The Last Straw Read Online Free Page A
Author: Jeff Kinney
charge of the room while she was gone.
Alex is a good student, but people aren't afraid of Alex the way they are of Patty Farrell. As soon as Mrs. Craig left the room, it was complete pandemonium.
[Image: Children fighting in the class room] The caption reads: "WHAP
ALEX ARUDA"
62
A couple of guys who were sick of getting stuck inside for recess every day decided to try and figure out who took Mrs. Craig's dictionary.
The first person they interrogated was this kid named Corey Lamb. I think Corey was number one on the list of suspects because he's smart and he's always using big words.
[Image: A boy is in the middle of two men.]
Corey fessed up to the crime in no time flat. But it turns out he only said he did it because the pressure made him crack.
[Image: The men check the boys bag e.t.c.] The caption reads: "SHAKE SHAKE
SUCK SUCK"
63
The next kid on the list was Peter Lynn, and before you knew it Peter was confessing, too.
[Image: The boy is screaming as he is held by the two men.] The caption reads: "SQUEAL!"
I figured it was just a matter of time before those guys cornered ME. So I knew I had to think up something fast.
I've read enough Sherlock Sammy books to know that sometimes it takes a nerd to get you out of a pinch. And I figured if anyone could crack this case, it was Alex Aruda.
So me and a couple of other guys who were worried about getting hassled went over to Alex to see if he could help us out.
64
We told Alex we needed him to solve the mystery of who took Mrs. Craig's dictionary, but he didn't even know what we were TALKING about. I guess Alex had been so wrapped up in his book that he hadn't even noticed what had been going on around him for the past couple of days.
[Image: Four boys are looking at the girl reading from the book.]
Plus, Alex always stays inside to read during recess, so Mrs. Craig's punishment hadn't had a big effect on his life.
Unfortunately, Alex has read his share of Sherlock Sammy books, too, so he said he would help us if we paid him five bucks. Well, that was totally unfair, because Sherlock Sammy only charges a nickel. But me and the other guys agreed it was worth it, and we pooled our money, then forked over the five dollars.
65
We laid out all the facts of the case to Alex, but we didn't know a whole lot. Then we asked Alex if he could get us pointed in the right direction.
I expected Alex to start taking notes and spout some scientific mumbo jumbo, but all he did was close the book he was reading and show the cover to us. And you're not gonna BELIEVE this, but it was Mrs. Craig's dictionary.
[Image: Four boys are confused as they look at the girl reading from the book.]
Alex said he'd been studying the dictionary to get ready for the state spelling bee next month. Well, THAT would've been nice to know BEFORE we gave him our five bucks. Anyway, there was no time to waste complaining, because Mrs. Craig was gonna be back in the room at any second.
66
Corey Lamb grabbed the book from Alex and put it on Mrs. Craig's desk. But she walked in the room right at that moment.
[Image: A teacher walks in as the boy puts the book on her desk.] The caption reads: "AHA!"
Mrs. Craig ended up going back on her whole "no consequences" promise, so Corey Lamb is gonna be spending the next three weeks inside during recess. Looking on the bright side, though, at least he'll have Alex Aruda to keep him company.
[Image: Children playing in the front park.]
67
FEBRUARY
Tuesday
Yesterday in the cafeteria, when I emptied out my lunch bag, I got TWO FRUITS-and no snacks.
[Image: Three boys at a play desk.] The caption reads: "WHAT THE-
BINK BONK"
This was a pretty big problem. Mom always packs cookies or sugar wafers or something in my lunch bag, and it's usually the only thing I eat. So I had no energy for the rest of the day.
[Image: Boys in the ground as one hangs on the bar.] The caption reads: "AT LEAST DO ONE! "I...I CAN'T!"
68
When I got home, I asked Mom
Alex is a good student, but people aren't afraid of Alex the way they are of Patty Farrell. As soon as Mrs. Craig left the room, it was complete pandemonium.
[Image: Children fighting in the class room] The caption reads: "WHAP
ALEX ARUDA"
62
A couple of guys who were sick of getting stuck inside for recess every day decided to try and figure out who took Mrs. Craig's dictionary.
The first person they interrogated was this kid named Corey Lamb. I think Corey was number one on the list of suspects because he's smart and he's always using big words.
[Image: A boy is in the middle of two men.]
Corey fessed up to the crime in no time flat. But it turns out he only said he did it because the pressure made him crack.
[Image: The men check the boys bag e.t.c.] The caption reads: "SHAKE SHAKE
SUCK SUCK"
63
The next kid on the list was Peter Lynn, and before you knew it Peter was confessing, too.
[Image: The boy is screaming as he is held by the two men.] The caption reads: "SQUEAL!"
I figured it was just a matter of time before those guys cornered ME. So I knew I had to think up something fast.
I've read enough Sherlock Sammy books to know that sometimes it takes a nerd to get you out of a pinch. And I figured if anyone could crack this case, it was Alex Aruda.
So me and a couple of other guys who were worried about getting hassled went over to Alex to see if he could help us out.
64
We told Alex we needed him to solve the mystery of who took Mrs. Craig's dictionary, but he didn't even know what we were TALKING about. I guess Alex had been so wrapped up in his book that he hadn't even noticed what had been going on around him for the past couple of days.
[Image: Four boys are looking at the girl reading from the book.]
Plus, Alex always stays inside to read during recess, so Mrs. Craig's punishment hadn't had a big effect on his life.
Unfortunately, Alex has read his share of Sherlock Sammy books, too, so he said he would help us if we paid him five bucks. Well, that was totally unfair, because Sherlock Sammy only charges a nickel. But me and the other guys agreed it was worth it, and we pooled our money, then forked over the five dollars.
65
We laid out all the facts of the case to Alex, but we didn't know a whole lot. Then we asked Alex if he could get us pointed in the right direction.
I expected Alex to start taking notes and spout some scientific mumbo jumbo, but all he did was close the book he was reading and show the cover to us. And you're not gonna BELIEVE this, but it was Mrs. Craig's dictionary.
[Image: Four boys are confused as they look at the girl reading from the book.]
Alex said he'd been studying the dictionary to get ready for the state spelling bee next month. Well, THAT would've been nice to know BEFORE we gave him our five bucks. Anyway, there was no time to waste complaining, because Mrs. Craig was gonna be back in the room at any second.
66
Corey Lamb grabbed the book from Alex and put it on Mrs. Craig's desk. But she walked in the room right at that moment.
[Image: A teacher walks in as the boy puts the book on her desk.] The caption reads: "AHA!"
Mrs. Craig ended up going back on her whole "no consequences" promise, so Corey Lamb is gonna be spending the next three weeks inside during recess. Looking on the bright side, though, at least he'll have Alex Aruda to keep him company.
[Image: Children playing in the front park.]
67
FEBRUARY
Tuesday
Yesterday in the cafeteria, when I emptied out my lunch bag, I got TWO FRUITS-and no snacks.
[Image: Three boys at a play desk.] The caption reads: "WHAT THE-
BINK BONK"
This was a pretty big problem. Mom always packs cookies or sugar wafers or something in my lunch bag, and it's usually the only thing I eat. So I had no energy for the rest of the day.
[Image: Boys in the ground as one hangs on the bar.] The caption reads: "AT LEAST DO ONE! "I...I CAN'T!"
68
When I got home, I asked Mom
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