Extraordinary Losers 1 Read Online Free Page B

interesting,” I said, turning the page back. There was a picture of the Sears Tower in Chicago. It dawned on me that perhaps the clue on the yellow note was referring to the tallest or highest building in school.
    â€œNOW!” Mum said. I swallowed the foul-tasting brain juice. As the oil dribbled down my throat, Jupiter building came to my mind. (My principal named our buildings after the planets since we were in Brightstar Primary School.)
    â€œThanks, Soph!” I hugged her.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œAre you trying to tell no one? It’s okay, you can tell me,” I probed, thinking that, maybe, she had received the clue too.
    She rolled her eyes and then blared, “I … I … am trying to get you off my back!” Whether Sophia was being entirely honest, partially honest or completely dishonest, only time would tell. Whatever it was, my sister and those dreaded encyclopedias were making themselves useful. Finally.

    On Monday, I was feeling all jazzed up that I had solved a fraction of the riddle. During recess, I sat down on a bench alone to have a sandwich and a packet of milk that Aunty Maryanne had packed into my bag. It definitely branded me as a “loser”. A Primary 5 boy, snacking from his lunchbox. I had my precious book of handwritten poems out and was scribbling away.
    The “leaders” of the class swaggered by.
    â€œHey, look at the losers,” Leonard said, sniggering. I heard him, even though I was right at the back of the canteen – the “Loser Corner”, next to the trash bins.
    One table away from me, oblivious to their stares, Mundi was wolfing down the chapati his mother had prepared.
    â€œPi equals 3.14159…265358…97932…3846264338.…” Mundi was half muttering, half chomping. Really weird.
    â€œCube root of 3375 is 15. Cube root of 1331 is 11. Cube root of… ” he rattled off in his “curly” accent.

    Janice was sitting at the table in front of Mundi, also alone, talking to herself and munching on a creamy strawberry donut. She didn’t sound like herself at all.
    â€œClass, this is not the time for you to be lackadaisical!” she said, in a man’s voice. Wait a minute, it was Mr Grosse’s voice! Coming out of her mouth! Very bizarre.
    â€œThe losers are so pathetic,” Justin said. A trio of girls were walking behind them, giggling the way girls do. I heard the words “Loser Corner”, “look” and “cute”. Damien was with them too, pretending not to see me. I was about to hurl my sandwich at Justin when I saw Clandestino shuffling up to Mundi.
    â€œHi!” he said. He bent his knees like a frog again and sprang up, his butt landing on the table, his bruised legs (from all that scratching) dangling inches from the ground.
    Mundi stopped his mathematical processing.
    Clandestino turned to me.
    â€œHi, Darryl!” he spoke nasally. Green mucus blanketed his nostrils so that you could only see two green holes instead of black ones.
    â€œOh. Hi,” I said.
    â€œJoin us!” Clandestino said, spinning a pen in his hand.
    Mundi cleared his throat uncomfortably. What was the worst that could happen to me? Get a paper cut from Clandestino? Get a sneezing fit from Mundi’s overwhelming powder? I walked up to the two boys.
    â€œOne, two, three, four, five,” I could hear Mundi counting my footsteps.
    Mundi offered me his chapati.
    â€œNo thanks,” I said.
    â€œNo?” he took a big bite of the soggy flatbread.
    â€œEr… Why are you always so quiet, Mundi?” I asked.
    â€œHe’s not quiet,” Clandestino said, munching. “I’ve heard him talk many times already.”
    â€œReally? I don’t think he has ever spoken to any teacher,” I said.
    â€œThat’s because he’s too shy… but if you really get to know him, he’s quite special.”
    Mundi’s large eyes widened. His long