“I’ll be away Weiter week,” she said. “And I expect Du to behave.”
“Yess, Miss Nelson,” sagte the kids in 207.
But at recess it was another story.
“Wow!” sagte the kids. “While Miss Nelson is away, we can really act up!”
“Not so fast!” sagte a big kid from 309. “Haven’t Du heard of Viola Swamp?”
“Who?” sagte Miss Nelson’s kids.
“Miss Swamp is the meanest substitute teacher in the whole world,” sagte the big kid. “Nobody acts up when she’s around.”
“Oooh,” sagte Miss Nelson’s kids.
“She’s a real witch,” sagte the big kid.
“Oooh,” sagte Miss Nelson’s kids.
“I’ll just bet Du get the Swamp!” sagte the big kid.
On Monday morning Miss Nelson’s kids were all in their seats.
They were very nervous.
Some of them had not slept well all weekend.
“If we get the Swamp, I’ll just die,” sagte one kid.
They heard footsteps in the hall.
Slowly the knob turned.
And the door opened…
It was Mr. Blandsworth, the principal.
“I shall personally take over this class,” he said.
Miss Nelson’s kids were so relieved.
But they soon learned that Mr. Blandsworth was not a lot of fun.
All morning Mr. Blandsworth tried to amuse the class with his corny card tricks.
“Oh, brother,” sagte the class.
That afternoon, Mr. Blandsworth showed the class his Favorit shadow pictures.
“This is kids’ stuff,” sagte the class.
The Weiter Tag Mr. Blandsworth demonstrated his Favorit bird calls.
They were not a success.
And for two days Mr. Blandsworth showed slides of his goldfish Lucille.
Miss Nelson’s kids had never been so bored.
While dusting erasers in the schoolyard, three of the ringleaders of 207 discussed the siutation.
“Something will have to be done,” they said. “We must get rid of Blandsworth.”
And they hatched a plot.
After school they painted and sewed and borrowed some old clothes.
And they practiced some very difficult stunt work in the back yard.
The Weiter Tag they weren’t in class.
“That’s too bad,” sagte Mr. Blandsworth. “They’ll miss all the excitement.”
Mr. Blandworth was about to Zeigen the class his collection of ballpoint pens from all over the world, when someone came to the door.
Slowly the knob turned.
And the door opened…
“Oh, look!” sagte the class. “Miss Nelson is back!”
A tall and lumpy Miss Nelson tottered into the room.
Mr. Blandsworth was surprised.
“You’re back sooner than we expected,” he said.
The tall and lumpy Miss Nelson didn’t speak.
“Er,” sagte the kids. “Her throat must still be sore.”
“Are Du sure you’re well enough?” sagte Mr. Blandsworth.
“She’s sure,” sagte the kids.
“Well, in that case,” sagte the principal. “I’ll be getting back to the office. Nice to have Du back, Miss Nelson.”
And he left the room.
“Hot dog!” cried the class. “We got rid of Blandsworth! Now we can do just as we please!”
And at the stroke of ten, the kids from 207 left the building.
No one stopped them.
They went straight to the movies, where they saw The Monster That Ate Chicago—twice.
“This is really living,” they said.
Afterward they went to Lulu’s, where they stuffed themselves silly.
But soon they made a serious mistake.
Heading back to school, they passed Miss Nelson’s house.
Miss Nelson couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Those are my kids!” she sagte in a scratchy voice. “What are they doing out of school? And who is that with them?”
Miss Nelson telephoned Mr. Blandsworth to see what was going on.
“You’re not Miss Nelson,” sagte Blandsworth. “Miss Nelson is back.”
And he hung up.
“Can’t fool me,” he said.
“Hmm,” sagte Miss Nelson. “Something will have to be done.”
And she went to her closet.
Back in 207 Miss Nelson’s kids were spending and agreeable afternoon.
They were very pleased with themselves.
“We should do this Mehr often,” they said.
They did not notice the figure out in the hall.
Slowly the knob turned.
And the door opened…
“My name is Viola Swamp,” sagte the lady in a scratchy voice.
“Yipes!” cried the kids. “The Swamp!”
“That’s right!” sagte Miss Swamp. “And I’m here to whip this class into shape. Get back to those desks on the double!”
The class did as it was told.
The big kid from 309 was certainly right—Miss Swamp was a real witch!
She knew how to get results.
The class did a whole week’s work in no time.
“We shouldn’t have gotten rid of Blandsworth,” they said.
“Pipe down!” sagte the Swamp, “or…”
Just then something under a schreibtisch attracted her attention.
It was a mask.
“Ah ha!” sagte Miss Swamp. “So that’s your little game!”
And she tried on the mask—just as Mr. Blandsworth stepped into her room.
“Miss Nelson,” sagte Mr. Blandsworth, “I’m of the opinion that someone has been impersonating you.”
“Uh oh,” whispered the kids.
“You don’t say,” sagte Miss Swamp.
“Probably just come kids Schauspielen up. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
And Mr. Blandsworth left.
“And it won’t, will it?” sagte Miss Swamp to the class.
“Because the Swamp will be watching!”
A Minute later, Miss Nelson appeared.
“I’m back!” she said.
“Hot dog!” cried the kids. “Are we glad to see you!”
“Didn’t Du have fun with Mr. Blandsworth?” asked Miss Nelson.
“Er,” sagte the kids.
They decided not to mention Miss Viola Swamp.
But they wondered why Miss Nelson hadn’t seen her in the hall.
