Party Poopers Read Online Free Page B

chanted, “Go, Bernie! Go, Bernie!” But now they were being funny. They didn’t mean it.
    Jennifer, I hope you’re watching, I thought. I hope you see what a klutz I am. I hope you’re deciding rightnow that you can do better than me!

    â€œWhere do I find the songs?” I asked Sherman. “It’s so confusing. Do I look in here?”
    And I stuck my head into the space between the video screen and the control box.
    â€œNot there! No! Don’t do that!” Sherman screamed.
    Kids were laughing and hooting.
    â€œMy head is stuck!” I cried. “Help me! I can’t get my head out!”
    Sherman grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a hard tug.
    My head popped out—and the whole karaoke machine fell over and crashed to the floor. Tinkle tinkle . Glass flew everywhere. The video screen shattered into a million pieces.
    â€œOops,” I said. “Did I do that?”
    I tiptoed off the stage. Kids were muttering and booing and hissing. I looked like a total jerk. But it was for a good cause.
    I waited outside the auditorium with my fingers crossed. This had to work.
    Kids started streaming out. The assembly wasover. I saw April-May hurry over to Jennifer. I crept up behind them to listen.
    â€œDo you see what a loser Bernie is?” April-May said. “See what a total klutz and jerk he is?”
    Yes, yes, YES! You go, girl!
    But Jennifer shook her head. “Just because Bernie isn’t mechanical doesn’t mean he’s a loser,” she said.
    Huh?
    â€œI think Bernie did that for ME,” Jennifer told April-May. “He knows I hate karaoke!”
    I let out a long sigh. My body suddenly felt too heavy to stand. I sank to the ground.
    Defeated again. Jennifer just wouldn’t give up on me.
    What could I do to lose The Ecch?
    I needed another idea.
    I shut my eyes and thought hard. I thought till sweat poured down my face, and my whole body shook.
    Yes! Another idea.
    Bernie B. never runs out of ideas!
    I know what will work , I decided. I’ll totally gross her out….

Chapter 13
E GG B ARF
    I suddenly remembered the hard-boiled egg-eating contest. Every year I bet on Beast to gobble down the most eggs. But this year was gonna be different.
    This year Bernie B. was going to enter the contest.
    I made sure Jennifer and Sharonda knew about it. I wanted them to be there.
    â€œYo, dudes!” I called to my friends as I met them in the little alley behind the Student Center. We hold the contest there so we won’t get caught.
    I mean, it probably isn’t good for you to eat fifty eggs in three minutes.
    The contestants stood against a brick wall. Each one had a helper—someone to keep handing him eggs. I saw Joe Sweety, the big, mean kid from Nyce House. He was chewing on a football, warming up his jaw. (I told you he was big and mean!)
    Feenman was there, cracking open eggs for Beast. Beast warmed up by eating the shells !
    I picked up a bucket of eggs and moved next to them. I waved to my friend Crench. “Dude, get over here. Start cracking eggs for me.”
    He squinted at me. “But aren’t you betting on Beast?”
    â€œThis year I’m betting on Bernie B.,” I said. “There’s gonna be a new champ this year! Better bet on me, dudes—I’m HUNGRY!”
    Sherman Oaks stepped up to start the contest. He raised a gold whistle to his lips. “When I blow the whistle, start eating,” he said.
    But Jennifer and Sharonda weren’t there yet. I had to stall. “Sherman, is that whistle real gold?” I asked.
    He nodded. “Yeah. My parents sent it to me. It cost five hundred dollars at Tiffany’s. They knowthat silver whistles give me chapped lips.”
    I fingered the whistle. “How does it work?” I asked. “Do you blow into it? Or is this a digital one?” I had my eye out for the girls.
    Sherman groaned. “Are you stalling, Bernie? If you don’t