But sometimes, it is harder to stick by a friend who is up.
That is the ultimate test of friendship.
27
Kachooga Boop
The Ultimate Test was over, and nobody was sent back to kindergarten. Mrs. Jewls had made up the test so that every one of her students had a chance to shine, using his or her special talent.
“Anyone with nail clippings?” she asked.
Myron came to the front of the room and dropped thirty-seven clippings into the nail bucket. Nineteen came from toes, and eighteen from fingers. He started to do the math on the board.
999,962
+ 37
9
He was suddenly startled by a very loud kachooga boop! He dropped the chalk.
This was a bell nobody in the class had heard before, not even Mrs. Jewls.
Then came another kachooga, followed by two boops.
“What’s it mean, Mrs. Jewls?” shouted Leslie.
“Everybody keep calm,” said Mrs. Jewls.
Kachooga boop! Boop! Boop!
Mrs. Jewls hurried to the back closet.
It started up again.
Kachooga boop!
Kachooga boop! Boop!
Mrs. Jewls threw open the closet door and started tossing books and supplies out of the way.
Kachooga boop! Boop! Boop!
She finally removed a very large book, covered with dust.
“The Complete Guide to Bells,” said Terrence, reading the book’s title over Mrs. Jewls’s shoulder.
Mrs. Jewls sat on the floor, turning the pages until she got to the index. The kachooga booping continued, making it difficult for her to concentrate.
She found it. “Kachooga boop—page 297.” She quickly turned to that page.
Suddenly, a loud BOOM shook the classroom. The lights went o
ut.
This time nobody screamed. They were too scared.
Mrs. Jewls lit a candle. In the flickering light, she read aloud from page 297.