Louis had a red face and a mustache of many colors. He was the yard teacher at Wayside School. It was his job to see that the children didn\'t have too much fun during lunch and recess.

And if you haven\'t already guessed, he is the one who wrote this book.

On June tenth there was a blizzard. Louis was afraid that the children would have too much fun, so nobody was allowed outside.

"Class," said Mrs. Jewls. "After you finish yourlunch today, come back up to the classroom.
116You are not allowed outside."

The children all went to the lunchroom. Miss Mush had made Tuna Surprise. They looked at it, then hurried back up the stairs.

There was nothing to do.

"Now, class," said Mrs. Jewls, "I know that you are all bored, but I have a special surprise for you."

"I hope it\'s better than the Tuna Surprise," said Maurecia.

Mrs. Jewls continued, "Louis is going to come up and entertain us. He will tell us a story. Now I want you all to be on your best behavior."

When Louis walked in, all the children booed.

"Are you going to tell us a story?" asked Bebe.

"Yes," said Louis.

"Well, it better be good," Bebe warned.

"It better be better than the Tuna Surprise," said "Butterfingers."

"I thought the Tuna Surprise was good," said Louis.

"You\'d eat dirt if they put enough ketchup on it," said Mac.

"Hey, everybody, be quiet," said Todd. "Let him tell the story."

"Not too loud, Louis," said Sharie. "I\'m trying to get some sleep."

Louis sat in the middle of the room, and all the children gathered around.

Louis began his story. "This is a story about a school very much like this one. But before we get started, there is something you ought to know so that you don\'t getconfused.

In this school every classroom is on the same story."
"Which one, the eighteenth?" asked Jenny.

"No," said Louis. "They are all on the ground. The school is only one story high."

"Not much of a school," laughed Dameon.

Louis continued. "Now you might think the children there a............