Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom (Wayside School 4)

“Uhhhhh . . .” said Dana.

“Oh my gosh!” exclaimed Leslie. “Is your face stuck?”

Dana nodded. Her Doofus Face moved up and down.

“So you’re not doing it on purpose?” asked Jenny.

Her Doofus Face turned right, then left.

“It’s the Cloud of Doom!” exclaimed Jenny.

Leslie covered her mouth with her hand.

The three girls looked up at the dark and swirling cloud.

“I’ll get Louis,” Leslie said, and hurried away.

She returned with the yard teacher a short while later.

Louis laughed when he saw Dana.

“It’s her Doofus Face,” said Jenny.

“It’s a good one,” said Louis. “I think I like it even better than your Goofball Face.”

“But now her face is stuck that way!” said Leslie.

Louis thought a moment, and then blew his whistle real loud. Jenny and Leslie covered their ears.

Dana’s face remained stuck.

Louis didn’t really expect it to work. He just liked blowing his whistle.

Kids from all over the playground came running at the sound of it.

“What’s up, Louis?” asked Todd.

“Dana’s face is stuck,” Jenny explained.

“Really?” asked Todd. He poked Dana’s puffed-out cheek. It was like poking a rock.

Mr. Kidswatter also heard the whistle. “Out of my way, let me through,” he ordered as he made his way to Louis and Dana. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

He looked at Dana.

Dana looked back at Mr. Kidswatter.

Their eyes locked.

It became a staring contest. Everyone wondered who would blink first.

But Dana couldn’t blink.

Finally, Mr. Kidswatter turned away. “Cute kid,” he said, and patted Dana on the head. He headed back to the building.

Dana’s face instantly popped back into place.

“Your face is fixed!” exclaimed Jenny.