Free Horrible Harry and the Dragon War by Suzy Kline Page B

back to his table. “If you were a leprechaun, Harry, you wouldn’t say that. They hide gold at the end of rainbows.”
    Harry plopped down in his chair. “In case you haven’t noticed, Sid the Squid, I’m not a leprechaun. I’m a knight! Sir Harry! See the dragon I’m making?”

    â€œCool,” Sid replied. “So I’ll call you Sir Harry the Canary from now on.”
    Harry nodded as he taped a toilet paper roll onto his dragon. I don’t think Harry minded his nickname as much when Sid put “Sir” in front of it.
    A few minutes later, Harry walked over to Song Lee. He had forgotten she was mad at him. “What do you think of my dragon now?” he asked.
    Song Lee always said something nice about Harry’s work.
    But this time, it was different.
    Song Lee didn’t look at Harry. She didn’t say one word. She just kept pasting long paper strips on her dragon.

    Their fight had turned into a deadly silent war. “How long are you going to keep this up?” Harry demanded.
    Song Lee said nothing.
    The silence was so strong we could hear the wall clock tick tick ticking.
    This time when Harry returned to our table, Mary followed him. As soon as he sat down, she shook a finger in his face. “You need to apologize.”
    â€œTo who?” Harry asked.
    â€œSong Lee!”
    â€œFor what?” Harry snapped.
    â€œFor calling her dragon stupid.”
    â€œNo way,” Harry insisted. “Any dragon that drinks cream and has stripes and curly hair is stupid.”
    Mary blew up into her bangs. She was furious. “Harry Spooger, I am joining Song Lee’s side in this war.

    Just you wait for recess.”
    Harry grumbled something as Mary stormed off.
    Oh boy, I thought. Recess is going to be deadly. I tried to change the subject. “Hey, Harry,” I said. “You know what this green goopy stuff looks like?”

    Harry didn’t respond.
    I told him anyway.
    â€œSnot.”
    I let the gooey paste drip slowly from my long paper strip so he could see what I meant.
    â€œYeah,” Harry replied. He looked over for a second. He didn’t laugh like he usually did at gross things. Or fall off his chair. He didn’t even flash his white teeth.
    Ever since Harry and Song Lee had their big fight, life in Room 3B just wasn’t fun anymore.

Outdoor Battle

    A t noon recess, Mary shouted, “To the kickball diamond!” Everybody ran to the far field. There was only one puddle on the playground, and it was way over by the fence.
    As we gathered together, Mary announced, “Today’s kickball game is a big one. It’s a battle between the dragons! You can either be on Song Lee’s side, or on Harry’s side.”
    Harry immediately sprang into action. “Anyone on my team is a Fire-Breathing Dragon with Green Poisonous Breath. Our fierce dragons are going to win!” he bragged.
    I knew I’d be on Harry’s side. Sidney did, too. He gargled like he was swishing mouthwash. Sid didn’t look like a very mean dragon, but he tried.
    As people chose sides, Song Lee whispered something into Mary’s ear. Mary nodded, then said, “Our team is the G.L.D.’s. The Good-Luck Dragons! And we’re up first. Play ball!”
    Song Lee waited behind the plate, because in Room 3B, captains kick first. Usually Harry runs out to play centerfield. He likes catching fly balls. Today he stomped.
    I moseyed over to shortstop.
    No one made small talk or cheered on the team.
    Dexter tried to lighten things up. He did a rock-and-roll dance at the mound first, and sang “Bee bop de boo” a few times. Song Lee just waited at the plate.
    â€œPlay ball!” Mary shouted.
    Dexter sang one more “Bee bop de boo,” then rolled a fast ball over the plate.
    Song Lee leaped forward to meet it. She kicked the ball hard with her red and white sneakers.
    Pow!
    Up ... up ... up ... it went!