Free The Secret Life of a Ping-Pong Wizard by Henry Winkler Page A

and not an f .”
    â€œI’ve made a mental note of that, Ms. Adolf.”
    The entire class was splitting a gut, and if she wasn’t riled up enough before, let me just say that that did it.
    â€œWhy don’t you take your note to Principal Love’s office so he can see how you’re spending precious class time.”
    Oh no, she’s sending me to the principal’s office and it’s only the fourth day of the fifth grade.
    Wait a minute, Hank! Principal Love’s office is just inside the attendance office. And what’s in the attendance office, you ask?
    A phone.
    That’s right. Sitting smack in the middle of Mrs. Crock’s desk.
    I ran all the way down three flights of stairs, through the long hall, and burst into the attendance office, skidding to a stop right in front of Mrs. Crock’s desk.
    â€œI’ll tell you in a minute why I’m here,” I panted, “but before that, can I use your phone right away? It’s an emergency.”
    Mrs. Crock pushed the phone over to me, and I picked up the receiver. It was at that moment that I realized I had no idea what Dr. Crumbworthy’s phone number was.
    â€œMay I call information?” I asked Mrs. Crock.
    â€œHank, this phone is for emergencies only, not for social calls.”
    â€œBut this is important.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Hank. If it were up to me, I’d let you, but this is a firm school rule.”
    Just then, Principal Love walked out of his office and spotted me.
    â€œWell, Mr. Zipzer, I see you’ve been sent to my office already,” he said. “Starting the school year off on the wrong foot will definitely involve your other foot as well. So I suggest you walk them right into my office and take a seat. I believe you’re well acquainted with the chair.”
    I’ve spent so much time in that chair, I swear the shape of my butt is imprinted on it.
    â€œPrincipal Love, am I right in guessing that if I asked you if I could make a phone call first, you’d probably say no?”
    â€œHow right you are,” he said.
    Â 
    The rest of the day remained completely phoneless. It wasn’t until Papa Pete came to pick me up after school that I was able to get in contact with Dr. Crumbworthy. Papa Pete let me use his cell phone. He’s the kind of guy who knows that when you say you have to make an important call, you just have to do it, no questions asked.
    â€œDr. Crumbworthy,” I said, after his assistant, Paula, put me on hold and had me listen to a country-western song for the looongest two minutes of my life.
    â€œWhat’s so important, Hank?” he asked.
    â€œYou’ve got to erase that Ping-Pong item about me from your news flashy thingamajig.”
    â€œWhy? You were so proud of it just a few hours ago.”
    â€œBecause Nick McKelty thinks Ping-Pong is for subhumans and he’s called me enough names in my life and I don’t need him to call me subhuman, too.”
    â€œNick McKelty? He’s sitting with his father in my waiting room right now.”
    â€œPlease, Dr. Crumbworthy, I beg you. Hang up right now and erase it. I’ll floss my teeth five times a day, I promise.”
    â€œNow that’s what I call a deal,” Dr. Crumbworthy said. “Don’t you worry, Hank. I’ll take care of it right away.”
    â€œThanks a million trillion,” I said.
    Phew, that was close. As I clicked off the phone and handed it back to Papa Pete, he gave me a curious look. “What was that all about?” he asked.
    Boy, that was a big question.

CHAPTER 20
    WE LEFT THE SCHOOL and walked down 78th Street toward Broadway. Papa Pete was quiet, which means he was waiting for my answer.
    â€œI could really go for a slice of pizza,” I said, trying to fill the silence.
    â€œLet’s go to Harvey’s. Afterward, I thought you might want to go hit some balls at the Ping-Pong Emporium.”
    â€œI think