Louis’s face paled. “Well, it was nice to meet you,” he said very quickly. “I’ve gotta go. Bye!”
“Stay right where you are, Louis!” ordered Mrs. Drazil.
He froze.
Mrs. Drazil slowly walked to her desk. She picked up the old blue notebook.
“The notebook!” whispered Louis.
Mrs. Drazil opened it and flipped through the pages. “Here we are,” she said. She removed a piece of paper and handed it to Louis. “Is this your homework?” she asked.
Louis looked at it.
“You were supposed to copy it over, weren’t you?” asked Mrs. Drazil.
“That was over fifteen years ago,” said Louis. “I don’t remember.”
“I do,” said Mrs. Drazil.
“Oh, now I remember!” said Louis. “I was going to copy it over. But then my pencil point broke, so I went to sharpen it, but the pencil sharpener fell on my foot, so I had to go to the hosp—”
“I don’t want any of your famous excuses, Louis,” said Mrs. Drazil. “I just want the homework. You may share Deedee’s desk.”
Louis sat next to Deedee.
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“And remember, Louis,” said Mrs. Drazil. “I know your tricks.”
Deedee watched Louis struggle with his homework. “Sorry, Louis,” she said.
“Don’t be sorry,” said Mrs. Drazil. “It’s for his own good. And I expect neatness, Louis, or else you’ll just have to do it again.”
He frowned.
Mrs. Drazil stood over him and watched him work. “Your fingernails are filthy,” she said.
“I’m the yard teacher,” Louis tried to explain. “I spend a lot of time outside, in the grass and dirt and stuff.”
“I don’t want excuses,” said Mrs. Drazil. “I want clean fingernails. And while you’re at it, shave off that mustache. It looks like a hairy caterpillar crawling across your face!”
“Not my mustache,” said Louis.
“Unless you want me to rip it off for you,” said Mrs. Drazil.
Deedee felt terrible. “I can’t believe Mrs. Drazil still remembers you after all this time,” she said.
“An elephant never forgets,” muttered Louis.
“I heard that,” said Mrs. Drazil. She put the wastepaper basket on Louis’s head.
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Chapter 16
Mr. Poop