Jason tried. “I can’t, Mrs. Jewls. I’m stuck.”
Mrs. Jewls asked the three Erics to help. Eric Fry and Eric Ovens pulled Jason. Eric Bacon held the chair.
“Stop,” cried Jason. “You’ll rip my pants.”
Rondi and Allison giggled.
“All right,” said Mrs. Jewls. “Let’s try ice water. That should freeze the gum and make it less sticky. I’ll go get some from Miss Mush.”
Miss Mush was the lunch teacher at Wayside School. She had the remarkable ability to undercook a dish and overcook it at the same time. Her specialty was a nice, hot bowl of mud. She called it porridge.
Jason looked at Rondi and Allison. “No, Mrs. Jewls,” he said. “Don’t leave me. Besides, Miss Mush’s ice water is probably warm.”
“Don’t be silly, Jason,” said Mrs. Jewls. “I’m sure it will be at least as cold as her soups.”
Rondi and Allison leered at Jason.
“No, Mrs. Jewls, don’t go!” begged Jason.
“I’ll be right back, Jason,” said Mrs. Jewls. She went to Miss Mush for some ice water.
As soon as Mrs. Jewls stepped out the door, Rondi and Allison jumped up from their seats and started to tickle Jason. He laughed until his hair turned purple. The girls got back to their seats just as Mrs. Jewls returned.
Mrs. Jewls carried a big bucket of ice cold water.
“Oh, no, please don’t, no!” Jason pleaded.
“We have no choice,” said Mrs. Jewls. She threw the water all over him.
“Well,” said Mrs. Jewls, “try to get up.”
Jason was drenched. “I’m wet and I’m cold and I’m still stuck!”
“Oh, well, it didn’t work,” said Mrs. Jewls. “At least we tried. Now I guess we’ll have to cut your pants off.”
Rondi and Allison giggled.
“No, Mrs. Jewls, no!” Jason screamed. “I don’t mind being stuck here. I’m really very comfortable.”
“Don’t be silly, Jason,” said Mrs. Jewls.
“Don’t cut off my pants,” said Jason.
“The three Erics can carry you to the bathroom,” said Mrs. Jewls. “I’ll ask Louis to call your mother. She can bring you a new pair of pants.”
The three Erics took hold of Jason’s chair and turned him upside down.
“No, Mrs. Jewls,” said Jason. “Now I’ll always have a place to sit down. I won’t have to worry about finding a seat on the bus.”
The three Erics began to take him away.
“Wait,” said Joy. “Mrs. Jewls, if I can get Jason unstuck, do I still have to go home on the kindergarten bus?”
“All right,” said Mrs. Jewls. “If you can somehow get Jason free, you don’t have to go home early.”
“Don’t trust her, Mrs. Jewls,” said Jason. He was still hanging upside down.
“I’ll just kiss him,” said Joy.