if you can, but you may,” Stacy said.
    Carly smiled. Stacy liked to correct the way kids talked. She had the best speech in the cul-de-sac.
    â€œWhy aren’t you sitting with your class?” Abby asked.
    Carly lifted one shoulder. “Don’t wanna.”
    She kept looking over at Jimmy. He was in the hot-lunch