Free Horrible Harry Cracks the Code by Suzy Kline Page A

her.
    Several minutes later, they came back. Song Lee’s sleeve was wet, but you could see the purple-and-yellow pansy. The ketchup was rinsed out.

    Sid’s face was clean and shiny.
    Harry’s hair was wet and combed.
    Everyone watched Mrs. Doshi walk over to the portable blackboard. She wrote two names in white chalk.
    Harry Spooger
Sidney LaFleur
    When she returned to our table, she handed Harry and Sidney each a wet sponge.
    â€œYou two will wash all the cafeteria tables and all the chairs during lunch recess. The bucket is in the corner.” Then she added, “There will be no ketchup packets allowed at this table for the rest of the week. If you want ketchup, I’ll give you some from a large bottle.”
    Harry glared at Mary. “You just cost me a kickball game at noontime. Thanks a lot, Mary!”
    â€œYeah!” Sid groaned. “Thanks a lot!”
    Mary blew up her bangs. “Well, thanks to you we won’t have ketchup packets this week.”
    Harry gritted his teeth. “Listen to me, tattletale. We could have cleaned up the mess ourselves. Tattle on me one more time, Mare, and I’ll tattle on you!”
    Mary snickered. “That could never happen, Harry Spooger!” she said. “I always follow the rules!”
    Always? I thought.
    It was just a matter of time.

The Biggest Case Ever in Room 3B

    T he next morning when we were hanging up our jackets in Room 3B, Harry had a bag under his arm. “Okay, guys, I know why I goofed up my last case,” he said.
    Mary hung up her wool scarf. “I do too. You’re a horrible detective!”
    Harry opened his bag. “Nope. I just forgot to wear my detective hat.”
    â€œDetective hat? There’s no such thing!” Mary scoffed.
    â€œOh, yes there is!” Harry replied. “Haven’t you ever heard of Sherlock Holmes? He’s the world’s greatest detective! He wore a special kind of hat when he was trying to solve a case.”
    â€œThat’s true,” ZuZu said. “I’ve seen pictures of Sherlock Holmes in a book. He is a famous character in lots of detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He wears a deerstalker hat. My dad tells me about some of his adventures.”
    â€œCool!” Harry said. Then he reached into a brown bag and pulled out a baseball cap. “I’m about to show you my deerstalker hat. When I get it on, I’ll be ready to investigate.”
    Mary rolled her eyes. “I think you’ll be ready for baseball.”
    â€œI’m not done yet,” Harry snapped.

    We watched him reach into his bag again and take out a second baseball cap. He put the second one on top of the first so the visor was facing in the other direction.
    ZuZu nodded slowly. “You know, Harry . . . that kind of looks like a deerstalker hat now.”
    â€œIt will be good for shade,” Song Lee added.
    Ida and Mary snickered and giggled.
    Dexter and Sidney shook their heads.
    â€œSo what are you investigating, Harry?” ZuZu asked.
    Harry took off both caps and hung them up on a hook. “Well, that’s the problem, Zu. I don’t have a case yet. But when I do, I’ll be ready!”
    Oh, boy , I thought. I hope it’s an easy one . I didn’t want Harry to botch up two cases in a row. His reputation as a detective was on the line!
    As soon as we said the pledge and heard the morning announcements, we got a surprise visitor. It was Mrs. Funderburke, our school cook!
    She was holding a blue plastic lunch tray with a carton of milk in the upper right-hand compartment. Harry flashed a toothy smile. He loves her. “Hi, Mrs. Funderburke!” he said. “What are you doing out of the kitchen?”
    â€œHi, Harry! Hi, boys and girls!”
    â€œHi, Mrs. Funderburke,” the class replied.
    â€œI’m coming around to make an exciting announcement to each classroom.”
    Lots of us leaned forward in our